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About Me

I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Public Policy and Political Economy (Public Health, Behavioral Economics) at the University of Texas at Dallas, expected to graduate in Spring 2026.

My research lies at the intersection of Behavioral Economics, Public Health, and In-silico Behavioral Science. I specialize in using Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs), structural modeling, and Neuro-computational Models (TRIBE v2) to bridge behavioral structural parameters with neural response patterns.

I am pioneering the "Behavioral AI Architect" framework—developing a "Digital Twin" of the human brain to pre-screen policy interventions in a digital environment, significantly reducing the cost and risk of field RCTs. My work has been supported by the UTD Dean of Graduate Education Dissertation Research Award.

Research

Under Review

How Waiting Time Shapes Preventive Health Behavior: Evidence from Vaccination Decisions Job Market Paper
Yichao Jin Job market paper work with Dohyeong Kim and Zhen Tian.
Paper [PDF] Slides [PDF] Research Repo [GitHub]
Examines waiting time as a behavioral barrier to preventive health decision-making using a Discrete Choice Experiment (N=1,027) in Wuhan, China. Formal interaction tests reveal that individuals with lower institutional trust are substantially more sensitive to delay than those with higher trust. The study also identifies significant heterogeneity in delay sensitivity across urban-rural residency and education levels. Findings suggest that reducing administrative delay and strengthening trust are critical for improving health equity. Replication package available on GitHub, providing a structured workflow for estimation, synthetic-data validation, and policy simulation.

Working Papers

The Ghost in the Machine: Algorithmic Rationality vs. Social Legitimacy in AI-Driven Public Health Governance
Working Paper.
Analyzes the theoretical tension between automated efficiency and institutional trust using the AGIL framework and Rational Choice models.
The Price of Waiting: Evidence on Cash–Time Trade-Offs in Vaccination Time Discount
In preparation. Target: Social Science & Medicine.
Behavioral Elasticities of Early Vaccination Incentives
Research Pipeline.
Integrates MWTA/WTW and iso-uptake surfaces to estimate incentive elasticity.
Time Preferences in Preventive Health: A Multi-Domain Behavioral Study
Research Pipeline.

Presentations

Apr 2026
Dissertation Defense: Behavioral Barriers to Vaccination Uptake Defense Slides
University of Texas at Dallas | 40-Slide Comprehensive Overview

Full overview of my three-essay dissertation focusing on intertemporal choice, waiting time as a behavioral barrier, and policy simulations for equitable vaccine distribution.

Download Slides (PDF) View Repository
Jun 2026
ASHEcon 2026 Annual Conference
The Shadow Price of Vaccination Delay: Evidence From a Case Study from Wuhan, China
Minneapolis, MN (Submitted)
Nov 2025
APPAM Fall Research Conference
Estimating Time Discount Rate for Vaccination
Washington, D.C.
Apr 2025
UT Dallas Graduate Research Symposium
Modeling Vaccination Decisions with Hyperbolic Discounting
Richardson, TX

Education

University of Texas at Dallas

Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy (Public Health, Behavioral Economics)
Minor in Business, Technology, and Innovation
Dissertation: "Dynamics of Intertemporal Choice in Vaccination Timing: A Discrete Choice Experiment Approach"
Status: Dissertation Approved by Advisor (March 2026)
Committee: Dr. Dohyeong Kim (Chair), Dr. Richard Scotch, Dr. Soyoung Kwon, Dr. Khai Chiong
Exp. 2026

University of Texas at Dallas

M.S. in Social Data Analytics and Research
Exp. 2026

University of Queensland

Master of Development Economics
2019

University of California, Riverside

Bachelor of Arts in Economics
2017

Certifications

Stanford University

Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence
Focus: AI Foundations, Machine Learning, and Applications
Stanford Online

CITI Program

Human Subjects Protection
Social & Behavioral Research
Active
Expires Oct 2025

Teaching

Teaching Assistant at UT Dallas

  • Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis (Graduate) Led econometrics labs and R programming tutorials for master's students.
  • Public Policy Analysis Coached undergraduate students on policy memo writing and analytical frameworks.
  • Health Economics & Public Policy Provided lecture support, graded assignments, and facilitated case study discussions.

Honors & Awards

Dean of Graduate Education Dissertation Research Award
UT Dallas (2025)
Betty & Gifford Johnson Graduate Travel Award
UT Dallas (2025)
Omicron Delta Epsilon
International Honor Society for Economics