1987-91: Overseas Researcher sent by the Institute of Developing Economies. Affiliated at the Los Andes University at Bogota, Colombia. Research project on "Urban Irregular Settlements: Analysis on Rural-Urban Labor Migration".
1992-93: Joint Research with CINEP on "Upgrading Process of Urban Popular Settlements in Bogota" financed by the Institute of Developing Economies.
1995-96: Joint Research with Colombian academics on "Role of JAC (Community-based association) and the improving process of irregular settlements in Bogota"
1998-2007: Field research on the possibility of community participation in the urban upgrading process of the irregular settlements, as the research project for doctoral dissertation for UCL(University College London).
2004-07: Research on the issues such as "forced displacement", "political and social change" and "community-based peace building process" in Colombia, as part of the research group on Social Development for the COE-AGLOS research project.
2006-08: Research on "Social Movements in Latin America: Peace building movement with people's initiative in Colombia", financed by the Institute of Developing Economies.
2008-09: Overseas research financed by Sophia University, on "Popular organization and social movements in the regions with high risk of armed conflict in Colombia".
2009-12: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C) on "Global Economic Development and Local Initiative: Study on the Peasant Movements in the Colombian Regions with Armed Conflict".
2011-13: Joint Research with JICA Research Institute on "Confronting Land and Property Problems for Peace in the Post conflict Countries".
2014-17: Group Collaborative Research in Sophia University on "Latin America in the Age of Asia and the Pacific: Changing International Relations and the Concept of Region"
2014-18: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) on "Solidarity Economy in Search for the Common Good: Lessons from Latin American Experiences"
2016-17: Overseas Research on "Solidarity Economy in Europe and Latin America: Conceptual Framework and Practices", affiliated with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) and CNAM (France).
My research topics have been on social development, social movement and solidarity economy in Latin America, with a special focus on Colombia. Recently I am following the peace process in Colombia as well. Currently I am mostly interested in the views and dynamics of the communities in the so-called "marginalized" territories. The results obtained through my research are used as the central materials for my teaching assignments.
(Subject of research)
Urban Irregular Settlements: Analysis on Rural-Urban Labor Migration
Developing process of the "barrios" (urban popular settlements) in the context of political and administrative decentralization.
Research on the habitat improving process of irregular settlements and the role of the community-based association (JAC).
Possibility of the "development model based on the community participation" under the neo-liberal economic policies.
Forced displacement and community-based peace building process in Colombia
Social Movements in Latin America: Peace building movement with people's initiative in Colombia
Popular organization and social movements in the regions with high risk of armed conflict in Colombia
Global Economic Development and Local Initiative: Study on the Peasant Movements in the Colombian Regions with Armed Conflict. Deon
Confronting Land and Property Problems for Peace in the Post conflict Countries:Colombian case.
Group Collaborative Research in Sophia University on "Latin America in the Age of Asia and the Pacific: Changing International Relations and the Concept of Region"
Solidarity Economy in Search for the Common Good: Lessons from Latin American Experiences.
Solidarity Economy in Europe and Latin America: Conceptual Framework and Practices