Sociology

Julia Adams teaches and conducts research in the areas of state formation; social theory and knowledge; family, sex and gender; early modern European politics; and colonialism and empire. Her current research focuses on patrimonial politics in world history; the sociology of agency relations and modernity; and the representation of academic knowledge on Wikipedia and other digital platforms.

Muhammad Amasha is a sociology PhD candidate at Yale University. His research interests include politics, culture, theory, and religion. Muhammad’s doctoral dissertation examines political polarization and investigates how political competition can devolve into violent conflict, especially during unsettled times. His research uses archival, interview, and computational methods. 

Grace Kao is IBM Professor of Sociology and professor of ethnicity, race, and migration (secondary appointment, by courtesy) at Yale University. Her research focuses on: 1) racial, ethnic, and immigrant differences in educational outcomes and transition to adulthood; 2) interracial friendships and romantic relationships; 3) sociology of music, especially K-pop and the Hallyu; and 4) dating and marriage in S. Korea. She has written numerous articles and books on these topics.

Bruce Liang is a PhD student in Sociology. His main research interest concerns examining the role of culture in facilitating social reproduction—and conversely, social mobility—with a focus on these mechanisms in educational institutions. He uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. Bruce’s current project draws on 70 in-depth interviews with students at a large research university to explore class-based disparities in how students engage with their professors. He holds an Honors Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Toronto.