About Our Team

Yingqiu is an incoming Shorenstein Postdoctoral Fellow on Contemporary Asia at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of technology, innovation, power politics, and global governance, with a particular focus on Asia's role in the global digital revolution and governance. She is currently completing her book project, A Mosaic of Mundane Innovations: Emerging Powers, Multinational Firms, and Global 5G Technology Rules, which explores how latecomer economies such as China and South Korea have emerged as pivotal actors in global technology governance.

Growing up in Sichuan, pandas have always held a special place in Yingqiu's life. Watching them has been a personal escape—an opportunity to unwind from academia and reconnect with something pure and joyful. Now, this simple passion has evolved into something much larger. Through Pandatabase, Yingqiu aims to bridge political science research with insights from animal studies, conservation, and literature to foster interdisciplinary conversations, mentorship, and meaningful contributions to public understanding of these extraordinary animals and their global journeys.

Jiaqi Yao is a Ph.D Candidate in Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her dissertation project, "Journeying to the Authentic Borderlands: Chinese Travel Narratives in the Era of National Crisis, 1921-1945," explores the fascinating terrain of West China, particularly the Sino-Tibetan borderlands during the Republican era. By illuminating the dynamic, transnational interactions of this period, Yao's work aims to enrich our understanding of Chinese travel narratives and Chinese borderlands through the lens of dynamic, transnational interactions that highlight the complexities of nationalism, cosmopolitanism, and modernization.

Yao's academic pursuits include Chinese travel literature and culture, film studies, and print culture. In an unexpected twist, her scholarly journey led her to the captivating world of pandas through her study of the Young family - Jack, Quentin, and Adelaide Su-Lin - Chinese American adventurers who played pivotal roles in the global "discovery" of pandas in the 1930s. This unique intersection of travel narratives and panda diplomacy adds a delightful dimension to Yao's research portfolio.

Toby Huang is a versatile technologist with 5+ years of experience spanning full-stack development, machine learning, and engineering management. Having led cross-functional teams to deliver data-driven solutions, mentored junior engineers, and implemented Agile practices to enhance collaboration, he now spearheads the technical architecture, database optimization, and maintenance of the Pandatabase platform. His expertise in React, GraphQL, and cloud technologies has been instrumental in building scalable systems, such as a geographic data visualization platform for public data analysis and high-performance internal communication tools.

Beyond code, Toby's passion for bridging technology and social impact aligns with Pandatabase's mission. As a volunteer providing technical support for NGOs, he has refined his ability to translate complex systems into user-friendly applications. His love for travel and culinary adventures mirrors the team's exploratory spirit—whether savoring local delicacies or untangling codebases, Toby thrives on turning challenges into opportunities for innovation. A dedicated advocate for open-source projects, he believes technology should empower both researchers and the public to engage meaningfully with conservation efforts.