Dr Isabelle Cockel is Senior Lecturer in East Asian and International Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth.

Her research focuses on labour and marriage migration in East Asia, examining how the state instrumentalises immigration for political and economic interests.

She publishes on topics including sovereignty, citizenship, gender, activism, and irregular farm work in the informal labour market.

Dr Cockel uses academic blogs to raise public awareness of inequality and injustice embedded in labour migration, with a particular focus on gender dynamics.

Taking a gender-focused approach, she also studies the Cold War in East Asia. Using women broadcasters as a case study, she argues that propaganda broadcasting on the radio constructs an ideological soundscape across the Taiwan Strait.

She currently serves as the Secretary-General of the European Association of Taiwan Studies (2018-2025) and holds positions as an Associate Editor of Asia Pacific Viewpoint and a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Taiwan Studies.