Hello! I’m Yajie, a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at the University of South Florida. My research centers on networks and innovation. I’m dedicated to incorporating diverse perspectives and methods from various fields to enhance my work and am always on the lookout for interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities.
Undergraduate
In my first two years of university, I thoroughly enjoyed the general education I received, but it was the core courses in economics that captured my heart. Initially, I was drawn to economics because of its similarities to physics—my favorite subject during middle and high school. Like physics, economics uses terms like ‘equilibrium’ and relies heavily on mathematics to build elegant models of complex systems. However, economics offers something physics does not: a human touch. As I delved deeper, I was fascinated by how economics combines insightful philosophical perspectives with advanced quantitative methods to create powerful analyses of human behavior. What’s more, economics is an inclusive discipline, continually absorbing ideas and methods from other fields while never losing sight of its goal to maximize social welfare. What intrigued me most was how economics studies human interactions. The introduction of game theory transformed mathematical equations into stories, making historical disputes and everyday scenarios come alive on paper. All of these complex ideas spring from simple yet profound concepts like utility, rationality, and scarcity.
As I observed the significant societal changes driven by technological advancements, I decided to study innovative firms at the meso-level of social analysis, which are often at the forefront of progress. My research revealed that under policies promoting innovation, companies incentivize their senior executives with high compensation to boost performance through increased R&D investment. Further research indicated that stricter environmental laws propel enterprises onto a trajectory of high-quality development by enhancing their scientific and technological capabilities. Meanwhile, my interest in programming and data analysis led me to an internship at Peking University, where I specialized in Quantitative Investment Research. Together with my team, I developed high-performance investment strategies focused on style investing, which were invited to an oral presentation and published at ICBIM ‘19. For more details on this research, please visit my Research.
Ph.D.
Driven by my passion for economics and bolstered by my professors’ high expectations, I relocated to the United States to pursue a doctoral program—the first economics undergraduate in recent decades to achieve this successfully. However, the transition was not seamless. Due to visa challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, my enrollment was unexpectedly deferred. I chose to view this delay as a fortunate detour, one that guided me towards a burgeoning field of study: the Economics of Networks.
Traditional empirical economic research typically focuses on understanding causal relationships or identifying patterns without necessarily considering the relational structures between entities. However, as globalization and communication technologies evolve, human interactions intensify, bringing phenomena like information cascades, echo chambers, structural holes, and small worlds into greater significance. These dynamics are becoming increasingly crucial in navigating our complex world, yet they often remain underexplored in conventional economic studies. Recognizing this gap, I dedicated myself to this emerging field, driven by a desire to expand its reach and uncover new insights.
Choosing an unconventional path in academia presented numerous challenges, and I was even advised to prepare a backup option. Yet, I committed to my decision without hesitation or doubt, steadfastly pursuing my path despite the difficulties. Inspired by a labor economics course and my keen interest in innovation, I chose to focus my research on the role of immigrant entrepreneurs in innovation collaborations. The next hurdle was data acquisition. Following the guidance of König et al. (2019), I sought out strategic alliance data for R&D collaborations. For firms’ financial information, While the Compustat databases would have been ideal, they were not available through my university. Luckily, I discovered Financial Modeling Prep, an alternative that offers an API for more customized queries.
The most demanding task was gathering demographic data on senior executives, such as country of birth, education, and gender. Initially, I planned to manage this alone, but the enormity of the task quickly became apparent. Thankfully, with assistance from friends, I formed a team of ten master’s students from Bangladesh. Together, we navigated obstacles ranging from internet outages and electricity shortages to the chaos and violence of the 2024 protests. Throughout this period, their dedication, perseverance, and strong sense of responsibility shone through, alongside impressive organizational skills. Together, we supported and learned from each other.
Another significant challenge was the methodology. The complex structure of the data made identifying causal relationships particularly difficult. Eager to improve my skills, I attended a summer school specializing in advanced econometric methods, where I was introduced to Bayesian methods. However, due to the course’s time constraints, it is unable to cover everything I needed. This prompted me to take further courses in Bayesian Econometrics and Bayesian Data Analysis offered by economics and the public health department. Additionally, to better equip myself for intricate data interpretation, I also pursued online courses in data science and computer science. For more details on my certifications, please visit my LinkedIn profile. Despite these efforts, bridging the gap between theory and the empirical demands of my project remained a struggle, leading me to independently study additional research papers and further develop my data analytics skills. I am deeply grateful for the advice, guidance, and support provided throughout my journey by my department and experts in network studies.
Interdisciplinary Endeavors
My aim is to integrate the methods and philosophy of economics with other disciplines in network research. This year, I’ve participated in several interdisciplinary conferences and engaged in meaningful conversations with experts from diverse fields. I’ve observed that economists primarily focus on the effects and influences of networks, emphasizing causal relationships, while fields like physics, engineering, biology, and computer science tend to concentrate on the technical aspects of network formation. There is also substantial literature on network formation based on game theory. Compared to other fields, economics offers a unique human touch and distinct perspective—focusing on preferences, constraints, and social welfare, with the ultimate goal of shaping policy recommendations.
I am convinced of the benefits of combining multidisciplinary approaches and am actively seeking opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research and connect with others who share my passion for networks and complex systems. If you are interested in collaborating, please feel free to reach out!
Outside of Academia
Apart from my academic pursuits, I’m a shutterbug and love exploring outdoors. Currently reading books about painting history. You might also spot me at the gym :)