My name is Zichen Liang, and I’m from China. I am a first-year PhD student in Cinema and Media Studies. My research explores melancholic aesthetics in Western representations of Chinese diasporic women.

I hold an MA in Cinema and Media Studies from UCLA and an MFA in Film Production from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Alongside my academic work, I have directed award-winning short films and taught in various settings. I’m especially passionate about bridging creative practice with critical research through both filmmaking and teaching.