Doctoral Student Directory
Accounting
Hongjie Angela Chen
Undergraduate: BS in Finance, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Graduate: MS in Finance, University of California, Irvine
Research Interests: Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting and Disclosure, Market Efficiency
Why a PhD in Business?
I plan to conduct advanced research on the intersection of accounting information and capital markets and I believe pursuing a PhD in accounting can equip myself with crucial skills and knowledge needed to contribute to this field.
Why the Merage School?
I came to the Paul Merage School of Business as an undergraduate exchange student in my senior year. I met many supportive professors and participated in several research projects with them. UC Irvine is where I found my interest in accounting and the Merage School has many dedicated professors and graduate students to learn from. I believe these are the most important aspect of conducting research at the doctoral level.
Lin Ma
Undergraduate: BS in Accounting, Santa Clara University
Research Interests: Financial reporting and disclosure, capital markets and earnings management, the roles of accounting information in equity valuation, and the information content of accounting measures
Why a PhD in Business?
With my academic training and experience in public accounting, I recognize that accounting plays a crucial role in the business world and that the financial information disclosed by companies have a great impact on investment decision-making in the capital market. This recognition strengthened my interest in pursuing my PhD studies in accounting. I believe the training through PhD study will better prepare me to be a scholar from a working professional.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School has top-notch accounting professors who are well known for their research. I found my research interests align with their specialities. There are tremendous opportunities to work with them. Furthermore, the Merage School graduate division and accounting faculties are very supportive.
Zuyao Jason Wang
Undergraduate: BBA in Accounting, Macau University of Science & Technology
Graduate: MS in Business Analytics and Risk Management, Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests: How financial disclosure and corporate governance shape firm behavior and market outcomes, using archival methods and advanced techniques such as machine learning
Why a PhD in Business?
My plan to pursue a PhD in accounting has evolved through careful exploration from my undergraduate to graduate studies. This path has been shaped by education and internships and refined through research experiences with professors throughout my academic journey. Together, these experiences have solidified my motivation to pursue a PhD in Accounting.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School has an outstanding reputation and strong academic performance in accounting. The faculty’s research interests and directions closely align with mine, making it an ideal place for me to develop my research skills and advance my work in accounting research.
Finance
Ziming Dong
Undergraduate: University of International Business and Economics
Graduate: Duke University
Research Interests: Market Microstructure, Behavioral Finance, Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds
Why a PhD in Business?
I chose to pursue a PhD in Finance because I am deeply interested in understanding the mechanisms of financial markets, investor behavior, and the dynamics of asset pricing. Through my research experience, I realized how much I enjoy exploring complex financial questions and contributing to knowledge that can impact both academia and practice. A PhD provides the rigorous training and academic environment necessary to further develop my research skills and pursue an academic career.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because of its strong faculty expertise in finance and its collaborative research environment. The program’s emphasis on both theoretical rigor and empirical relevance aligns well with my research interests in market microstructure and behavioral finance.
Runxin Fan
Undergraduate: BS in Statistics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics
Graduate: MA in Economics, Duke University
Research interests: Empirical Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance
Why a PhD in Business?
I hope to understand the behavior of stock price and which factors drive the performance of companies.
Why the Merage School?
Great faculty, excellent research, and the wonderful weather brought me here.
Hee-Seo Han
Undergraduate: Bachelor in Business Administration and Psychology, Ewha Womans University
Graduate: MS in Finance, Seoul National University
Research Interests: Empirical study on asset pricing, institutional investors, behavioral finance, text analysis
Why a PhD in Business?
I have always been interested in behaviors of people and I found that financial markets are the best place to watch and study them.
Why the Merage School?
I was looking for faculty members who have the same interests as me. Also, the weather of Southern California is perfect. I want to spend my five years in the best city.
Zhaotian Lu
Undergraduate: BS in Accounting, Shanghai Maritime University
Graduate: MS in Finance, Purdue University
Research Interests: Behavioral finance, Asset pricing
Why a PhD in Business?
I choose to pursue a PhD in business because I want to solve business problems in a rigorous manner and help others make financial decisions.
Why the Merage School?
I choose UC Irvine because the faculty here are specialists in their fields. Also, they know their students, care about students, and try their best to help their students. The school has a very supportive environment created by all the staff and students.
Hannah Unterberg
Undergraduate & Graduate: BS and MS in Management and Technology, Technical University of Munich
Research Interests: Asset Pricing, Mutual Funds, Behavioral Finance, Machine Learning
Why a PhD in Business?
