Research

Research Interests

Methodologies

Generative AI and large language models; machine learning and deep learning; causal inference and econometrics; reinforcement learning; data-driven optimization.

Applications

Platform and marketplace analytics; social network; AI agent; AI ethics; revenue management and pricing; inventory and supply chain management.

Research Papers

Peer-Refereed Publications

1. Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Management under Inventory-Dependent Demand, Operations Research, 62(5), 2014, 1077-1094 (with Nan Yang) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We study joint dynamic pricing and inventory control when demand depends on the displayed inventory level. We establish structural properties of the optimal policy and show that inventory-dependent demand significantly affects pricing and replenishment decisions.

2. Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Management under Fluctuating Procurement Costs, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 17(3), 2015, 321-334 (with Guang Xiao and Nan Yang) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We analyze dynamic pricing and inventory management when procurement costs fluctuate stochastically over time. We characterize the optimal policy structure and show how cost volatility impacts joint ordering and pricing strategies.

3. Dynamic Supply Risk Management with Signal-Based Forecast, Multi-Sourcing, and Discretionary Selling, Production and Operations Management, 26(7), 2017, 1399-1415 (with Long Gao, Nan Yang, and Ting Luo) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We develop a dynamic model for managing supply risk using demand signal-based forecasting, multi-sourcing, and discretionary selling. We show how integrating these strategies improves supply chain resilience under disruption risks.

4. Trade-in Remanufacturing, Customer Purchasing Behavior, and Government Policy, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 20(4), 2018, 601-616 (with Fuqiang Zhang) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We examine trade-in programs where firms remanufacture returned products and analyze the impact on customer purchasing behavior. We evaluate government subsidy policies and show their effectiveness depends on market and cost conditions.

• --- Finalist award in the POMS College of Supply Chain Management 2015 Best Student Paper Competition.
5. Comparative Statics Analysis of An Inventory Management Model with Dynamic Pricing, Market Environment Fluctuation, and Delayed Differentiation, Production and Operations Management, 31(1), 2022, 341-357 (with Nan Yang).
   Abstract

   We provide a comprehensive comparative statics analysis for an inventory management model featuring dynamic pricing, market environment fluctuation, and delayed differentiation. We derive monotonic relationships between model parameters and optimal policies.

6. Carpool Services for Ride-sharing Platforms: Price and Welfare Implications, Naval Research Logistics, 69(4), 2022, 550-565 (with Xuan Wang) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We analyze the pricing and welfare implications of introducing carpool services on ride-sharing platforms. We show that carpooling can benefit riders and drivers but may reduce platform profits depending on market conditions.

7. Competition and Coopetition for Two-sided Platforms, Production and Operations Management, 31(5), 2022, 1997-2014 (with Maxime Cohen) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We study competition and coopetition strategies between two-sided platforms that can cooperate on one side while competing on the other. We identify conditions under which such coopetition arises in equilibrium and characterize its welfare implications.

• --- Honorable Mention award in the INFORMS Service Science 2017 Best Cluster Paper Award.
8. Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Management in the Presence of Online Reviews, Production and Operations Management, 31(8), 2022, 3180-3197 (with Nan Yang) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We study joint dynamic pricing and inventory management when online reviews influence future demand. We show how review dynamics create intertemporal tradeoffs that alter optimal pricing and stocking decisions.

9. Cold Start to Improve Market Thickness on Online Advertising Platforms: Data-Driven Algorithms and Field Experiments, Management Science, 69(7), 2023, 3838-3860 (with Zikun Ye, Dennis J. Zhang, Heng Zhang, Xin Chen, and Zhiwei Xu) [Online Appendix].
   Abstract

   We propose data-driven algorithms to address the cold-start problem on online advertising platforms by improving market thickness for new advertisers. We validate the approach through large-scale field experiments on a major advertising platform.

• --- Accepted at the 2022 MSOM Service SIG Conference.
• --- Finalist award in the INFORMS Revenue Management & Pricing 2020 Student Paper Competition (Primary Awardee: Zikun Ye).
• --- [GitHub Repo] [Slides] [Video (in Chinese @Bilibili)] [Video (in English @YouTube)]
10. Data Aggregation and Demand Prediction, Operations Research, 70(5), 2022, 2597-2618 (with Maxime Cohen and Kevin J. Jiao) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We study how aggregating data across products and locations can improve demand prediction accuracy. We develop a data aggregation and combination framework and demonstrate its effectiveness through extensive experiments in retail settings.

