Dr Rui Zhang is an early-career Research Fellow in the College of Business and Law at Adelaide University. She holds a PhD in Economics from The University of Adelaide, where her doctoral research investigated strategic bidding behaviour, information asymmetry, and efficiency in auctions using experimental and behavioural economic frameworks.  
 
With post-doctoral research experience, Rui’s work centres on applied microeconomics, housing economics, and energy policy, with a focus on advanced econometric modelling, large-scale data analysis, and predictive housing market analytics. Her quantitative work involves building predictive frameworks to examine housing market dynamics, estimating price trajectories, and applying econometric methods to complex longitudinal and demographic datasets.  
 
As an investigator on key projects funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and the Commonwealth Department of the Treasury, Rui collaborates within multidisciplinary research teams to deliver econometric estimation, data modelling, and survey design addressing housing system development, rent-to-buy feasibility, and climate-resilient housing stock.  
 
Expanding her expertise in decision analysis and consumer behaviour, Rui is also undertaking discrete choice experiment (DCE) research within the energy sector, investigating consumer preferences, technology adoption, and incentives supporting the clean energy transition.
 
Beyond her research, she serves as the Director of the Young Economists Network for the Economic Society of Australia (SA Branch).