Wenlan Zhang

Wenlan Zhang is a Research Assistant in Geospatial Data Science for the Mapineq Project at the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS). She contributes to the development of innovative spatial datasets that power the Mapineq dashboard, supporting research on global social and economic inequalities. Her work combines data processing with visualisation to make complex geospatial insights accessible to researchers and policymakers.

Wenlan is also a third-year PhD student at the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), University College London. Her research focuses on the application of open data and machine learning to tackle challenges in urban development and climate resilience, with a particular emphasis on Global South cities. Her PhD explores methods to quantify digitally invisible populations, using Nairobi, Kenya as a case study. She is especially passionate about leveraging research for practical social impact and inclusive policymaking.

Prior to joining UCL, Wenlan earned an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London and a BEng in Marine Technology from Shandong University. Her interdisciplinary background spans spatial data analysis and environmental policy, and she has gained professional experience as a research assistant and intern at the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).