I want to create new insights and further our understanding of capital markets. The structured PhD program will equip me with the research methods and skills to help me succeed as a future academic scholar.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School offers the opportunity to learn from and work alongside well-renown faculty in my fields of interests. Professors and staff have been welcoming and supportive from the start. In addition, UC Irvine is located in a perfect environment to live and study, with sunny weather and beautiful outdoors.
Shiyan Wei
Undergraduate: BS in Public Finance and Public Policy, Central University of Finance and Economics
Graduate: MS in Economics and MS in Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Interests: Financial Market, Asset Pricing, Corporates Finance, Real Estate
Why a PhD in Business?
I am pursuing a PhD in Finance as I would like to study how the information structure would change the efficiency of the financial market, and the agents’ behavior in this market.
Why the Merage School?
The faculty members at the Merage School are world-famous and doing frontier research about behavioral and information questions in finance. I believe the program at the Merage School would help me succeed in future academic research.
Yunjie Wen
Undergraduate: BS in Economics and Finance, University of Hong Kong
Research Interests: Empirical Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Behavioral Finance
Why a PhD in Business?
I am fascinated by how financial systems operate and how investor behavior shapes market outcomes. Pursuing a PhD in Finance will enable me to explore these dynamics rigorously and contribute new insights to financial research.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because the faculty’s research closely aligns with my interests, and the program has a very supportive and collaborative environment. I also enjoy the pleasant weather here, which adds to the overall great experience of living and studying.
Sarah Yuqing Xiao
Undergraduate: BA in Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara
Research Interests: Empirical Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance, Contractual Friction in Capital Markets
Why a PhD in Business?
My decision to pursue a PhD in Finance stems from a deep-seated passion for understanding and advancing the knowledge of complex capital markets. The PhD program here will provide me with rigorous trainings needed to conduct impactful research.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because of the distinguished faculty group, supportive students and staff, and pleasant weather.
Xinwei Yao
Undergraduate: BA in Finance, Renmin University of China
Research Interests: Asset Pricing, Financial Market Microstructure, Behavioral Finance
Why a PhD in Business?
Finance is a field full of so many extraordinary and surreal stories that I would feel really bad if I leave them behind and go to making money in industry. The PhD program gives me a platform and opportunity to explore mysteries, glories and indignities in the financial market.
Why the Merage School?
The Paul Merage School of Business has a distinguished faculty and enjoys very excellent reputation. Everyone here is warm and kind, and I really appreciate it that I have an opportunity to pursue my professional career with all lovely members in the Merage School.
Qingran Claire Zhou
Undergraduate: BEcon in Finance, Minzu University of China
Graduate: MS in Finance, University of Southern California; MEng in Financial Technology, Duke University
Research Interests: Empirical Asset Pricing, Financial Technology, Behavioral Finance
Why a PhD in Business?
I chose to pursue a PhD in Finance because I want to combine financial theory with advanced analytical tools to study asset pricing, market behavior, and the role of financial technology in shaping modern markets.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School for its strong research environment, the warm and supportive faculty, and because Irvine is such a great place to live and study.
Siying Zhu
Undergraduate: BS in Finance, Wuhan University
Graduate: MS in Economics, Duke University
Research Interests: Empirical Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, Institutional Investors, Financial Markets
Why a PhD in Business?
I’m always passionate about deriving nuanced insights in this dynamic financial world and developing research that can address critical challenges within the industry.
Why the Merage School?
The primary reason is that there are distinguished faculty members who are conducting cutting-edge research aligned with my interests. Additionally, the supportive community here provides an ideal setting for intellectual growth.
Sardar Bonabi
Undergraduate: BS in Computer Science, Sharif University of Technology
Graduate: MBA in Business Strategy, University of Tehran
Research Interests: Intersection of computer science and management, leveraging Machine Learning, AI, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Text Mining to create value in business contexts
After founding two companies, he recognized the need for systematic solutions to business challenges and began his PhD at the Paul Merage School of Business to study real-world management problems and develop practical insights.
Chang Dong
Undergraduate: BS in Applied Mathematics and BEcon in Financial Engineering, China University of Political Science & Law
Graduate: MA in Quantitative Economics, University of California, Los Angeles
Research Interests: Social Media Analytics, Digital Healthcare Patforms
Why a PhD in Business?
