Her current work uses an anthropological approach to examine the socioeconomic, cultural, and political context of antibiotic resistance, as well as the tensions in practices of antibiotic use, distribution, and governance in Vietnamese rural communities. Prior to that, she studied practices and perceptions of the informed consent process in clinical trials at OUCRU. 

Yen also worked as a data collector for several studies, including studies exploring the socio-cultural context of access to medications for viral hepatitis and the experiences of COVID-19 and the impacts of the local, national and global responses within vulnerable communities in Vietnam.