Ian is a postdoctoral fellow in the Erb Institute​ at the University of Michigan. His research explores the dynamics of the interactions among regulators, business, and the public in the formation and implementation of environmental policies. He hopes his research on the complexity of environmental policy and management could illuminate the pathways to good environmental governance.

Ian received his Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. Before that, He got his MPA from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and completed his BA in Agricultural Economics at Renmin University of China.