Junru Lyu received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, where he also earned his B.A. in Economics and Applied Mathematics. His doctoral advisor was Professor Stefano DellaVigna.

His research interests include behavioral economics, behavioral finance, and household finance, with a focus on how behavioral preferences, personal experiences, and public policies shape household financial decisions. His current research examines the effects of student loan policies on consumption and delinquency, the influence of housing market experiences on homeownership decisions, and the effectiveness of financial literacy education.