Chengcheng Zhai

Hello, I am an Assistant Professor of IT, Analytics, and Operations at Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame.

My research focuses on improving drinking water access in rural areas of underdeveloped countries. In my dissertation, I study (1) where to build new water points to improve access and access equity (Published at POM); (2) how to maintain water points to ensure a continued water flow; and (3) how to increase donations to fund rural water supply systems.

Research Interests:

I am interested in humanitarian and nonprofit operations.

My research on drinking water access is inspired from my close collaborations with different Non-Governmental Ogranizations (NGOs) and field research. I have been interning as a data analyst with charity:water, an international fundraising NGO since June 2020. I also collaborate with local implementing NGOs in Ethiopia, Malawi, the Central African Republic, and Uganda. I have conducted two field research visits, one in Ethiopia in 2020 and one in Malawi in 2022. These experiences combined give me the opportunity to conduct researh with real world impact. A Hope that Lasts documents my journey so far.

Worldwide, over 770 million people still do not have access to clean drinking water. By bridging the gap betweeen research and practice, we can solve this important problem.

Education:

Ph.D. in Operations Management, 2024
- Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

B.A. in Mathematics, 2018
- Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
- Summa Cumma Laude with a Minor in Spanish

Dissertation:

Title: Improving Drinking Water Access: NGO Operations and Strategies

Dissertation Committee:
- Co-chairs: Kurt Bretthauer, Alfonso Pedraza-Martinez
- Members: Rodney Parker, Jorge Mejia

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