Zhiting is a mixed-methods researcher with a multidisciplinary background in human geography, urban planning, and building and construction. Currently pursuing a PhD, her research investigates summer indoor overheating in Aotearoa New Zealand housing and its impact on health and wellbeing, with a special focus on public housing communities. Her research examines how indoor thermal conditions affect residents’ health and well-being and explores the challenges of energy poverty. Zhiting has a deep interest in energy-efficient solutions to help create homes that stay comfortable year-round in a changing climate. Zhiting is skilled in indoor environmental monitoring, statistical analysis, and qualitative data collection and analysis.
Conferences
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K.C., Pierse, N., Ericson, E., Stephenson, K. 21 Feb 2025. ‘Summertime indoor overheating and energy poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand public housing’. Australasian Housing Researchers Conference, Sydney, Australia. Oral presentation.
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K.C., Pierse, N. 22 Nov 2024. ‘Indoor overheating and summer energy poverty in public housing’. Otago Energy Research Centre 18th annual conference, Dunedin, New Zealand. Oral presentation.
O’Sullivan, K.C., Chen, Z. Nov 2024. ‘Raukawa Energy Innovation Project Baseline Results: Understanding energy hardship in Raukawa’. Otago Energy Research Centre 18th annual conference, Dunedin, New Zealand. Oral presentation.
O’Sullivan, K.C., Chen, Z., Dohig, R.K., Pierse, N. Nov 2024. ‘Energy and health equity impacts of a transition to using active cooling in a temperate country (NZ)’. Urban Transitions Conference, Spain. Oral presentation.