Research Profile

Observability, inference, and decision-making in partially observable systems

I study how hidden system states can be inferred from partial observations, and how reliable decisions can be made despite incomplete information in complex systems. My research investigates the relationships among observable indicators, network structure, and latent system states, with the goal of understanding when local observations reflect system-level behavior and when they do not. These questions arise across cyber-physical systems, where critical system states cannot be directly observed and decisions must rely on partial, noisy observations.

Latest Publication

Publications

M. Zhang. "When Does Load Reflect Structural Centrality? State-Dependent Proxy Validity in Power Systems." , 2026. Manuscript under review

N. Kumar, M. Zhang. "Using Spatial Analytics to Address Localized Environmental Harm." Data-Smart City Solutions, 2024.

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Selected Projects

Models, measurements, and decision tools

Interactive Data Visualization

Zillow Hopes

2025

An interactive experience exploring the challenge of finding affordable housing on a below-median income. Play as a homebuyer navigating a constrained market, then examine how investor activity shapes housing availability in your municipality and weigh the policy tradeoffs along the way.

With Audrey Wei, Nathanael Jenkins, Ryan Yen

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