Dr Kristen Jianting Zhao applies advanced technologies and innovative methodologies to advance liveability and shape smart, sustainable urban futures. Her PhD research on urban experimentation, which received an Outstanding Rating (Top 5%), critically redefined design paradigms through a global analysis of tactical urbanism.

She brings strong technical expertise in programming (Python, R, JavaScript) and spatial analytics, initially developed during her master’s training in Pennsylvania and further strengthened through research positions at leading universities and a geospatial technology firm, Azavea Inc. Her academic foundation in Landscape Architecture, established through the ASLA-accredited program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is complemented by professional experience at internationally renowned firms such as EDSA Inc.

Dr Zhao has published ten peer-reviewed articles in Environment and Planning B, Landscape and Urban Planning, and other high-impact journals in urban planning and design. Her research excellence has been recognised with multiple awards, including the Royal Town Planning Institute Commendation in Research Excellence (2022), the HKU Research Output Prize (2022), and the IACP Best Student Paper Award (2021).