Junyao He is an economic geographer and computational social scientist affiliated with the Department of Economic Geography at the University of Groningen. His research uses complex networks and spatial economics to study how remote work, digitalisation, and emerging technologies reshape labour markets, urban systems, migration, human mobility, and regional inequality.
His work connects four empirical fields: urban planning and urban studies; urban and economic geography; mobility and migration; and computational social science. His methodological work combines network analysis, spatial econometrics, causal inference, agent based modelling, spatial microsimulation, large scale text analysis, and interpretable machine learning.
Junyao He completed a PhD in Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University. He holds an MSc in Urban Design and International Planning from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Human Geography and Urban and Rural Planning from Southwest University.
Current research
Junyao He’s current research is organised around two connected programmes:
- Hybrid work and spatial restructuring: Remote and hybrid work alter job home networks, residential relocation, labour market reach, housing pressures, and uneven regional development. See Research and the Netherlands job home network paper.
- Mobility networks and regional inequality: Migration, relocation, and digitally enabled mobility connect cities and regions while redistributing opportunity. This includes digital nomad mobility and heterogeneous Dutch migration networks.
A continuing research line examines digital planning, platform governance, and networked power, extending his doctoral work on social media participation and inequalities in collaborative planning. A newer direction studies AI, innovation, and regional networks through large scale news text and graph based methods.
See the Research page for fuller descriptions, Projects for principal doctoral and postdoctoral projects, Publications for published work, Working Papers for current manuscripts, Activities for blogs, talks, and conferences, and Teaching for courses and supervision.
Recent
- PhD thesis (2026): Network Power and Social Media: Reshaping Power Dynamics in Collaborative Planning in China.
- Journal article (2026): Social Media Influence on Collaborative Planning: Framing Strategies in Online Public Participation.
- Current project: hybrid work and the restructuring of Spanish and Dutch job home networks.
- Current project: global digital nomad mobility networks and their urban drivers.
Contact
Department of Economic Geography, University of Groningen
Email: J.HE@RUG.NL
Google Scholar · ORCID · LinkedIn
Junyao is also a passionate landscape and astrophotographer. His photography documents natural and urban landscapes, night skies, and the Milky Way. Selected work is available on Instagram and Xiaohongshu.