Angela Li

Department: Sociology
Faculty Adviser: Patrick Sharkey
Year of Study: G5
Undergraduate School: University of Chicago
Undergraduate Major: Economics and Public Policy Studies

Personal Bio

I am a daughter of immigrants who migrated to New York City in the 90s to pursue work and educational opportunities. I was born in the Bronx and moved to Virginia in my childhood. During college, I studied Economics and Public Policy because they seemed like ways to contribute back to society in ways that took advantage of my logical brain.

In college, I tried out opportunities in nonprofit and government work, startups, and research, all focused on addressing urban inequality. More specifically, I worked for Chicago Public Schools, interned at a civic innovation nonprofit in NYC, and wrote my senior thesis on housing and demolition in Detroit. This was all while I was working part-time jobs on campus and pursuing campus extracurriculars.

After I graduated, I interned at a small transit startup where I worked with municipal governments to help them serve their constituents. After that, I worked for two years at the Center for Spatial Data Science researching access to treatment for the opioid epidemic and teaching spatial analysis methods. During those two years, I decided I wanted to pursue a PhD.

Fun Fact

My favorite place in Princeton is The Little Chef, which has the absolute best croissants in town! Overall, I am a big foodie and have enjoyed exploring the diverse foods NJ offers, from biryani to bagels!

Research Pitch

I'm a sociologist and I'm interested in questions of urban inequality. I use quantitative methods and spatial analysis (i.e. GIS) to study inequality in the US. For example, why do certain neighborhoods have access to good schools, healthcare, housing, and employment whereas other areas experience persistent poverty or limited opportunity? What does that mean for the people who live in various places? I am interested in documenting these processes over time. Additionally, I am interested in the policies and institutions that create these inequalities and how we can address these challenges today.

Also - I have a secondary interest in computational social science and quantitative methodology. I'm a Graduate Fellow for the Data-Driven Social Science initiative and co-organize the Princeton R Group on campus.

Upcoming Programs That I Am Attending:

Plans for Summer 2025

Interested in participating in Summer 2025 ReMatch+ program.