I am a sociologist interested in how innovation reshapes work and economic opportunity. My research speaks to debates about the future of work, often by looking to the past using a combination of econometric and computational methods. For example, I study how new technologies reshape entrepreneurship, how innovation affects workplace inequality, and how changes in organizational design transform work and management.
I am a (tenured) Associate Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. I am affiliated with the Center for Economic History and the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems. Before joining Kellogg, I was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School. I received my Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University in 2018 and my B.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University in 2011. Outside of work, I am a big sports fan and enjoy playing tennis, basketball, and soccer.
Accessibility note: I have a serious eye condition that causes light sensitivity (among other things), so you’ll often see me wearing sunglasses.
If you are interested in working with me as a research assistant or collaborator on historical projects, please email me at letian.lt.zhang@gmail.com.