• --- Finalist award in the INFORMS Data Mining Section 2019 Best Paper Award.
• --- [GitHub Repo]
11. The Impact of Social Nudges on User-Generated Content for Social Network Platforms, Management Science, 69(9), 2023, 5189-5208 (with Zhiyu Zeng, Hengchen Dai, Dennis J. Zhang, Heng Zhang, Max Shen, and Zhiwei Xu) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We investigate the causal impact of social nudges on user-generated content creation on social network platforms through a large-scale field experiment. We show that social nudges significantly boost content production and engagement.

• --- Finalist of the MSOM Student Paper Competition 2023 (Primary Awardee: Zhiyu Zeng).
• --- [GitHub Repo] [Slides]
12. Inventory Commitment and Monetary Compensation under Competition, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 25(6), 2023, 2142-2159 (with Junfei Lei, Fuqiang Zhang, and Yugang Yu) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We study how firms use inventory commitment and monetary compensation strategies to compete for customers. We show that availability guarantees and compensation policies can serve as effective competitive instruments.

13. Content Promotion for Online Content Platforms with the Diffusion Effect, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 26(3), 2024, 1062-1081 (with Yunduan Lin, Mengxin Wang, Max Shen, and Heng Zhang) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We develop an optimization framework for content promotion on online platforms that accounts for information diffusion effects across users. We show that ignoring diffusion leads to substantially suboptimal promotion strategies.

• --- Winner of the INFORMS Social Media Analytics 2022 Best Student Paper Award Competition (Primary Awardee: Yunduan Lin).
• --- Finalist of the INFORMS Minority Issues Forum Paper Competition 2024.
• --- [GitHub Repo]
14. Online Advertisement Allocation under Customer Choices and Algorithmic Fairness, Management Science, 71(1), 2025, 825-843 (with Xiaolong Li, Ying Rong, and Huan Zheng) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We study online advertisement allocation that balances customer choice behavior with algorithmic fairness constraints. We develop efficient algorithms and characterize the trade-off between platform revenue and fairness across advertisers.

• --- Accepted at the 2022 MSOM Supply Chain Management SIG Conference.
• --- [GitHub Repo]
15. Deep Learning Based Causal Inference for Large-Scale Combinatorial Experiments: Theory and Empirical Evidence, Management Science, forthcoming, 2025 (with Zikun Ye, Zhiqi Zhang, Dennis J. Zhang, and Heng Zhang) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We propose a deep learning framework for estimating causal effects in large-scale combinatorial experiments where treatments have complex interactions. We provide theoretical guarantees and validate the approach with data from a major online platform.

• --- Accepted at the ACM Conference on Economics and Computation (EC'23).
• --- Winner of the INFORMS Social Media Analytics 2023 Best Student Paper Award Competition (Primary Awardee: Zikun Ye).
• --- Second Prize in the CSAMSE 2023 Best Paper Award.
• --- [GitHub Repo] [Slides] [Video (in Chinese @Bilibili)]
16. Nonprogressive Diffusion on Social Networks: Approximation and Applications, Management Science, forthcoming, 2025 (with Yunduan Lin, Heng Zhang, and Max Shen) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We study nonprogressive diffusion processes on social networks where individuals can switch between adoption and non-adoption states. We develop approximation algorithms with provable performance guarantees and apply them to content promotion and public health interventions.

• --- Accepted at the ACM Conference on Economics and Computation (EC'24).
• --- Winner of the POMS-HK 2023 Best Student Paper Award Competition (Primary Awardee: Yunduan Lin).
• --- Finalist of the INFORMS Data Mining and Decision Analytics Workshop 2023 Best Paper Competition.
• --- [GitHub Repo]
17. Optimal Growth of a Two-Sided Platform with Heterogeneous Agents, Production and Operations Management, forthcoming, 2025 (with Yixin Zhu, Hongfan Chen, and Sean X. Zhou) [Online Appendix].
    Abstract

    We study how a two-sided platform should optimally grow its user base when agents on both sides are heterogeneous. We characterize how the platform should dynamically balance subsidies and pricing across sides to maximize long-term value.

• --- Accepted at the 2024 MSOM Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship SIG Conference.

