Research

Research Interests: 

Applied Microeconomics, Behavioral Economics, Industrial Organization, Consumer Behavior in Marketing

Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Luxury Brand Marketing

Research Fields: 

• The Economics of Social Media

• The Economics of Fashion Industry

• The Impact of Brand on Consumer Behavior

• The Impact of Online Social Networks on Economic Behavior

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA - SM25 - In Progress

Research Assistant in Operations Research, Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Advisor: Prof. Huaiyang Zhong)

Under the supervision of Prof. Huaiyang Zhong, I am currently engaging in a research project that applies Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) to healthcare decision-making. To build foundational understanding, I first studied two core papers on MDP applications in chronic disease and HIV treatment, then developed and presented a slide deck summarizing the models, assumptions, and optimization frameworks used. Following the presentation, Prof. Zhong introduced a new project focused on using MDPs to optimize the timing of institutionalization for dementia patients—a decision that must balance both patient quality of life and caregiver burden. We are currently in the early stages of adapting the model to incorporate both medical severity indicators (such as MMSE/CDR scores and ADL dependence) and caregiver stress measures, with further collaboration planned to refine the model structure and decision policies.

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA - SM23

Research Assistant in Economics, Department of Economics (Advisor: Prof. Xu Lin) 

I worked as a research assistant on a summer intern project that focused on The Impact of Online Social Networks on Economic Behavior. Over a period of three months, I worked with a team of researchers to collect social media data at both individual and regional levels. I collected articles from various countries and regions to understand how individuals in other regions responded. 

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA - SP22, FA22, SP23

Undergraduate Research Assistant in Economics, Department of Economics (Advisor: Prof. Xu Lin)

As an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Economics at Virginia Tech, I work closely with the program director to fulfill research requirements related to The Economics of the Fashion Industry, Social Media, and The Impact of Brands on Consumer Behavior. My responsibilities include reviewing academic articles on these topics, summarizing them, and providing my reflections based on my analysis. Through this experience, I have developed strong research skills and gained valuable insight into the fashion industry and consumer behavior. This opportunity has provided me with practical experience in the research process and has allowed me to contribute to important academic discussions. I am grateful for this experience, which has helped me to further my academic and professional goals in the field of economics.