My research lies at the intersection of political ecology, critical institutionalism, and the science of system transformation. I combine insights from these rich theories with mixed-methods approaches to understand how we can more effectively and equitably govern human–nature relations under uncertain conditions of global environmental changes. My work is guided by three interconnected themes:

Power and politics in environmental governance

I analyze how power relations are structured and exercised through environmental governance networks, particularly in relation to sustainability. My work traces power from below, through peasant responses to state-led conservation and restoration initiatives; across commodity chains—specifically the coffee value chain—where state, market, and community actors interact to shape and embed sustainable resource use and practices; and from the middle out, through the influence of civil society, researchers, and private sector actors on adaptive and inclusive governance mechanisms that translate global agendas, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, into locally grounded actions. By examining these interlinked and multi-scalar networks, I explore how governance arrangements can be reconfigured across sectors and scales to address systemic inequities, promote environmental justice, and advance sustainability in the face of escalating uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.

Pluralistic knowledge systems and data justice

I explore how diverse forms of knowledge—scientific, Indigenous, local, and experiential—are constructed, legitimized, and mobilized in environmental decision-making, revealing how power operates not only through institutions but also through epistemologies. This theme critically examines how pluralistic knowledge systems are negotiated in governance and how participatory and digital approaches—such as citizen science, human-centered design, and the mining of unstructured data on social media—mediate which forms of knowledge gain traction. By embedding principles of data justice, I interrogate who is included or excluded from these processes, and how legitimacy and authority are reshaped in the knowledge–policy interface, ultimately influencing who can claim expertise, shape narratives, and access decision-making power

Change, transformation, and governance capacities

I study the dynamics of socio-ecological change, from environmental degradation to pathways towards desired futures. My work focuses on governance capacities that enable collective action for climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and social justice. This includes questions of climate change and net-zero transitions, ecosystem services, land-based climate strategies (REDD+, carbon insetting, biodiversity credits, nature-based solutions), and people’s evolving relationships with their environment and non-human nature.

My approach is shaped by traditions of political and human ecology, rooted in activist-inspired and critically oriented scholarship, while advancing inter- and transdisciplinary engagement across science, policy, and society. Empirically, my research is most intensive in mainland Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, and is gradually expanding to other regions of the Global South such as East Africa, while increasingly contributing to debates at the global level.