(Ph.D. in Anthropology, 2015, University of Florida).
Yang’s research interests revolve around migration, entrepreneurship, and development in the transnational setting and their socioeconomic impacts on local communities. His Ph.D. research examines everyday practices of Chinese entrepreneurs in Ghana to explore ways in which South-South migration is mediated by Ghana’s neoliberal policies. His recent works include investigations of how Chinese investments in agribusiness and gold mining exert impacts on community development, and how corporate social responsibility is perceived and practiced among entrepreneurs.
His proposed research as a LICCI collaborator will investigate how indigenous stakeholders understand and respond to climate change in the aftermath of Typhoon in the Northern Marianas Islands in relation to its sustainable development.