Xingfan Lai is a visiting research student of Center for Higher Education Research of Southern University of Science and Technology. She graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor’s degree in linguistics in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, and obtained her master's degree from Peking University of Educational Studies.

Xingfan Lai has been involved in 4 research projects while studying for her master, including a report commissioned by MOE on the exam-oriented policy of China’s physical and arts education. She also managed the project "Returned Swallows: Why Chinese Scholars Studying Abroad Choose to Return to China", and completed over 30 exclusive interviews. Her research interest currently focuses on issues of educational sociology and educational theory.