Personal profile

Biography

 

I am a Senior Lecturer in Spatial Planning. Prior to this, I was a Lecturer and a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Manchester.

The first strand of my research centres on examining spatial inequalities, including their underlying determinants and socio-economic and environmental impacts, to inform and support spatial planning policies. My ongoing projects investigate spatial health inequalities and their relationships with socio-economic and environmental factors. Another strand of my research focuses on spatial structure, human mobility, their interactions, and sustainability implications. I employ a multi-scalar spatial perspective and mixed methods to analyse these issues, aiming to understand spatial planning challenges and identifying potential policy interventions and solutions.

Currently I am the Co-Associate Director of Research Ethics in the School of Environment, Education, and Development.

Methodological knowledge

My research employs mixed research methodologies with a particular focus on quantitative methods within the fields of planning, geography and social science, including:

  • Geospatial data analytics
  • Social statistics
  • Machine learning
  • Participatory methods

Teaching

  • URBN70011 Policy Making in Greater Manchester (Unit coordinator)
  • PLAN26041 Data Analytics for Planning and Real Estate (Unit coordinator)
  • PLAN20172 Applied Research for Planning and Real Estate (Unit co-coordinator)
  • PLAN60090&EVDV60890&PLAN60550&60560 MSc PGT Dissertation (Unit coordinator)
  • PLAN30000 UG Dissertation (Unit coordinator)
  • PLAN40761/PLAN60761 Digital Planning - Spatial and Policy Analysis (Unit contribution)
  • PLAN40861/PLAN60861 International Planning: System and Frameworks (Unit contribution)

Opportunities

I would be happy to hear from prospective PhD students with the research interests in the following areas: 

  • decision-making support in planning
  • spatial inequalities (e.g. spatial health inequalities)
  • travel behaviour, mobility and interactions with urban spatial structure
  • transport decarbonisation

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, A Multi-scale Decision Support Framework for Sustainable Urban Renewal in High-density Cities: A Case of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

31 Aug 201231 Jan 2017

Award Date: 31 Jan 2017

Bachelor of Science, Urban and Rural Planning, Nanjing University

1 Sept 200830 Jun 2012

Award Date: 30 Jun 2012

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Digital Futures
  • Manchester Urban Institute
  • Healthier Futures

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Helen Zheng is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or