My curiosity towards the impact of data and technologies on business motivated me to explored in academia starting with the training from PhD program. I also aspire to pursue a career in academia as a faculty member in the future.
Why the Merage School?
The supportive faculty members and friendly cohort students create a positive community for study and research work here. Additionally, the high student-to-faculty ratio allows for more valuable mentorship and personalized guidance.
Sangmyung Lee
Undergraduate: BS in Chemical Engineering and Business Management, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Graduate: MS in Information Technology Management, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Research Interests: Impact of artificial intelligence in business and the understanding of customers’ behavior in online markets, specifically in e-commerce, two-sided platforms, and online learning
Why a PhD in Business?
I have always been fascinated by how rapidly evolving information technologies shape markets and human behavior. Pursuing a PhD allows me to study these dynamics in depth and build a career as a versatile researcher who can bridge technology, markets, and people’s responses to technological shifts.
Why the Merage School?
I see the PhD as one of the most important journeys of my life, so finding the right place—academically, geographically, and personally—was essential. The Merage School stood out to me for its outstanding faculty with diverse research interests, strong emphasis on research training, and supportive environment. In addition, the calm atmosphere and beautiful weather of Southern California make it an ideal setting to focus on and excel in my studies.
Dongqing Lin
Undergraduate: BS in Informatics, University of California, Irvine
Graduate: MS in Information Systems, John Hopkins University
Research Interests: Applying technology—especially AI and digitalization—to business and markets
Why a PhD in Business?
Business to Technology is like an engine to power. The group projects I undertook at university gave me valuable hands-on experience, and my time at MediaTek exposed me to the extensive applications of software and digital systems across industries. These experiences deepened my interest in business and information systems. My ambition is to work with tech corporations in data analytics or digitalization to apply my knowledge and skills, and I believe my combined understanding of markets and technology will enable me to make a meaningful impact and succeed professionally.
Why the Merage School?
I was keen to study as a PhD student at the Paul Merage School of Business and I am particularly interested in information technology including application of information technologies such as data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and language model in the business. Their outstanding research and high reputation will benefit my career development, and the vibrant community appeals to me. For these reasons, I consider it the most ideal program for me.
Baiyu Lu
Undergraduate: BS in Chemical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Graduate: MS in Information Systems, New York University
Research Interests: Digital Marketing, Recommender Systems
Why a PhD in Business?
Because business is the discipline that connects most closely with real-world practice. I’m excited by the idea that my research can have a tangible impact and be applied in real industry settings.
Why the Merage School?
California has always been my dream place, and UC Irvine is my dream school. I really appreciate its strong research environment and collaborative culture.
Jung Suk Elia Rho
Undergraduate: Korea University
Graduate: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, University of Texas - Austin
Research Interests: Empirical studies on mobile application unbundling and optimal search results UI design
Yanxuan Steven Wu
Undergraduate: BE in Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiatong University
Research Interests: Design Science, Economics of Advanced Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Why a PhD in Business?
I come from an engineering background, and my pursuit with technological advancement gradually made me realize that technology must be evaluated within a broader context—social welfare. I believe that advancements are meaningful only when they address critical social issues such as productivity, equality, and sustainability. Luckily, I discovered that the field of Information Systems within business schools has long explored the intersection of technology and social science, making it an ideal place for me to develop my research.
Why the Merage School?
First, Merage School has a good location, where I feel comfortable not only to study, but also more importantly, to live for 5-6 years. Second, its reputation is quite strong in the field of my study. Third, UCs are truly aware of and do improve student wellness.
Marketing
Kimberly Ackerman
Undergraduate: BBA in Marketing Research, University of Southern California
Research Interests: Experimental methods to explore how people form perceptions and make health-related decisions regarding controversial products.
Why the Merage School?
She chose to join University of California, Irvine because of its strong emphasis on behavioral research, supportive faculty, and access to interdisciplinary resources that align with her interests.
Saghar Ansaripoor
Undergraduate: BS in Electrical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology
Graduate: MBA, Sharif University of Technology
Research Interests: Social Media Marketing, Digital Markets, Sharing Economy
Why a PhD in Business?
Since more and more interactions with customers take place in online platforms where almost all actions are logged, there is untapped potential in using data to improve marketing practices and create value for all stakeholders. I do like to explore these digital revolutions that have radically transformed our lives and marketing practices.
Why the Merage School?