Selected Working Papers

18. Dynamic Competition in Online Retailing: Implications of Network Effects (with Xin Geng, Zheyu Jiang and Nan Yang).
    Abstract

    We study dynamic competition among online retailers when network effects are present. We analyze how network effects shape equilibrium pricing strategies and market outcomes over time.

19. Attention as Investment: Algorithmic Management of Long Tail Creators (with Qinlu Hu, Ao Huang, and Ni (Nina) Huang).
    Abstract

    We study how platforms should allocate traffic to long-tail content creators as an investment in their growth potential. We develop an algorithmic management framework and validate it through field experiments on a major short-video platform.

• --- Accepted at the 2024 International Conference on Information Systems.
20. The Value of AI-Generated Metadata for UGC Platforms: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment (with Xinyi Zhang, Chenshuo Sun and Khim-Yong Goh).
    Abstract

    We evaluate the value of AI-generated metadata (e.g., titles, tags) for user-generated content platforms through a large-scale field experiment. We show that AI-generated metadata significantly improves content discoverability and user engagement.

• --- Accepted at the 2024 Conference on Information Systems and Technology.
• --- Accepted at the 2025 MSOM Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship SIG Conference.
21. Losing Face but Winning Fame: Social Comparison and Streamer Performance in Livestreaming Platforms (with Qinlu Hu, Ao Huang, and Ni (Nina) Huang).
    Abstract

    We examine how social comparison through PK (player-versus-player) contests affects streamer performance on livestreaming platforms. We find that public competition, even when losing, can paradoxically motivate higher subsequent effort and performance.

• --- Accepted at the 2025 Conference on Information Systems and Technology.
22. Synthesizing Evidence: Data-Pooling as a Tool for Treatment Selection in Online Experiments (with Zhenkang Peng, Chengzhang Li and Ying Rong).
    Abstract

    We develop a data-pooling methodology for synthesizing evidence across multiple online experiments to improve treatment selection decisions. We show how pooling experimental data enables more efficient and accurate policy recommendations.

• ---[GitHub Repo]
23. The Effect of Gender-Aware Curation Algorithms on User Engagement in User-Generated Content Platforms (with Xinyi Zhang, Khim-Yong Goh, and Chenshuo Sun).
    Abstract

    We examine how gender-aware content curation algorithms affect user engagement on user-generated content platforms through a field experiment. We evaluate the trade-offs between personalization, diversity, and fairness in algorithmic recommendations.

• --- Accepted at the 2025 Conference on Information Systems and Technology.
24. Improving Behavioral Alignment in LLM Social Simulations via Context Formation and Navigation (with Letian Kong and Qianran (Jenny) Jin).
    Abstract

    We propose methods to improve behavioral alignment in LLM-based social simulations through context formation and navigation. Our approach enhances the realism of simulated agent behaviors, enabling more reliable social science research applications.

• --- Accepted at the 2025 Conference on Information Systems and Technology.

Books

25. Demand Prediction in Retail - A Practical Guide to Leverage Data and Predictive Analytics, Springer Series in Supply Chain Management, ISBN 978-3-030-85855-1, 2022 (with Maxime Cohen, Paul-Emile Gras, and Arthur Pentecoste).
    Abstract

    A practical guide to leveraging data and predictive analytics for demand prediction in retail. It covers end-to-end workflows from data preparation to model deployment, illustrated with real-world case studies and code examples.

• --- Purchase the book @Springer or @Amazon.com.
• --- [GitHub Repo]

