Chien-fei
Professor of Sociology
Dr. Chien-fei Chen is a Professor of Sociology at Clemson University. She previously served as the Energy and Environmental Director at the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment and as the Director of Education, Diversity, and Inclusion at the NSF-DOE Center for Ultra-Wide-Area Resilient Electrical Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT), University of Tennessee. Dr. Chen’s research focuses on environmental sociology, climate change, energy affordability and environmental stressors, social determinants of health, renewable energy technology adoption, and community engagement. Her current research aims to integrate social and technological aspects to improve grid and community resilience, building efficiency, sustainability, and energy affordability. Her work provides valuable insights for academics, communities, utilities, and policymakers. Dr. Chen is widely published in interdisciplinary journals and ctively involved in several international and interdisciplinary networks, Dr. Chen has secured over research grants as either a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator from the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Wellcome Trust, and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She was also honored with the 2019-2020 Fulbright U.S. and U.K. Global Scholar Awards for her work in energy and environmental issues.
View Google Scholar Profile →
This direction aims to advance equitable energy transitions and environmental protections by informing policy frameworks that address historical and systemic disparities. Ensuring that public have fair access to resources, participation, and benefits within environmental governance.
Focused on the intersection of society, infrastructure, and technology, this area seeks to enhance climate resilience through integrated thinking. Research supports the development of adaptive solutions that strengthen urban and regional responses to environmental and energy stressors.
This research area investigates participatory models and behavioral strategies that promote sustainable practices and social cohesion. The goal is to empower communities through inclusive processes that encourage long-term engagement and transformative change.
Aiming to ensure ethical, transparent, and equitable use of data and artificial intelligence, this direction explores how digital technologies can be leveraged to inform socially responsible research and policy. The focus is on reducing bias and enhancing access to data-driven insights for the public good.
Explores how psychological, social, and cultural factors influence individual and collective energy use and sustainability. By understanding motivations, perceptions, and decision-making processes, inform more effective policies and interventions that promote long-term sustainable practices and energy transitions.
Focusing on the interconnectedness of climate, social systems, and energy infrastructure, this area aims to build holistic resilience across three dimensions that emphasize strategies that enhance the adaptability of communities, strengthen the reliability of energy grids, and cope with climate crisis through integrated planning and innovation.
Latest Updates
Recent developments from the GRIT Lab
Third U.S.—JAPAN Clean Energy Workshop
International collaboration on clean energy and decarbonization strategies.
New NSF Grant Awarded
Community-centered microgrid deployment for energy justice research.
Energy Justice Publication
Latest research on machine learning bias in energy systems published.