Chengcheng Zhai

Chengcheng Zhai studies humanitarian and nonprofit operations. Within this field, her research focuses on improving drinking water access in rural areas of underdeveloped countries. Her work examines questions such as where to build new water points to enhance access and equity, how to maintain water infrastructure to ensure continuous water flow, and how to increase donations to support rural water supply systems. Her research has informed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on key operational decisions. This work is grounded in close collaborations with NGOs in Ethiopia, Malawi, the Central African Republic, and Uganda. Chengcheng Zhai has conducted four field research visits—one in Ethiopia in 2020 and three in Malawi in 2022, 2025, and 2026. Together, these experiences enable her to pursue research with meaningful real-world impact.