Centre of Taiwan studies summer school roundtable: Doing a PhD on Taiwan: Insights and experiences across academia

In this roundtable, we bring together four scholars—trained in the US, Australia, and the UK—to reflect on their doctoral journeys researching Taiwan-related topics across disciplines and geographies.

Pursuing a PhD in Taiwan Studies is never a straightforward path. It is shaped by institutional structures, personal commitments, cross-cultural negotiations, and the changing politics of knowledge production.

In this roundtable, we bring together four scholars—trained in the US, Australia, and the UK—to reflect on their doctoral journeys researching Taiwan-related topics across disciplines and geographies:

• Dr Lev Nachman (Assistant Professor, National Taiwan University; PhD, UC Irvine)
• Dr Ratih Kabinawa (Adjunct Research Fellow, University of Western Australia)
• Yueh-Chou Ho (PhD Candidate, SOAS University of London)
• Chengyu YANG (PhD Candidate, University of Bristol)

They will share their experiences navigating fieldwork, supervision, funding challenges, publishing pressures, and institutional expectations—while also building space for Taiwan in global academia.

We are also pleased to welcome Professor Dafydd Fell (Director of the SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies), who will share insights from the perspective of a supervisor and long-time PhD examiner.

Whether you are curious about starting a PhD, navigating one, or mentoring others—this is an open space for sharing and learning.

(image credit: Eliott Reyna via Unsplash)