Alicia R. Chen, PhD Candidate in Political Science, Stanford University
Research Topic: Roads to (No) Influence: Domestic Incentives and the Distribution of Chinese Aid

Alicia Chen is a PhD candidate in the political science department at Stanford University. Chen’s research focuses on conflict, development, and international economics, with an empirical focus on Chinese development aid. Chen holds an MA in international policy from Stanford University and a BA in political science from the University of Southern California. Prior to doctoral studies, Chen was a Research Specialist at the Empirical Studies of Conflict (ESOC) project at Princeton University. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field of research?
A: I encourage everyone to do fieldwork in the countries they are interested in studying as early as possible. Media coverage (and even data) often doesn’t capture the full picture, and it was immensely helpful to see for myself what the situation is on the ground.

Q: If you could snap your fingers and have one part of your research magically completed, what would it be?
A: Data collection… Many fieldwork trips end up taking much longer than expected because of bureaucratic delays, and there is not much that can be done to speed up the process.

Matthew DeButts, PhD Candidate in Communication, Stanford University
Research Topic: PRC Influence and Chinese Diasporic Media in the Digital Age

Matt DeButts is a PhD candidate in communication, studying Chinese media, censorship, and propaganda. Before coming to Stanford, Matt wrote about Chinese economics and politics for The Economist Intelligence Unit in Beijing, covered culture as a special correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, and edited the foreign affairs newsletter Legation Quarter. At Stanford, he was a 2023-24 Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) fellow, and a graduate research assistant at the Stanford Internet Observatory. His academic work has been published in the Journal of Communication, Social Media+ Society, and EMNLP Findings.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field of research?

Q: How would you describe your research to a fifth grader?
A: My research looks into how powerful people, like governments, try to get people to believe things. Sometimes, governments treat you like a grown-up, explaining things and allowing you to decide for yourself. But other times, they treat you like a kid, always thinking they know what’s best for you. My research looks into how and why they do that.

SCCEI offers grants to support exceptional researchers conducting data-driven research related to China's economy. We accept proposals two times per year, Fall and Winter. Visit the SCCEI Research Grants and Fellowships webpage for more details and current opportunities.