Dr Zhen Ye
Associate Professor in Infrastructure Economics and Finance
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
Faculty of the Built Environment
- Joined UCL
- 1st Apr 2019
Research summary
I am an associate professor in infrastructure economics and finance at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction. I am interested in finding out how infrastructure connects people, places and institutions, and from a comparative perspective, the impacts of infrastructure investment and finance on risks and the environment. I collaborate with colleagues in economics, engineering, entrepreneurship and environmental sciences.
Teaching summary
Prior to join UCL, I have already worked in a variety of senior academic roles, including head of finance subject and programme leader, at the business school of Coventry, Hull and Hertfordshire. Internationally, I am an University Chair Professor in Finance (PT) in Xiamen University. Previously I have been visiting professor to the school of economics in Xiamen (2007-08) and the cultural institute of Peking University (2009-10). I collaborate with academic colleagues at the Central University of Finance & Economics (CUFE) in Beijing and Shanghai Jiaotong University's School of Environmental Science and Engineering.
Since 2009, I have taught global financial market, financial modelling, international investment analysis, as well as, international business and strategy in Executive MBA, MBA, MSc (CFA & FRM academic partners) and EDPs, in Bahrain, China, Oman, Singapore and the UK. Between 2019 and 2020, I was programme leader for MSc Infrastructure Investment and Finance at UCL. I am also the module leader for Risk Modelling for Infrastructure Project and Infrastructure Using Special Purpose Vehicle.
Education
- University of Chicago
- Other higher degree, Master of Business Administration | 2014
- University of Hertfordshire
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2005
- University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Other higher degree, Master of Laws | 2000
- University of Hertfordshire
- First Degree, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) | 1999
Biography
My career spans over two decades as an academic, consultant and finance professional. Following my law master with Newcastle, I received a full PhD Studentship in 2000 with the Business School of University of Hertfordshire. My PhD studentship, supervised by Professor Jane Hardy, looked at Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). I was affiliated with the Centre for Institutional Economics led by Professor Geoffrey Hodgson. My first academic job was with Oxford Brookes University Business School as a fixed term lecturer in economics. In 2005, I moved back to Hertfordshire and worked there as senior lecturer in economics and finance and MSc Programme Leader.
I joined Hull University Business School in 2009. My research in Hull related to creativity and industrial development. During this period, I worked on the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) seconded missions to Bhutan, Egypt, Pakistan and China. The research, later published by UNIDO, was based on a series of keynotes at the European Parliament and European Forum Alpbach. During this period, I published international papers on creative industries, industrial development strategy and international competitiveness.
Following my Chicago Booth MBA, I moved to the field of professional finance and worked for private equity. Subsequently I gained professional qualification through exams as licensed fund manager and securities trading professional. After I joined Coventry, I became interested in infrastructure investment and finance due to its full complexity and risk management implications, particularly, from a comparative perspective the impact of infrastructure on the environment.