MPhil Student Spotlight: Yao Fu

Name: Yao Fu
Gender: Female
Course: MPhil in Sociology and Demography (full time)
Supervisor: Dr Charles Rahal
Date Started: 2020
Nationality: Chinese
College: St Antony’s College
Undergraduate Degree: Emory University BA in Sociology and Human Health (highest honor)

Why did you choose to study Sociology & Demography?

I am always attracted to knowing more about the social surroundings in which we are embedded, and I am also drawn to studying population health through an often overlooked sociological lens. The MPhil programme here at the sociology department is really a niche place for both of my passions.

What attracted you to the Sociology department in Oxford?

The department is a vibrant community that is intellectually inspiring and also caring. The sociology department hosts world-leading scholars, which include professors, research staff and students, who possess a vast range of expertise and some share similar interests with me.

What do you hope to do when you finish your course?

I wish to eventually return to my home country and contribute to population health improvements. I hope to achieve this goal by either joining a population health-related research institution to continue conducting research or entering a health-oriented company.

What do you enjoy the most about living or studying at Oxford?

Oxford is a vibrant community where students are constantly exposed to world-leading scholars of diverse fields and they themselves come in with diverse backgrounds and stories to tell. I found this is truly a gift offered by Oxford.

Aside from studying, how do you spend your time?

I took a gap year between the third and fourth year of my undergraduate degree . During my year out I interned at an Australian middle school and Amazon, and dedicated some time to travel and self-exploration. I am an avid hiker and love spending time in the outdoors.