Christina Xu

Sociology and Social Anthropology graduate from the University of Edinburgh. She is driven by a consistent interest in understanding gendered and affective experiences through a contested notion of politics and the ethics of business forms across women's and queer communities. She seeks to leverage impactful research communication to scale up influence across different sectors.

Location

Education

Edinburgh, UK | Chengdu, China

Master of Arts in Sociology and Social Anthropology (Bachelor’s equivalent in Scottish education system), The University of Edinburgh.

Aspiration

Currently working as a User Research Intern, I aspire to critically apply ethnographic and qualitative methods to enhance user and consumer experiences. I’m also interested in how these methods can support meaningful communication and deliverables in the age of AI and emerging technologies. In addition, I’m motivated to improve ethical and culturally sensitive development practices through my part-time work in the non-profit sector—striving to create meaningful social impact.

Reflection on the Mentorship Program

While I had just graduated from my bachelor's degree and was navigating the crossroads of career choices and potential academic paths, my mentor Evon Tay provided invaluable emotional support. Through bi-weekly reflections on my internship experiences and job applications, she not only offered guidance but also helped satisfy my curiosity about her day-to-day work environment. At times, job searching during a gap year and working can feel like solitary experiences, and I’m truly grateful to have had someone I could talk to—someone who offered constructive feedback that helped build my confidence and resilience in such a setting. To me, the mentorship programme has been a deeply interactive process. My mentor and I shared relevant experiences, discussing uncertainties in current job markets, sparking new questions and insights—especially in the fields of user research and design.