Ziwei Zhu

My research focuses on empirical operations management and ML-based probabilistic graphical models.  Specifically, I apply econometric methods together with probabilistic graphical models (e.g., causal DAGs) to study consumer behavior, service quality, and other operational problems. 

I work on both the empirical and methodological fronts: 

(1) empirically, I analyze influence pathways within networks to inform operational decisions for online marketplaces, omnichannel retailers, and other organizations.

 (2) methodologically, I design and apply data-driven approaches to uncover the underlying network structures that illuminate these mechanisms. 

I am fortunate to be advised and supported by Professors Vishal Gaur, Bradley Staats, and Nur Kaynar in these research areas. Besides, I am grateful for the support of Professors Chris Forman and Saravanan Kesavan in my doctoral studies. 

My research on causal product networks, modeled with causal DAGs to represent causal relationships among product purchases across categories, has attracted interest across the retail and service industries. We collaborate with large U.S. retailers to conduct field experiments that inform assortment planning, product layout, and email-marketing strategies.