Research Awards and Grants

1. Alibaba Cloud, Joint Research Program, PI, HKD 435,405. March 2026-March 2028
2. Hong Kong Research Grants Council, Research Fellow Scheme, PI, HKD 5,465,160, January 2026-December 2030.
3. CUHK Business School Research Excellence Award 2024-2025, June 2025.
4. Didi Marketplace Technology, Joint Research Program, PI, RMB 700,000. July 2025-June 2026
5. Finalist of the INFORMS Minority Issues Forum Paper Competition 2024, October 2024.
6. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Excellent Young Scientist Program (优青) 72422004, PI, RMB 2,000,000, January 2025-December 2027.
7. Hong Kong Research Grants Council, General Research Fund 14503224, PI, HKD 886,865, January 2025-December 2027.
8. Finalist of the INFORMS Data Mining and Decision Analytics Workshop 2023 Best Paper Competition, October 2023.
9. Finalist of the MSOM Student Paper Competition 2023 (Primary Awardee: Zhiyu Zeng), October 2023.
10. Winner of the INFORMS Social Media Analytics 2023 Best Student Paper Award Competition (Primary Awardee: Zikun Ye), October 2023.
11. Second Prize of the CSAMSE 2023 Best Paper Award, July 2023.
12. Hong Kong Research Grants Council, General Research Fund 14504123, PI, HKD 444,066, January 2024-December 2025.
13. Tencent Collaboration with University Fund, PI, RMB 332,310, December 2022.
14. Winner of the POMS-HK 2023 Best Student Paper Award (Primary Awardee: Yunduan Lin), January 2023.
15. Winner of the INFORMS Social Media Analytics 2022 Best Student Paper Award (Primary Awardee: Yunduan Lin), October 2022.
16. CUHK 'Improvement on Competitiveness in Hiring New Faculties' Funding Scheme, PI, HKD 1,500,000, July 2022.
17. Hong Kong Research Grants Council, General Research Fund 14502722, PI, HKD 629,325, September 2022-August 2025.
18. Finalist award in the INFORMS Revenue Management & Pricing 2020 Student Paper Competition (Primary Awardee: Zikun Ye), October 2020.
19. Finalist award in the INFORMS Data Mining Section 2019 Best Paper Award, October 2019.
20. Shanghai Eastern Scholar, Young Scholar Program QD2018053, PI, RMB 200,000/Year, January 2019-December 2021.
21. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Young Scientist Program 71802133, PI, RMB 180,000, January 2019-December 2021.
22. Honorable Mention award in the INFORMS Service Science 2017 Best Cluster Paper Award, October 2017.
23. Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program 17PJC074, PI, RMB 100,000, September 2017-August 2019.
24. Finalist award in the POMS College of Supply Chain Management 2015 Best Student Paper Competition, May 2015.

PhD Dissertation

Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Management: Theory and Applications (supervised by Nan Yang and Fuqiang Zhang, 2024) [Defense Slides].

Notes, Reviews and Tutorials

1. AI for Business Research Lecture Notes: (2024), (2025).
   Abstract

   2024 Note. These scribed lecture notes cover foundational and frontier topics in AI for business research, including traditional machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, unsupervised learning, and their applications to business research problems.

   2025 Note. Building on the 2024 edition, these notes expand coverage to large language models, AI-powered causal inference, and their applications to business research problems.

• --- GitHub Repos: Spring 2026, Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024.
2. How to Make Our Research Useful (2024).
   Abstract

   This presentation discusses strategies for bridging the gap between academic research and real-world impact. It offers practical advice on engaging with industry, communicating research findings, and aligning scholarly work with problems that matter.

3. On the Operations Job Market: Reflections and Insights (2016).
   Abstract

   This note shares practical reflections and insights from navigating the operations management academic job market. It covers the application process, campus visits, and decision-making strategies for PhD candidates seeking faculty positions.

• --- [Slides] [Video]
4. An Introduction to Joint Pricing and Inventory Management under Stochastic Demand (2013).
   Abstract

   This tutorial provides an accessible introduction to the theory of joint pricing and inventory management under stochastic demand. It surveys key models, structural results, and solution techniques in this classical area of operations research.

5. Pricing and Inventory Management under Fluctuating Costs (2012).
   Abstract

   This note studies pricing and inventory management decisions when procurement costs fluctuate over time. It analyzes the structural properties of optimal policies and discusses implications for firms facing cost uncertainty.

6. Recent Development in Health-care Operations (B.S. thesis, advised by Ke Liu, 2011).
   Abstract

   This undergraduate thesis surveys recent developments in health-care operations research, covering patient flow management, resource allocation, and scheduling. It highlights key modeling approaches and their practical applications in improving health-care delivery.

Coauthors

Hongfan Chen, Xin Chen, Maxime Cohen, Hengchen Dai, Long Gao, Xin Geng, Khim-Yong Goh, Paul-Emile Gras, Qinlu Hu, Ao Huang, Ni (Nina) Huang, Zheyu Jiang, Kevin J. Jiao, Qianran (Jenny) Jin, Letian Kong, Junfei Lei, Xiaolong Li, Chengzhang Li, Yunduan Lin, Ting Luo, Zhenkang Peng, Arthur Pentecoste, Ying Rong, Max Shen, Chenshuo Sun, Mengxin Wang, Xuan Wang, Guang Xiao, Zhiwei Xu, Nan Yang, Zikun Ye, Yugang Yu, Zhiyu Zeng, Dennis J. Zhang, Fuqiang Zhang, Heng Zhang, Xinyi Zhang, Zhiqi Zhang, Huan Zheng, Sean X. Zhou, and Yixin Zhu.

