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Each year, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies awards grants to Notre Dame students and faculty fellows during the academic year for research, conferences, internships, service, and study abroad. 

Grants Awarded breakdown: 12 Undergraduate Student Research, 24 Roberts Endowment for Undergraduate Immersion in Asia, 14 Undergraduate Study Abroad and Summer Experiences, 11 Language Study Abroad Grants, 12 Graduate Student Research, 25 Faculty Research and Conference Presentations, and 6 Justice and Asia Grants

Undergraduate Student Research

  • Yoonseo Han, Mathematics and Philosophy, “Income Inequality, Birth Rates, Societal Division: A Research Project to Study the Growing Social Division in South Korea”
  • Brian Johny, Biological Sciences and Studio Art, “Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer, Socioeconomic Narratives, and Artisan Empowerment in Nepal’s Association for Craft Producers”
  • Maria Kangapadan, Theology, “Empowerment of Women in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church”
  • Eugene Kim, Business Analytics, ACMS, Energy Studies, “Beyond the Hype: The Effect of TikTok's ‘Get Ready With Me’ (GRWM) Trend on K-Beauty Product Lifecycle”
  • Kat Le, Business Analytics and Asian Studies, “‘Làm Móng Xuyên Bang:’ Motivations and Impacts of Vietnamese Nail Workers’ Domestic Migration”
  • Alice Lei, Political Science and Peace Studies, “Hong Kong Short Film”
  • Tia Mittle, Global Affairs and Political Science, “The Indian Paradox: How Voters’ Perceptions Shape Women's Political Trajectories”
  • William Pater, Biological Sciences, “Sociocultural Beliefs and Maternal Health Narratives Contributing to Suboptimal Utilization of Nutrition and Immunization Programs – Evidence from Mumbai”
  • Luke Reynolds, Neuroscience and Behavior, Philosophy, “Renée El-Khoury”
  • Sammi (Samantha) Scheiderman, Art, Art History, and Design, BFA Senior Thesis in Visual Communication Design, “Familial Ties”
  • Taylor Thigpen, Global Affairs, “UN Food System Rebuild”
  • Xiaoyu Zhang, Medieval Studies “Trust-Building Mechanisms in Emperor-Minister Relations during the Qin-Han Period”
Maria Kangapadan studies a book in the archives during her research in India
Religious observation in the Syro Malabar Catholic Church.

Maria Kangapadan '25 pursued archival research in Kerala, India for her theology capstone on the "Empowerment of Women in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church" over winter break.

Roberts Endowment for Undergraduate Immersion in Asia

  • Eileen Burger, Finance, Global Affairs, and Pre-Health, India Summer: History, Government, Economics, and Culture

  • Ella Caplea, Chemical Engineering, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Elizabeth Colwell, Architecture, Singapore Summer: Real Estate & Net Zero Development

  • Lizbeth Cordova Lopez, Psychology, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Katie Ford, Neuroscience and Behavior, Global Professional Experience Program, India

  • Thomas Frost, Mathematics and Economics, Nepal Summer: Sustainability and Energy Systems

  • Ayanna Golliday, Marketing and Asian Studies, “Global Professional Experience Program, Beijing”

  • Diana Kulyk, Architecture, Singapore Summer: Real Estate & Net Zero Development

  • Gaspar Larrain, Business Analytics, Global Professional Experience Program, Beijing

  • Jennifer Leon, Chemical Engineering and Political Science with a minor in Asian Studies, “Exploring the Pharmaceutical Industry in East Asia,” Global Research Experience Program, Taiwan

  • Diana Martinez, Architecture, Singapore Summer: Real Estate & Net Zero Development

  • Connor McKenna, American Studies, “Shifting Lenses: The Transnational Portrayal of Chinese Art in Western and Chinese Museums”

  • Alexander Miller, Finance and Marketing, Global Professional Experience Program, Hong Kong

