Haijing Zong

My research bridges theory and practice by developing models of strategic interaction that better capture real-world behavior. My goal is to translate research into insights that inform real-world practice and policy. I combine tools from game theory, reinforcement learning, and agent-based modeling to study how boundedly rational agents learn and interact in multi-agent settings, with a research interest in labor and development economics.

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Washington. I am fortunate to be advised by Prof. Rachel Heath and Prof. Natasha Jaques. I also work closely with Prof. Yanzhen Chen at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

I earned my Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and my Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Jiangnan University. I feel especially fortunate to have studied at HKUST, where I developed strong research skills and received invaluable guidance from professors who supported me both academically and personally.

I am a proud first-generation college student. In addition, I have participated in TNR (Trap–Neuter–Return) efforts and helped neuter 4 stray cats in China.