Research Interests

Design, develop, and evaluate AI-based systems to study digital innovation, information environments, and decision-making in markets and platform settings.

Academic Qualification

• Ph.D. 2019 Georgia State University 
• M.S. 2013 Tsinghua University 
• B.S. 2010 Dalian University of Technology

Academic And Professional Experience

• IS Seminar Coordinator, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2024-present
• Assistant Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2019-present
• Editor-in-Chief Assistant, MIS Quarterly, 2016-2020 

Selected Publications

• Zhitao Yin, Ning Jia, Sean Xin Xu, and Xiaoquan (Michael) Zhang (2026). “Bounded Rationality in the Digital Age: How Salient Negative Secondhand Information on Knowledge-Sharing Platforms Triggers Investor Mis-Reactions.” Information Systems Research, forthcoming.
• Xuewen Han*, Zhitao Yin*, and Arun Rai (2026). “Legal Shields, Hidden Costs: The Dual Impact of Anti-Patent-Troll Laws on IT Firm Innovation.” Information Systems Research, forthcoming. (*Equal contribution; this work was developed while Xuewen Han was a visiting PhD student under my supervision.)
• Grace Gu*, Zhitao Yin*, and Arun Rai (2026). “Psychological Reactance to the Algorithmic Management of Online Expressions.” Information Systems Research, forthcoming. (*Equal contribution.)
• Arun Rai, Xinlin Tang, Zhitao Yin, and Steve Du (2022). “Gaining Customer Loyalty with Tracking Information Quality in B2B Logistics.” Journal of Management Information Systems, 39(2), 307–335.

Teaching

• Introduction to Information Systems (Undergraduate)
• Python Programming for Business Applications (MBA/MSc)
• Empirical Studies of Innovation and Digitization (PhD)
• Topics in the Economics of IT (PhD)

Competitive Grants

• Co-PI, Strategic Fund for Futuristic Business Research, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2025-2027 (2,000,000 HKD)
• PI, General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, 2025-2027 (855,520 HKD)
• PI, Center for Economic Policy’s Departmental Development Fund, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2023-2025 (37,500 HKD)
• PI, General Research Fund, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, 2023-2025 (492,555 HKD)
• PI, Early Career Scheme Research Grant, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, 2021-2023 (692,417 HKD)

Honors & Awards

• Junior Faculty Consortium, Academy of Management CTO, 2024
• Doctoral Student Service Award, Association for Information Systems, 2018
• Doctoral Consortium, International Conference on Information Systems, 2018
• Outstanding Master Graduate, Tsinghua University, 2013
• Outstanding Master Dissertation, Tsinghua University, 2013
• National Scholarship, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 2007, 2008, 2009