Sonia Zhang ‘26

Sonia Zhang is a double major in Economics and Global Affairs with a minor in Data Science. Zhang’s research interests center on international organizations, global development, and the evaluation of economic policy and development programs. Through ISP, Zhang is working with Prof. Erin Graham on a project that investigates the “de-risking” strategies international organizations employ to mobilize private capital for climate finance. Zhang has contributed to the paper “Multilateral Climate Finance in Pursuit of Private Capital: How the De-Risking Agenda is Changing International Organizations,” currently under review at Global Environmental Politics. In 2024, she presented this work at the American Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to her ISP research, Zhang is an Honors Economics student writing a senior thesis under the advice of Prof. Taryn Dinkelman. Zhang’s thesis examines the impact of foreign aid and NGO presence on public sector labor markets in Sub-Saharan African countries.

At Notre Dame, Zhang is a member of the Greater China Scholars. She received the CSC Summer Labor Fellowship with the Economic Policy Institute, where she served as a policy intern in 2024. In summer 2025, she worked as a data editing intern with the American Economic Association. Zhang also serves as co-president of the Student Policy Network at Notre Dame, where she leads student teams in conducting public policy research projects.

Thesis Adviser: Taryn Dinkelman