Lifei Sheng, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Lifei Sheng is an associate professor of decision sciences who teaches statistics and management science. Before joining UHCL, she received her Ph.D. in Management Science from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia in 2017 and a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2012.

Sheng's primary research focuses on the applications of operations management in video game industry. Her other research is driven by real-world issues in various industries including, but not limit to, car-sharing industry, hospitality industry, e-commerce industry and retail industry. Her works have been published in top journals in operations management, such as "Management Science, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management." 

Curriculum Vitae

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Areas of Expertise

• Application of operations management in the video game industry
• Optimization problems in revenue management
• Game theory and mechanism design

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Publications

• Lifei Sheng, Xuying Zhao, Christopher Thomas Ryan (2024). "Selling Bonus Actions in Video Games". Available online at Management Science, https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02348
• Yifu Li, Christopher Thomas Ryan, Lifei Sheng (2023). "Optimal Sequencing in Single-player Games". Management Science, 69(10), 6057-6075.
• Guang Li, Lifei Sheng, Dongyuan Zhan (2023). “Designing Shipping Policies with Top-up Options to Qualify for Free Delivery”. Available online at Production and Operations Management, https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.14002
• Ken Black, Lifei Sheng, Sharon Perkins Hall (2023). "Small Rural Hospitals in the U.S. and the Impact of Covid: A Cross Sectional Study". Available online at Hospital Topics, https:// doi.org/10.1080/00185868.2023.2176390
• Lifei Sheng, Christopher Thomas Ryan, Mahesh Nagarajan, Yuan Cheng, Chunyang Tong (2020). "Incentivized Actions in Freemium Games". Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 24(1), 275-284
• Lifei Sheng, Daniel Granot, Woonghee Tim Huh‬, Mahesh Nagarajan (2017). "A Dynamic Price-Only Contract: Exact and Asymptotic Results". Operations Research Letters, 45(6), 620-624
• Lifei Sheng, Huan Zheng, Ying Rong, Woonghee Tim Huh‬ (2015). "Flexible System Design: A Perspective from Service Levels". Operations Research Letters, 43(3), 219–225

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Courses (Current Academic Year)

• DSCI 3321 Statistics I 
• DSCI 3331 Quantitative Methods for Management 

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Research Projects

PAPERS UNDER REVIEW

• Benny Wong, Christopher Thomas Ryan, Lifei Sheng, Yifu Li. "Journey Planning in Virtual Experiences". (Under review at Operations Research)
• Qiuwei Guo, Yifu Li, Lindong Liu, Lifei Sheng. "Retention Optimization in Maintenance Training Programs". (Under review at Production and Operations Management)

WORKING PAPERS

• Yifu Li, Lifei Sheng, Xuying Zhao. "Player vs. Player Game Design: Boost Engagement in Contests through Intervention". (Soon to be submitted to Management Science)
• Xing Hu, Lifei Sheng, Hao Zhang, Xuying Zhao. "Cancellation Policy on Rental Sharing Platforms". (Soon to be submitted to Management Science)
• Guang Li, Zahra Khanalizadeh, Mikhail Nediak, Shweta Singh, Lifei Sheng. "Oblivious Equilibrium on Online Small Seller Platforms". (Soon to be submitted to Production and Operations Management)
• Ashutosh Prasad, Lifei Sheng, Xuying Zhao. "Retailer-Driven Blind Boxes in a Decentralized Supply Chain". (Soon to be submitted to Production and Operations Management)
• Lifei Sheng, Qiong Jia, Yue Guo, Hao Zhang. "Win-Win Ecology: Optimal Alliance Strategies for Car Manufacturer and Car-sharing Platform". (Soon to be submitted to Management Science)
• Lifei Sheng, Woonghee Tim Huh‬. “Pricing under Horizontal Product Differentiation”. (Soon to be submitted to Production and Operations Management)  
• Lifei Sheng, Mahesh Nagarajan, Hao Zhang. "Dynamic Short-term Supply Contracts under Private Stocking and Backlogging". (Soon to be submitted to Operations Research) 

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS

• Yifu Li, Lindong Liu, Christopher Thomas Ryan, Lifei Sheng. "Optimal design in multi-episode experiential services". (Preparing manuscript)
• Ashutosh Prasad, Lifei Sheng, Xuying Zhao. "Selling Blind Boxes in a Competitive Market". (Analyzing model)
• Lifei Sheng, Lai Wei. "Assortment Planning with Variety Seeker". (Analyzing model)
• Hubert Pun, Lifei Sheng. "Play-to-earn Video Games". (Analyzing model)

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Awards and Accomplishments

• Killam Graduate Teaching Award, 2017
• Dean Earle D. MacPhee Memorial Fellowship, 2012-2015
• Edward and Miriam Silber Memorial Graduate Scholarship, 2012
• Sauder School of Business Graduate Award, 2012
• China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling, first prize in Shanghai (19,490 teams participated), 2011

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