Xintong Chen studies the auditory cultures of migration across the South China Sea from the 17th to 20th centuries. Her research uncovers how sound and listening practices created shared “cultural commons” among diverse groups of migrants and sojourners, offering a new perspective on migration as a lived and cultural process beyond political or economic frameworks.

Degree Pursued: PhD

Anticipated Degree Year: 2027-28

Committee Chair/Advisor: Eric Tagliacozzo

Discipline: Southeast Asian History

Primary Language: Chinese, Indonesian, Hindi

Research Countries: TBD

Research Interests: Human-Place Relations, Oceanic History, Trans-regional Connections, the Positioning of Southeast Asia in Asia and the Global South