Embodied Arrivals: Migrant Newcomers and Urban Arrival Infrastructure

I hold a Bachelor's in Architecture from Tsinghua University, China, followed by a Master's in Urban Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Prior to my doctoral studies at Sheffield, I spent five years as an urban designer in Boston, where I contributed to various master-planning projects in the United States and the Middle East. Beyond my professional work, I have volunteered with migrant communities, including designing playgrounds for refugee children, which deeply informs my current research focus.

My PhD research investigates how migrant newcomers navigate and interact with urban spaces during their initial settlement period. I conceptualise spatial knowledge and mobility as forms of capital crucial for migrant integration—the ability to connect and utilise different urban places shapes newcomers' capacity to establish their lives. This agency, however, must be understood alongside physical urban contexts, as spaces vary in their accessibility and legibility to newcomers.

Drawing on my background in architecture and urban design, I employ a spatial lens to examine the material dimensions of migrant arrival. My methodology combines ethnographic approaches with spatial analysis, potentially incorporating participatory mapping, walking interviews, and participant observation to document migrants' spatial experiences and practices.

The research contributes to broader discussions on inclusive urban design and planning. Beyond academic impact, I aim to engage practitioners and policymakers to translate findings into practical urban interventions that better support newcomer integration.

Supervisors: Dr Michael Martin, Prof Sarah Neal, Prof Ryan Powell