The quality of education and the research done by faculty members are my primary reasons for choosing the Paul Merage School of Business. I am confident that the school provides me the support I need to work on exciting research projects and offer new knowledge to the marketing discipline.
Jee Hae Ha
Undergraduate: BS in Physics, Ewha Woman's University
Graduate: MS in Economics, Boston University
Research Interests: AI/ML, computer vision, NLP, multimodal analysis (text & image), causal inference, and econometric methods to explore how emerging technologies, biomedical innovation, healthcare advancements shape business strategy and decision-making
Working Papers:
- "Hierarchical Vision application for Automated Diagnosis of Dental X-Ray Images"
- "Impact of Self-Disclosure on Viewer’s Engagement in Digital Platform"
Christine Hu
Undergraduate: BA in English with a creative writing emphasis, University of California, Irvine
Graduate: MBA, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Research Interests: Brand communities and consumer collectives, focusing on the practices through which they become responsive to brand-authored prompts. She examines both consumption practices (how consumers engage with brands in everyday life) and marketplace practices (how communities organize, coordinate, and mobilize).
Christine has co-authored an article published in Journal of Marketing Management and is developing a research pipeline at the intersection of practice theory, brand strategy, and consumer collectives.
Mona Kananian
Undergraduate: BS in Natural Sciences, University of Tehran
Graduate: MS in Socioeconomic Issues in Natural Resources Management and Policy, University of Tehran
Research Interests: Qualitative methods to investigate the impacts of practice diffusion in creating more sustainable consumer behavior choices and virtuous cycles in the market in a world of increasing global challenges.
Mona gained experience in working for the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property and various agencies of the United Nations in roles ranging from Project Manager to facilitator and socioeconomic expert.
Why the Merage School?
Originally from Iran, Mona chose UC Irvine for its diverse student body and its faculty’s emphasis on culture, equity, and sustainability.
Hanzhi Li
Undergraduate: BS in Finance, Changzhou University
Graduate: MS in Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research Interests: Digital Marketing, Social Media, Business Economics
Why a PhD in Business?
I choose to pursue a PhD in Marketing because I want to learn more methods so that I can use data to explore more interesting marketing knowledge.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because of the excellent faculty and the great atmosphere. Also, the comfortable climate and beautiful coast of Southern California attracted me.
Heather Yuenan Liu
Undergraduate: BS in Business Analytics & Management from Rutgers University and South China University of Technology
Graduate: MS in Business Analytics, Duke University
Research Interests: Intersection of technology development and consumer behavior, focusing on how innovations like AI chatbots influence decision-making, engagement, and purchasing behavior, as well as their implications for businesses in the digital age.
Why a PhD in Business?
My past education and work experiences have shown me the tremendous potential, as well as possible drawbacks, of technological development in the market. I hope to use my study to provide effective suggestions for companies on leveraging advanced technologies, while also offering valuable insights to the academia.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School has highly reputable faculty members and sufficient resources that support my research. The atmosphere is warm and supportive, making me feel comfortable working here.
Rachel Miller-Moudgil
Undergraduate: BA in Journalism, Baylor University
Graduate: MBA, Baylor University; MS in Marketing, University of Oregon
Research Interests: Qualitative methods to explore how identity, particularly multiple and conflicting identities, shapes consumer behavior.
She is currently studying the identities and behaviors of multicultural families in an increasingly globalized world.
Why the Merage School?
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Rachel chose UC Irvine for its diverse student body and its faculty’s focus on race, culture, and equity.
Ezachia Zeke Ngcobo
Undergraduate: BA, University of the Witwatersrand
Graduate: MS in Marketing, American University; Master of Public Health, Sahmyook University
Research Interests: Consumer well-being, market disparities across different demographic contexts, and how marketing practices interact with social and economic structures to shape consumer behavior and opportunities.
Why a PhD in Business?
I have always been curious about the intersection between markets, behavior, and outcomes, especially how marketing decisions can either reinforce or challenge disadvantages embedded in systems.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School of Business because of its numerous distinguished faculty members and the impressive research being undertaken here, which align closely with my interests. The collaborative environment and strong support for interdisciplinary work ultimately motivated me to join the program.
Operations and Decision Technologies
Helia Mirsoofian
Undergraduate: BA in Industrial Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology
Research Interests: Optimization and Data Science, with a focus on developing analytical and computational models to support data-driven decision-making in complex operational systems. She is particularly interested in leveraging mathematical modeling, optimization techniques, and algorithmic design to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and strategic planning within industrial and service networks.
