Background

Ryan is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago. Before pursuing his doctoral studies, Ryan received an LL.B. in Sociology from Peking University and an Ed.M. in International Education Policy from Harvard University. He has contributed to education research collaborations with partners in China, Jamaica, Pakistan, and the United States.

Research

Ryan’s research interests lie at the intersection of child development, educational stratification, and quantitative methodology, with a focus on the patterns, causes, and consequences of educational inequalities in the process of child development. His current project utilizes national survey data and causal inference techniques to examine how family and school environments shape the rural-urban educational divide in China. By identifying key mechanisms driving these disparities, his work aims to inform policy interventions that promote educational equity and enhance the well-being of rural children.