Current Projects
Below are several of my research projects in progress. If you have any questions about them or would like to offer your perspective on these topics, please feel free to contact me through the form at the bottom of this page.
01
Political economy of lithium and copper value chains
This project examines the political economy of lithium and copper value chains across several countries, including China, Argentina, Chile, and the U.S. In particular, it focuses on three stages in these value chains: 1. financing, 2. exploration, and 3. recycling. Across these three stages, areas of interest include the impacts of lithium prices on decision-making, new technological developments, and political processes at multiple scales (international, national, regional, and local).
This project is funded by Berkeley Economy and Society Initiative 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 Political Economy Research Award, a Tinker Field Research Grant, an Institute of International Studies Pre-Dissertation Research Grant, an Energy and Resources Group Mini-Grant, an American Association of Geographers Latin America Specialty Group Field Study Award, a Lau Graduate Fellowship, and a California-China Climate Institute Fieldwork Award.
02
Barriers and opportunities for moving up the cobalt value chain in the DRC and Zambia
A collaboration with Prof. Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dr. Abay Yimere, and Dr. Agus Sari, this project explores the barriers and opportunities for moving up the cobalt value chain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia. In particular, the project explores the possibility of developing capacity for late-stage cobalt processing or battery precursor production in-country. It examines the major sociopolitical, economic, and environmental dynamics operating at multiple scales across the cobalt value chain in these two countries.
03
Barriers and drivers of the global trade in used electric vehicles
A collaboration with Dr. Hengrui Liu, this project examines the barriers and drivers behind the global trade in used electric vehicles. The first part of the project consists of a quantitative analysis of this trend. The second part of the project explores several countries in more detail to clarify the key sociopolitical, economic, and environmental dynamics. As the international flow of used electric vehicles picks up speed, this project aims to provide insights into possible future trajectories and implications of this phenomenon.