  • Lucy Naessens, Neuroscience and Behavior, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Jacob Oberrieder, Electrical Engineering, Global Professional Experience Program, Hong Kong

  • Christopher Qian, Aerospace Engineering, Korean Study Abroad Experience

  • Adam Scott, Architecture, “From East to West: Adapting Asian Biophilic Strategies for Equitable Urban Renewal in America”

  • Kyle Smith, Finance, Nepal Summer: Sustainability and Energy Systems

  • Henrique Oliveira, Finance and Economics, Global Professional Experience Program, Hong Kong

  • Amaya Taylor, Political Science, Korean Language Institute (KLI) at Yonsei University

  • Sophia Torcelino, English and Psychology, Yonsei University: Bridging Literature, Psychology and Cultural Understanding

  • Faith Vaughn, Film, Television, and Theatre, Yonsei International Summer School

  • Matthew Whatley, Architecture, Week-long Intensive Study of the Korean Hanok

  • Natalie Wood, Neuroscience & Behavior, Science and Patient Advocacy, Study Abroad Program, Yonsei University in Seoul

Notre Dame students hold a school banner up during their visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Elephanta Caves.

The India Summer and Mumbai Global Professional Experience (GPE) students braved the ferry ride across the Arabian Sea to explore the iconic Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site carved directly into solid basalt rock between the 5th and 8th centuries CE. These ancient temples—crafted using only hammers and chisels—are dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva and feature the famous three-headed “Trimurti” sculpture, symbolizing creation, protection, and destruction. Photo credit: Notre Dame Global

Liu Institute Faculty Fellow Susan Ostermann (far left), recently promoted to associate professor of global affairs and political science, led the course India Summer: History, Government, Economics, and Culture. Two students, Mia Feix '27 (fourth from right) and Eileen Burger '27 (sixth from right), were sponsored for the four-week summer experience by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.

Undergraduate Study Abroad and Summer Experiences

  • Mia Feix, Psychology Pre-Health, India Summer: History, Government, Economics, and Culture

  • Susmita Gudla, Science Pre-Professional Studies, The Vegesna Foundation/Sanjeevini Hospital, India

  • Dylan Hockx, English and Political Science, Global Professional Experience, Beijing

  • Eva (Yidu) Hu, Philosophy and Business Analytics, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Tianyi Ji, Economics, Global Professional Experience Program, Hong Kong

  • Brooke Jones, Chemistry, Global Professional Experience Program, Beijing

  • Leia Jones, Neuroscience and Behavior, Semester Abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul

  • Christian Lee, Economics, Singapore Summer: Real Estate & Net Zero Development

  • Ivy Liu, Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics and Biology, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Shivani Modha, Finance and Economics, Singapore Summer: Real Estate & Net Zero Development

  • John Peterson, History and Japanese, Keio University Exchange Program

  • Lilly Polster, Philosophy and Economics, Beijing Summer: Philosophy of Science

  • Nikki Shao, Economics, Study with the Imperial Kiln Museum in Jingdezhen

  • Sawaka Yanagi, Accounting and Marketing, Study Abroad Program, Sophia University in Tokyo

Language Study

The Liu Institute supports undergraduate student language acquisition of Asian languages through the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures’ Summer Language Abroad Grant. 

Flag of China

Chinese

  • Miranda Alonso
  • Alexia Ludlow
Flag of Japan

Japanese

  • Alen Galaura
  • John Geitner
  • Adom Laryea-Adjei
  • Aidan Machado
  • Alan Yap
Flag of South Korea

Korean

  • Micah Blair
  • Claire Bleou
  • Rachel Cooper
  • Yoonseo Han

Graduate Student Research

  • Prakash BK, Ph.D. candidate, Anthropology, “Caste and Mental Health: Navigating Dalits’ Suffering and Healing in a Psychiatric Hospital in Nepal”

  • Anne Dowling, Ph.D. candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, “The Korea Society of Oceanographers Conference Presentation and Collaboration”