Why a PhD in Business?
I chose to pursue a PhD in Operations and Decision Technologies because I am deeply motivated by the potential of optimization and analytical methods to address complex, real-world operational challenges. This program provides the ideal opportunity to strengthen my methodological foundation while conducting research that integrates theory and practice to improve decision-making and operational performance across diverse business environments.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School for its strong interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment, where students are actively engaged in cutting-edge projects under the guidance of distinguished faculty. The program’s rigorous coursework in operations management, optimization, and data analytics provides a solid methodological foundation that directly supports my research goals. Moreover, the school’s commitment to bridging theory and practice aligns perfectly with my interest in developing analytical models that address real-world operational challenges.
Mobin Ghasempour Nejati
Undergraduate: BS in Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran
Graduate: MS in Business Administration-Technology, Sharif University of Technology
Research Interests: Application of Optimization, Quantitative Decision Making, and Data Science in Energy Management in the U.S. market
Why a PhD in Business?
I enjoy the application of quantitative methods in solving complex energy management problems. A PhD in Operations and Decision Technologies provides me with the opportunity to extend my expertise in quantitative methods as well as theoretical literature to contribute to Energy Management in the U.S. market through integrating energy resources and intelligent energy generation and trading within energy networks, aiming to improve network efficiency, maximize social welfare, minimize costs, and reduce environmental impacts. Moreover, the fact that PhD programs enable candidates to collaborate with leading scholars and participate in volunteer contributions to the scientific society enhances their appeal.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School offers students the opportunity to take related courses across nearly every school at the university, including Engineering, Computer Science, and Economics. The staff and faculty members are extremely kind and supportive. It is located in one of best states in the U.S. which contains many top tier universities and international companies enabling students to expand their network by participating in conferences and academic seminars and come into contact with the industrial section. It offers a STEM program and students can follow their career both in academia and industry.
Bo Pang
Undergraduate: BS in Mathematics, Shenzhen University
Graduate: MPhil, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Research Interests: Robust Optimization, Consumers’ Decisions, Sustainability
Why a PhD in Business?
A big motivation for me is my deep-rooted fascination of research in operations. I aspire to apply my mathematical expertise to real-world challenges and I expect to find my place in creating value through problem solving. It is operations that gives me such an opportunity to explore practical applications of mathematical theories. Last but not least, my goal is to become a professor in a top-tier business school. Yet without doctoral-level training, I am barely scratching the surface.
Why the Merage School?
First, the faculty presents a variety of exciting research opportunities, many of which closely align with my own interests. Second, the students are incredibly supportive and welcoming, which helped me feel at home from the very beginning. In addition, studying in Irvine has been truly rewarding experience. It’s a beautiful and safe city, with a peaceful environment that’s perfect for focusing on research and academic growth. I feel very fortunate to be living and studying in such a vibrant and inspiring place.
Reyhaneh Kharazmi Pour
Undergraduate: BS in Industrial Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
Research Interests: Optimization, Data Analysis, Marketing, focusing on bridging academic theory with practical business solutions
Why a PhD in Business?
I decided to go for a PhD in Business because I'm genuinely excited about exploring new ideas and solving real-world business problems. Working as a data analyst, I saw firsthand how much untapped potential there is for innovative solutions in the business world. This experience sparked my curiosity and made me want to dive deeper into areas like optimization, and data analysis in business applications. I believe that pursuing a PhD is the best way to gain the knowledge and skills I need to make a real impact in this field.
Why the Merage School?
This school has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence, particularly in the fields of Operations, Decisions, and Technologies, which was a significant draw for me. The opportunity to work closely with renowned faculty members whose expertise aligns with my research interests was incredibly appealing. Moreover, the school's location in Southern California's thriving business community provides a unique advantage, allowing me to engage with real-world challenges and connect with industry leaders.
Meiling Wu
Undergraduate: BA in Logistics Management, Tianjin Normal University
Graduate: MS in Supply Chain Management, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Interests: Supply Chain Management, Operations Strategy, Inventory Control, Revenue Management
Why a PhD in Business?
I'm interested in doing research. I have done some research such as optimizing seed portfolios, optimizing healthcare supply chains, etc. I want to continue this research by doing a PhD to learn more about this field. In the future, I would like to be a lecturer at a university, doing research as well as sharing my knowledge to students. The primary requirement to achieve this goal is to have a PhD degree. Therefore, I want to complete my career plan by pursuing a PhD.
