The eighth annual University of Pennsylvania East Asian Studies Graduate Student Conference will take place in April 2026. GSRC is an organization based in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (EALC) that supports students across departments who research East Asia. Our activities encompass both social and academic events, aimed at providing Penn graduate students with opportunities for personal, scholarly, and communal development. This year’s conference will continue this tradition and welcome students from a variety of disciplines, approaches, and areas of expertise to discuss these questions and their larger significance for the field of East Asian Studies.

This year we expect a larger number of presenters and applicants from different backgrounds. While primarily focusing on graduate students, the conference also serves as a platform for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interested faculty members, to deepen their understanding of East Asia, encompassing its culture, history, literature, and other relevant aspects. A total of 12-15 presenters will be organized into 4 panels, and all will be moderated by discussants from the Penn faculty or alumni. Lunch and dinner reception will offer young scholars from Penn as well as other institutions the opportunity to network with their peers, exchange ideas, and receive feedback on their current projects.