Maria Eduarda Variani holds a degree in International Relations from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and is a master's student in the same area at Peking University, part of the eighth cohort of Yenching Scholars. She has professional experience as an editorial assistant for the global south journal Conjuntura Austral, a project assistant, and a client success analyst. Her research interests include gender studies, Chinese cultural diplomacy, and Chinese foreign policy.