Why the Merage School?
The program suits my needs. It has influential faculty who have the expertise I seek in operations management. Moreover, the program successfully trains students to be excellent researchers and builds good academic career networks for students.
Wanfen Yang
Undergraduate: BS in Information Management, Jilin University
Graduate: MS in Management Science and Engineering, Sun Yat Sen University
Research Interests: Optimizing Supply Chains, E-commerce Platforms, Logistics Networks
Why a PhD in Business?
I am interested in the field I wish to research. The complexities and evolving nature of business challenges, particularly in areas like supply chain management and logistics, have always captivated me. In addition, my prior work experience in the industry has given me valuable insights, and I hope to combine my practical knowledge with rigorous academic analysis to further explore and understand these issues, and ultimately share my findings with both academic and professional communities.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School’s outstanding reputation, coupled with its world-class faculty and robust academic resources, provides an unparalleled foundation for research. Additionally, its emphasis on internationalization creates a diverse academic environment, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and global perspectives.
Jiamei Zhang
Undergraduate: BS in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Tianjin University
Graduate: MS in Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; MS in Statistics, University of California, Riverside
Research Interests: Statistical Learning, Applied Optimization
Why a PhD in Business?
I am interested in research topics related to data science and operation optimization especially in logistics and transportation industries. A PhD in Operations and Decision Technologies would be a good starting point for pursuing a long-term academic career.
Why the Merage School?
The Merage School is a young but fast-growing business school with diversified and vibrant atmosphere. Students have opportunities working closely with faculty members early. This program matches my research interests, provides cross-discipline course plans, and organizes various seminar and training series to fit flexible individual development. In addition, Irvine is a perfect city to live and study with the finest weather, safest community, and the fresh coastal view.
Organization and Management
Patrycja Arundel
Undergraduate: BA in Psychology (Summa Cum Laude), University of California, Los Angeles
Research Interests: Perception, Impression Formation, Ethics in Human-AI Interactions, Expert Identities, Women in Leadership
Under the mentorship of UCLA Anderson Professor Craig Fox, she received the 2019 Nissim and Arlyne Levy Endowed Award for her senior thesis. Before starting her PhD at UC Irvine, she worked in operations and business development at AIIR Consulting.
Why a PhD in Business?
I decided to pursue a PhD in Organization and Management because of my passion to generate novel, meaningful insights that could inform human-centered business practices.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because of the outstanding faculty, the collaborative departmental culture, and the beautiful Southern California location.
Chris Lam
Undergraduate: BBA in Business Administration and Management, Emory University
Research Interests: Stems from his workforce experience in Atlanta in the wake of the 2016 election, centering around the study of political minorities in the workplace at the intersection of company culture, diversity & inclusion and stigmatization.
Chris worked as a Workday consultant at Alight Solutions for three years, leaving as a senior consultant.
James Rodriguez
Undergraduate: BA in Psychology, University of California, Irvine
Research Interests: Future of work and AI/automation implementation
Why a PhD in Business?
I’m pursuing a PhD in Organization and Management because I want to be on the leading edge to explore how our jobs will change in the face of technological advancement.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because having graduated from UC Irvine, I know how the faculty welcomes interdisciplinary approaches as well as how open-minded and forward-thinking the university is in general.
Becca Yihan Wang
Undergraduate: BS in Mathematics, University of California, Irvine
Graduate: MS in Data Science, Columbia University
Research Interests: Culture and diversity, the intersectionality of gender and ethnicity, NLP, social media dynamics
Why a PhD in Business?
I am eager to explore how individuals from diverse backgrounds exhibit distinct behaviors in the workplace and how their unique perspectives influence their decisions and overall impact on the organization.
Why the Merage School?
The environment is welcoming and collaborative. Faculty engage in outstanding research and are passionate about innovative ideas. Having completed my undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, I am also familiar with the campus and Orange County area.
Taryn Williams
Undergraduate: BS in Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management, California State University, Long Beach; AS in Business Administration and Economics, Long Beach City College
Research Interests: Barriers faced by formerly incarcerated (FI) job seekers, the impact of education on career advancement, and their contributions to teams
Taryn is a Graduate Opportunity Fellow in Organization and Management. She aims to develop programs and policies that support FI employment and reduce workplace stigma.
Why a PhD in Business?
