Dr. Zhao Xiru is a Research Assistant on the ORA 7-funded Inclusive Peace project. She earned her PhD in International Legal Studies from Waseda University. Her research explores the intersections of national and human security, with a particular focus on COVID-19 and ontological security. She employs natural language processing (NLP) tools to analyze state discourse and regulatory responses to public health crises. Dr. Zhao is also interested in the broader field of public regulation, examining how legal and policy frameworks adapt in times of crisis. Her interdisciplinary work bridges international law, security studies, and digital methodologies.