My research interest lies in phonological theory and its interface with phonetics and morphology. My work often combines theoretical frameworks with empirical data collected through fieldwork and phonetic analysis, aiming to bridge the theoretical and empirical dimensions of phonology. After getting my PhD in Linguistics from the University of Southern California, I am now a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

I primarily focus on understudied Chinese dialects, with a particular emphasis on the diminutive patterns: the ways languages modify words to make them sound smaller, cuter, or more affectionate. My fascination with these intricate patterns traces back to the local dialects of my hometown and the nostalgic memories of my grandmother’s words.

The pronounciation of my name in Mandarin Chinese: [i˥.fan˧˥.jɑŋ˧˥].