Yuan Wang's research interests cover global China, African politics and comparative political economy of development. She is especially interested in African state effectiveness and China's economic and political engagement with Africa. Her teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include China and the world, Sino-African relations, and African politics and development.

Her book project investigates why Chinese-financed and Chinese-constructed projects follow starkly contrasting trajectories in different African countries. She has also undertaken research projects covering Chinese overseas engagement in Cambodia and Europe. Her papers have been published in leading academic journals such as Comparative Politics.

She received a bachelor of law in international relations from Shanghai International Studies University and a master of public policy from Harvard Kennedy School. Oxford University awarded her both a master of science in politics research and a doctor of philosophy in politics. She was the 2021-22 fellow at the Columbia-Harvard China and the world program and postdoctoral research scholar at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University. She also taught Sino-African Relations in History and Present at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Before returning to academia, she served in the China office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and at the Sino-Africa Centre of Excellence Foundation, Nairobi office.

More details can be found on Wang's personal website at yuan-wang.org.