Ying Zhou received her Ph.D. in Chinese Linguistics and her M.A. in Second Language Studies from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She earned her B.A. in English from Beijing Language and Culture University in China.

Her research centers on second language acquisition and pedagogy, with particular interest in affective factors in language learning and second language assessment. She has published journal articles and book chapters on individual differences and affective variables in learning Chinese as a second language. Her broader research interests include second language assessment, individual differences, curriculum design, linguistic landscapes, and intercultural studies.