During application season, I struggled between pursuing a doctorate in management or criminology. Although I could have done my research from either field, I felt my work could have a more significant impact on management. Management scholarship on diversity, equity, and inclusion lacks research on FI as a marginalized population in the labor market. I hope to change that!
Why the Merage School?
Ultimately, I decided to join the Merage School because I felt supported and celebrated from the very start. I applied to twelve programs all over the country but never had I experienced faculty reaching out to me! It made me feel like my ideas were worth pursuing and that my perspective was valuable. The Merage School has already surpassed my expectations by offering me an individualized program and one-on-one mentorship with faculty.
Simon Seongbin Yoon
Undergraduate: BA in English Interpretation Translation and BEcon in Economics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Graduate: MS in Business Technology Management, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Research Interests: Labor market, online platform, entrepreneurship
Lydia Lingyun Zhang
Undergraduate: BA, Peking University
Profile coming soon...
Strategy
Seonik Jang
Undergraduate: BS in Global Business Administration, Sungkyunkwan University
Graduate: MS in Strategy and International Management, Seoul National University
Research Interests: Organizations’ social network and their effects on firm innovation, risk-taking, strategic change, how sequences of organizational experiences-such as patterns of success and failure-shape learning and strategic behavior
Why a PhD in Business?
I chose to pursue a PhD in business because I am fascinated by how organizations make strategic decisions under certainty and how social structures influence those choices. My research is motivated by a desire to understand how social networks and organizational learning from experience sequences affect firm-level outcomes such as innovation, diversification, and risk-taking. The doctoral program provides the ideal environment to engage deeply with behavioral strategy and organizational theory, while equipping me with the methodological and analytical tools to contribute to these conversations at the frontier of management research.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Merage School because of its strong faculty expertise in behavioral strategy and organizational theory, areas closely aligned with my research interests. The opportunity to work with the faculty members whose work on attention, learning, and strategy directly informs my own research agenda was especially compelling. I was also drawn to the collegial and collaborative environment which fosters close mentorship and interdisciplinary engagement. These strengths make the Merage School an ideal place for me to grow as a scholar and develop a research program with both theoretical and practical impact.
Jeesoo Kim
Undergraduate: BA in Economics and Business Administration, Korea University
Graduate: MS in Management, Korea University
Research Interests: Cognitive and Social Psychology, Transaction Cost Economics
Her work mainly examines how psychological factors affect interfirm relationships. She also conducts research on managerial cognition, capability development, and learning. Jeesoo serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Organization Design and Long Range Planning.
Jinwon Jay Park
Undergraduate: BS in Linguistics and English Literature, Korea University
Graduate: MS in Organizational Theory and Strategic Management, Seoul National University
Research Interests: Antecedents and consequences of organizational decision-making, how temporal horizons impact organization’s feedback, how feedback in user community influences community-level attention, how changes in information communication technology impacts organizational structure
He is conducting research projects in professional sports, video gaming and healthcare industry setting.
Alexander Rose
Undergraduate: BA in Communications and BA in French Studies, Brigham Young University
Graduate: MS in Business Administration and MS in Business Analytics, University of Utah
Research Interests: Digital transformation impact on organizational structures and the role that technology plays in goal formation, decision making, performance evaluation
Why a PhD in Business?
Before starting his PhD, Alexander spent over a decade at the intersection of data science, digital transformation, and management consulting. Most recently, he was a Data Science Manager at Rockwell Automation, where he led initiatives to integrate advanced statistical and machine learning models into manufacturing settings. His prior work focused on driving analytics strategies to optimize operations, improve supply chain processes, and enhance decision making capabilities through digital tools.
Why the Merage School?
Drawn to the Merage school for its emphasis on both behavioral and structural perspectives of firm decision-making, Alexander is eager to explore these dynamics further through his research in collaboration with faculty at UC Irvine.
Wenjun Wang
Undergraduate: BA in Tourism Management, Donghua University
Graduate: MS in Management Business Administration, Xi'an Jiatong University
Research Interests: Alliance management, relation management, contract governance
Why a PhD in Business?
I wanted to pursue a PhD in strategy because I developed my research interest during my master's experience. I am passionate about doing research. Also, it is my dream to be a professor after graduation because there were many teachers and professors helping me through my learning journey.
Why the Merage School?
I chose the Paul Merage School of Business because my research interest is very aligned with my advisor, professor Libby Weber. I hope that I can work with her more in the future.