Post-Doctoral Fellow Advising

1. Zhenkang Peng (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School 2024-2026; Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Antai College of Economics and Management, PhD 2024).
2. Yushan Zhou (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School 2025-2027; Dalian University of Technology, School of Management, PhD 2025).

PhD Student Advising

1. Kevin J. Jiao (Dissertation Committee, New York University, Stern School of Business, PhD 2019, Initial Placement: FINRA).
2. Xiaolong Li (Shanghai Jiaotong University, Antai College of Economics and Management, PhD 2019, Initial Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow at NUS IORA, then Assistant Professor at Durham University Business School).
3. Zikun Ye (Uiniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, PhD 2023, Initial Placement: Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Washington, Foster School of Business).
4. Zhiyu Zeng (Dissertation Committee, Tsinghua University, Department of Industrial Engineering, PhD 2023, Initial Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School, then Assistant Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Antai College of Economics and Management).
5. Yunduan Lin (University of California, Berkeley, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, PhD 2024, Initial Placement: Assistant Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School).
6. Junfei Lei (University of Washington, Foster School of Business, PhD 2023, Initial Placement: Post-Doctoral Fellow at INSEAD).
7. Zhiqi Zhang (Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School, Current PhD).
8. Zheyu Jiang (Dissertation Committee, University of Miami, Miami Herbert Business School, PhD 2023, Initial Placement: Assistant Professor, Nanjing University, School of Management and Engineering).
9. Zihan Zhao (Dissertation Committee, Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School, Current PhD).
10. Yixin Zhu (Dissertation Committee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, PhD 2025, Initial Placement: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, School of Information Management and Engineering).
11. Qinlu Hu (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
12. Xinyu Xu (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
13. Shu Zhang (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
14. Xinyi Zhang (The National University of Singapore, School of Computing, Current PhD).
15. Yifan Ren (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
16. Letian Kong (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
17. Zhengyun Yu (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
18. Keyu Chen (Advisor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CUHK Business School, Current PhD).
19. Ao Huang (University of Miami, Herbert Business School, Current PhD).
20. Ziyu Xiong (Peking University, Guanghua School of Management, Current PhD).

Undergraduate and Master Student Research Advising

1. Xinrui Wang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, Shanghai Jiaotong University, BS Statistics 2024).
2. Ziling Feng (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley, MSOR 2025).
3. Meiqi Chen (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, CUHK MSBA 2025).
4. Chang Chang (Renmin University of China, Undergraduate 2026).
5. Haiteng Zhang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, Chinese Academy of Sciences University, MS Statistics 2025).
6. Lizhuo Xie (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, MS Management Science and Engineering 2025).
7. Tonglin Zhang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Undergraduate 2024).
8. Zixiao Wang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, CUHK Shenzhen, Undergraduate 2024).
9. Jingzhou Jiang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, Southern University of Science and Technology, MS Statistics 2024).
10. Sijia Luo (Renmin University of China, Undergraduate 2025).
11. Qiansiqi Hu (CUHK Business School, MSBA 2024).
12. Zhiqi Li (CUHK Business School, MSBA 2024).
13. Wenyi Wu (CUHK Statistics Department, Undergraduate 2024).
14. Yuying Huang (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, New York University Shanghai, Undergraduate 2023).
15. Yanwen Liu (Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, Undergraduate 2024).
16. Haoyu Xu (CUHK Business School Research Assistant, New York University Shanghai, Undergraduate 2017).
17. Ziheng Wang (New York University Shanghai, Business Honors Thesis 2021).
18. Yiyi Zhang (New York University Shanghai, Business Honors Thesis 2018).
19. Yujia Ni (New York University Shanghai, Business Honors Thesis 2018).

Quotations

"Conferences and ArXiv are great places to find out what most clever and energetic people are working on, but where do you go to find out what clever and energetic people are not working on?"---David Aldous

"Wir müssen wissen - wir werden wissen!" (We must know - we will know!)---the epitaph on the tomb of David Hilbert.