SCCEI Launches New Predoctoral Researchers Program in Partnership with IRiSS
SCCEI Launches New Predoctoral Researchers Program in Partnership with IRiSS
The new Predoctoral Researchers Program opens avenues for SCCEI-affiliated faculty to mentor students transitioning from undergraduate study who are interested in pursuing research on China.
SCCEI is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Stanford Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) to launch a new, China-oriented Predoctoral Researchers Program. The program opens avenues for SCCEI-affiliated faculty to mentor students transitioning from undergraduate study who are interested in pursuing research on China. Predocs are appointed for a one-year term in residence on Stanford’s historic campus, where they conduct data-driven research designed by a SCCEI faculty member studying a specific aspect of China’s economy. Predocs are welcomed into two established communities at Stanford — IRiSS and SCCEI — giving them a built-in support system to navigate the Stanford ecosystem and get acquainted with all the university has to offer.
That community is already something inaugural predoc Miriam Shatto is looking forward to exploring. “Already, I’ve met so many interesting people in the IRiSS program who are all working on different things — psychologists, political scientists, people focusing on communications and social media, other people studying economics,” she said. “I think it’s a really rich community that enables me to explore other disciplines and discover what people my age are also working on.”
Paralleling IRiSS’ existing program, the new Predoctoral Researchers Program has three main goals:
- Accelerate China-focused research;
- Create opportunities for predocs to deepen their knowledge of China-specific topics and research methods, learn about options for advanced study, and build mentoring relationships to help launch their careers; and
- Expand the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of individuals entering academia and industry.
SCCEI is pleased to welcome the first cohort of predoctoral researchers for the 2026-27 academic year:
Miriam Shatto, 2026-27 Predoctoral Researcher
Miriam Shatto is working with Professor Shanjun Li, joining his research program on the Economics for Sustainability and Energy Transition (eSET). She works on industrial decarbonization pathways, carbon accounting, renewable energy development, and the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Miriam plans to pursue a PhD in economics after her predoc year. Though she hadn’t done research on China before, that was part of what drew her to the position. “I have an appreciation generally for the huge energy transition that China has undergone over the last 20 years. The growth in the EV industry has just been insane,” she said. “And I think, as Dr. Li frequently points out, it is so understudied.”
Noting that the topic may not get the attention it deserves from U.S. policymakers, she added, “There’s just a lot of work to be done there, and I’m always looking for a place where work can be done.”
She has also found a warm welcome in the eSET group. “I think everyone’s been incredibly welcoming. This is a group of people who are super kind and supportive, and it’s clearly very close-knit,” she said. “Dr. Li’s always holding little events for us, it’s clear that he really tries to foster a collaborative community.”
Zhao Guo, 2026-27 Predoctoral Researcher
Zhao Guo is working under the mentorship of Professor Andrew Walder on his research defining the architecture of China’s corporate sector. This project is part of a larger effort that will eventually culminate in a book, tentatively titled The Rise of Industrial China, which will blend business history with the sociology of organizations and political economy analysis of China’s industrial sector.
Over the coming year, Miriam and Zhao will contribute to research that helps build understanding of China's economy, from its energy transition to its industrial past. We're excited to see what this first cohort does, and we look forward to growing the program in years to come.
This article was edited for clarity and brevity using Claude. All outputs were reviewed by humans and the final expression was produced by the author.