  • Wenzheng Fang, Ph.D. student, History, “Becoming Lobsters: A Freshwater Crawfish Species in the Transpacific Web of Life”

  • Anni Gu, Ph.D. student, Sociology, “Navigating between Places: How Symbolic Spaces Shape Chinese Immigrants’ Identity”

  • Jongsoo Hwang, Ph.D. student, Conducting, Sacred Music, “Integrating Gregorian Chant Principles with Korean Phonology: A Case Study of Fr. Wonjoo Park’s Responsorial Psalms”

  • Peitong Jing, Ph.D. candidate, Political Science, “Official Nationalism Online: Contemporary Lessons from India and China”

  • Saehwan Lee, Ph.D. student, Sociology, “Korean Protestants’ Narratives on Anti-Discrimination Law”

  • Inha Park, Ph.D. student, Italian Studies, “Corea in Modern Italy: Orientalist and Fascist Gaze”

  • Helen Quah, MFA student, English, “Primary Orality: Creative Homophonic and Visual Poetry Translation of Hokkien Language in Penang, Malaysia”

  • Pavithra Rajendran, Ph.D. candidate, Law, “Tracing Victorian Laws and Morality in a Decolonized Nation: A Persisting Legacy”

  • Nidhi Surendranath, Ph.D. student, English, “Reading the Border Between Song and Poem in Contemporary English Translations of Marathi Abhang”

  • En-Ya Tsai, Ph.D. student, Sociology, “Reaching the Nation: Mechanisms in Mobilizing Transnational Evangelical Network Identity and Managing Inner Group Conflicts”

Jongsoo Hwang next to a poster of the Korean Requiem poster from December 10, 2024.
"Korean Requiem: Assumptione Requiem," conducted by Master of Sacred Music student Jongsoo Hwang, commemorates the dual significance of August 15 for the Korean people—the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Korea’s Liberation Day in 1945. Recognizing the 80th anniversary of Korean liberation, this Requiem unites Western liturgical traditions with Korean cultural identity, emphasizing themes of love, peace, and hope. An expanded orchestral debut will take place in Korea on August 15, 2025. Funding from the Liu Institute allowed Hwang to carry out extensive research on the integration of Gregorian chant principles with Korean phonology in Korea and France.

Faculty Grants

  • Hayun Cho, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Sensing Care, Environment, and Survival in South Korean Feminist Filmmaking,” 2025 Asian Cinema Studies Society Conference, University of Hong Kong

  • Eva Dziadula, Economics, “​​The Role of Coresident Grandparents in Maternal Labor Supply among Asians in America,” Asian and Australasian Labour Economics, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand

  • Noriko Hanabusa, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Ungrading in Intermediate Japanese language courses,” 3rd International Symposium on Critical Language Teaching

  • Victoria Hui, Political Science, “Repressed at Home, Civil Society Goes Into Exile – and the Question of Positionality for Scholars-Activists,” Harvard-Yenching Institute Roundtable, Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference

  • Jennifer Huynh, American Studies, “1975: The End of the Vietnam War,” Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference

  • Kyle Jaros, Global Affairs, Participation for Pacific Affairs special issue on “Protecting Autonomy and Advancing Interests: How Smaller Countries Manage Their Relationships with an Increasingly Hostile China,” Academic workshop, Palacky University in the Czech Republic

  • Madhav Joshi, Kroc Institute, “Taliban’s Engagement with International Actors and Quest for International Recognition”

  • Hana Kang, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “From Campus to Global: Redefining Peer Interaction and Digital Literacy Development in Korean Language Learning for the Next Era,” American Association of Teachers of Korean annual conference and workshop

  • Amanda Kennell, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Placing Japanese Media, Part II”

  • Mehak Khan, English, Panel discussant on “20 Years of Impossible Desires (book by Gayatri Gopinath),” Association for Asian Studies Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal

