Hi everyone,

My name is Wanting, and I am excited to have joined the department as a PhD student as of the 1st of February, 2026. I will be part of the International Relations section, though you may also see me active in the group of Comparative Politics.

My research interest lies in Historical Political Economy. In my doctoral project, I explore how autocratic rulers navigated legitimation imperatives as part of state building by engaging with religious autonomy. Specifically, I focus on the role of Buddhism as a legitimating agent in early medieval China (ca. 316-589 CE). Using historical data and causal inference methods, I examine how rulers sought legitimacy through Buddhist patronage, such as sponsoring translations, offering gifts, or constructing temples and grottoes, and how contemporaneous fiscal constraints conditioned or even undermined such strategies. Before joining Aarhus, I studied Economic History at the University of Oxford. Although I am new to Political Science, I feel very fortunate to be supervised on this research by Professors Jørgen Møller and Jan Vogler here.

Please feel free to stop by my office (1332-119) if you are interested in my project or the broader field of Historical Political Economy. Outside of research, I enjoy travelling, working out, and playing musical instruments. I also have a strong (amateur) interest in dentistry, reading X-rays and so on. I look forward to meeting all of you!