Yifan (Evyn) Liu is a second-year Ph.D. student in sociology at the University at Albany, State University of New York. She holds a master’s degree in media and communications (governance) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and has three years of professional experience in the international education sector in China.

Her research examines the intersections of transnational migration, higher education, and media sociology. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, she investigates how migration and digital media practices shape individuals’ educational and career trajectories. Her recent work explores the motivations and practices of Chinese international students in the United States who engage in digital content creation on social media platforms. She is also leading a survey project on international graduate students’ post-graduation mobility aspirations, focusing on the career and cultural factors that influence their decision-making. As a research assistant, she also contributes to a project on the work experiences of Chinese and Hispanic immigrant workers and small business owners in upstate New York.