  • Eun Young Julia Kim, Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures, Conference: 28th World Congress of Political Science in Seoul, Korea

  • Liam Kruger, English, “Novel Languages,” Biennial Conference of the Society for Novel Studies

  • Jincheng Liu, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Investigating the Acquisition of Synonymous Constructions by CSL Learners”

  • Jincheng Liu, East Asian Languages and Cultures, The 5th International Academic Symposium on Language Teaching and Research and The 21st International Academic Conference on Chinese Language Education

  • Congcong Ma, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “The Application of Marker Theory in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language,” 5th International Conference on Language Teaching and Research

  • Iris Ma, Global Affairs, “Storytelling and Narrative Power in International Affairs: The Case of China,” International Studies Association annual conference

  • Sisi Meng, Global Affairs, Panelist for session focused on bridging science and policy in disaster risk management, Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) 2024 conference, Beijing, China

  • Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi, English, “How To Vanish (Six Stories & A Novella)”

  • Jessica McManus Warnell, Management and Organization, “The well-being of workers in the booming business of climate disaster recovery: Lessons from Fukushima and Katrina,” International Association for Business & Society 36th Annual Conference, Maastricht, The Netherlands

  • Weibing Ye, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “AI-Enhanced Reading Pedagogy,” 5th International Conference on Language Teaching and Research

  • Patrick Yim, Music, “Transnational Sonic Encounters: Violin Meets Chinese Flutes and Guzheng Album”

  • Chengxu Yin, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “E-Writing and the Teaching and Learning of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL),” 5th International Conference on Language Teaching and Research

  • Sharon Yoon, Global Affairs, “The Exclusion and Inclusion of Migrants in South Korea,” Organizer and chair of panel, International Political Science Association World Conference, Seoul, South Korea; Presenter on panel, “Blackness and Self: Relationality of Race in Korea,” Society for East Asian Anthropology-in-Asia, Seoul National University

  • Yeonhee Yoon, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Ungrading in Intermediate Japanese language courses,” American Association of Teachers of Korean annual conference and workshop

  • Yongping Zhu, East Asian Languages and Cultures, “Theory and Pedagogy: Construction Grammar and Chinese Language Teaching,” 5th International Conference on Language Teaching and Research

Professor Eva Dziadula stands with coauthor Cynthia Bansak during the the AASLE conference in Bangkok.
Professor Eva Dziadula in front of a temple in Bangkok.

Eva Dziadula (on left), a Liu Institute faculty fellow and teaching professor in economics, presented her research and made connections with researchers at at the Asian and Australasian Labour Economics conference at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand with funding from the Liu Institute.

Justice and Asia Grants

  • Elsa Barron, Peace Studies and Political Science Ph.D. student, “Characterizing the Asia Pacific’s Leadership in Climate Justice Advocacy for Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation”

  • Rida Ejaz, International Peace Studies, Master of Global Affairs student, "Gender Injustice in Traditional Justice Systems of Balochistan: Impacts of Jirga on Women"
  • Victoria Hui, Political Science professor, “Hongkongers in Exile: Resisting Repression from Home Government and Surviving Anti-Immigration in Host Country”
  • Mark Johnson, Institute for Educational Initiatives professor, “Illustrating Climbing Gold Mountain: An Illustrated History of the Chinese Experience in Montana”

  • Rustam Mukhamedov, Master of Global Affairs student, and co-researcher Saadat Musabaeva ’23 Master of Global Affairs, “Exploring ‘Justice’ in Decolonial Activism in Central Asia: Case Studies from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan”

  • Helen Quah, MFA student, English, “Uncovering the Archive of Indentured Labour: Understanding the Cultural Lives of Chinese and Indian Migrants in 19th Century Guyana”

Justice and Asia word mark on a field of dark navy with pattern.

For more information on guidelines and deadlines for the upcoming academic year, please visit asia.nd.edu/grants.