PhD Student
Pronouns: he/him/他 (tā)
Education
MLA, Landscape Architecture, University of Oregon
BS, Agribusiness, National Chung Hsing University
Bio
William Weiti Lien is a PhD student at the Bren School, advised by Professor Grace Wu. His research focuses on engineering, geo-spatial, and data-driven approaches to explore collocation strategies for power systems, aiming to strengthen synergies and navigate trade-offs between land-use planning and energy planning. His past research examined power system collocation challenges through the lenses of science and technology studies and political economy.
He is a PINA-certified permaculture teacher, an ISA-certified Arborist, and a Registered Landscape Architect in the state of Mississippi. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and a minor in horticulture from National Chung Hsing University, as well as a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon. His master’s thesis applied the alternative futures method to analyze landscape change in the context of conflicts between energy development and wetland use.
At Bren, William is eager to collaborate across disciplines to address the intersections of environmental health, landscape change, and human livelihoods. He believes that the preservation and stewardship of the commons are foundational to resilient and sustainable futures. His broader interests include community design, food systems, solidarity economies, spatial governance, and Austronesian cultural revitalization.
Year Admitted
2025
Faculty Advisor(s)
Grace Wu