Wenlan Zhang is a third-year PhD student at the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), University College London. She is currently working on a research project that focuses on quantifying digitally invisible groups in the Global South, with a case study of Nairobi, Kenya. Wenlan’s research interests lie in the application of open data and machine learning methods for urban development and climate resilience, particularly in Global South countries. She is especially passionate about research that can contribute to practical social impact. Part of her PhD work has contributed to the IDEAMAPS project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prior to joining UCL, Wenlan completed an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London and a BEng in Marine Technology at Shandong University. Her background spans spatial data analysis, environmental policy, and marine engineering. Wenlan has also worked as a research assistant and intern at the World Bank, ITU, and UNIDO during her studies.