PhD | Student Directory
Doctoral Students
We encourage prospective applicants to reach out directly to our doctoral students with any questions about the application process, the Merage School PhD curriculum, the academic environment, job market preparation, or even what it's like to live in one of the most desirable areas in the United States.
Email: yliao18@uci.edu
Yifei (Leo) Liao is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in accounting at UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is on the 2024-25 accounting job market.
Broadly speaking, his research explores the impact of accounting information, particularly from a financial accounting perspective. His dissertation, “Mandatory Pay Range Disclosures and Firm Information Environment,” investigates how the mandatory disclosure of pay range information influences corporate voluntary disclosures and information asymmetry. Given that the impact of information depends on the quality and feature of the content, he is also interested in using advanced techniques to characterize these aspects. In addition to his interest in utilizing advanced ML algorithms to refine accounting measurements, he is also fascinated by the impact of AI and technology on investors’ use of financial information. The impact of information depends on users’ capabilities. Therefore, he is also interested in how behavioral bias moderates the impact of information through information acquisition or integration process.
Hongjie Chen is a doctoral student in Accounting at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include financial accounting, financial reporting and disclosure, and market efficiency. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and a Master of Finance from University of California, Irvine.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I came to UCI 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. UCI is where I found my interest in accounting and 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 is a PhD student in Accounting at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She obtained her
Bachelor of Science in Commerce at Santa Clara University in 2021. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Lin worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young LLP. Lin’s research interests include financial reporting and disclosure, capital markets and earning management, the roles of accounting information in equity valuation, and the information content of accounting measures.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: yichunh2@uci.edu
Yichun He is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include investments and empirical asset pricing. Yichun received a bachelor's degree in finance from Renmin University of China and a master’s degree in finance from University of Rochester. She previously worked at Citigroup as an equity research associate.
Personal website link: https://sites.google.com/view/yichunhe
Email: bongk1@uci.edu
Bong Ko is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests are in empirical asset pricing, stock return predictability and financial econometrics. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Yonsei University.
Runxin Fan is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests are empirical asset pricing and corporate finance. He received his bachelor’s degree in statistics from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics and his master’s in economics from Duke University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
I hope to understand the behavior of stock price and which factors drive the performance of companies.
Why did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
Great faculty, excellent research and the wonderful weather brought me here.
Hee Seo Han is a doctoral student in Finance at The Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include empirical study on asset pricing, institutional investors, behavioral finance, and text analysis. She received her bachelor’s in business administration and psychology from Ewha Womans University and master’s in finance from Seoul National University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
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.
Shiyan Wei is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests include Financial Market, Asset Pricing, Corporates Finance, and Real Estate. He received his BS in Public Finance and Public Policy from the China Academic of Public Finance and Public Policy, Central University of Finance and Economics in China. He received his MS in Economics and MS in Business from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
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.
Zhaotian Lu is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include behavioral finance and asset pricing. She received her MS in Finance at Purdue university and BS degree in Accounting at Shanghai Maritime University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I choose UCI 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 is a PhD student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She received her BS and MS with majors in Finance and Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich in 2020. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Hannah worked in asset and risk management as a Quantitative Pension Consultant for Siemens. Her main research interests are related to asset pricing, mutual funds, behavioral finance, and machine learning.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
The Paul 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.
Xinwei Yao is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interest includes asset pricing, financial market microstructure and behavioral finance. He received BA in Finance from School of Finance, Renmin University of China.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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 Paul Merage.
Email: yuqinx7@uci.edu
Sarah (Yuqing) Xiao is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests are related to empirical asset pricing, corporate finance, as well as the contractual friction in capital markets. She received her BA in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I chose the UCI Paul Merage School because of the distinguished faculty group, supportive students and staff, and pleasant weather.
Email: siyinz3@uci.edu
Siying Zhu is a doctoral student in Finance at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include empirical corporate finance, corporate governance, institutional investors, and financial markets. Siying received her bachelor’s degree in Finance from Wuhan University and her master’s degree in Economics from Duke University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: donghwab@uci.edu
Donghwa Bae is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests are in economics of information systems, machine learning, and textual analysis. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Korea University.
Email: chand10@uci.edu
Chang Dong is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests are social media analytics and the digital healthcare platforms. She graduated from UCLA with an M.A. in Quantitative Economics. She also received her B.S. in Applied Mathematics and B.Econ. in Financial Engineering at China University of Political Science and Law.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: fatooreh@uci.edu
Sardar Fatooreh Bonabi is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Sardar earned a master’s degree in Business Administration in the field of Strategy at the University of Tehran, and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences at the Sharif University of Technology, the most prestigious university in Iran.
After establishing two companies, he realized there are numerous business problems that require careful and systematic examination. This experience led Sardar to apply for the PhD program at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He entered the PhD program in January 2021 to fulfill his passion and curiosity about business and management problems, to have the opportunity to examine real-world business phenomena and to provide valuable insights/solutions to complicated managerial problems.
Sardar is interested in the intersection of computer science and management. He believes the potential power of computer science can help business extract more values, and infers that today’s trends in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, Big Data, and Text Mining can be applied to numerous management and business contexts in order to achieve this goal.
Email: mingg6@uci.edu
Ming Gao is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include AI in business, FinTech and Innovation. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Peking University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
I want to pursue a career as a professor at a business school, where I aim to conduct research on understanding the important role that information technology plays in business.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
Because in the Merage School, the research environment is very good, and also the faculties are very productive and friendly.
Email: sangmyul@uci.edu
Sangmyung Lee is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
TBA
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
TBA
Email: dongqinl@uci.edu
Dongqing Lin is a PhD student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He obtained a MS in Information Systems at John Hopkins University in 2023. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Donqing worked in AIDE at MediaTek as a Data Science/Machine Learning Engineer and San Diego State University as a Research Assistant. His main research interests are related to the application of technology in business, specifically application of AI and digitalization in business and markets.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
Business to Technology is like an engine to power. The group projects that I undertook at university allowed me to accumulate hands-on experience. While working in MediaTek, I saw the extensive applications of software and digital systems in the business of industries. Such experiences stimulated my interests in business and information systems to ever-higher levels. My ambition is to work with tech corporations in data analytics or digitalization to apply my knowledge and skills. I believe that my all-around knowledge in both the market and technologies will enable me to play an instrumental role in the process and succeed professionally.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I was keen to study as a PhD student in the UCI 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, especially there is a sentence on the website of the Merage School, “Leadership for a Digitally Driven World”, which attracts me very much. Also, UCI has a high reputation that will benefit my career development, and the vibrant community appeals to me. For these reasons, I consider it the most ideal program for me.
Email: jsrho@uci.edu
Elia (Jung Suk) Rho is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests are in empirical studies on mobile application unbundling and optimal search results UI design. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Korea University and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and University of Texas-Austin.
Email: haonay4@uci.edu
Haonan Yin is a doctoral student in Information Systems at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She focuses on research in the area of electronic healthcare, especially physician service, patient behavior and the operation of online health communities. Haonan received her master’s in Management Science and Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology and her bachelor’s in Information Systems from Qingdao University.
Email: kcackerm@uci.edu
Kimberly Ackerman is a doctoral student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
TBA
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
TBA
Email: jhenry3@uci.edu
Jazmin Henry is a doctoral student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her main research interest is in consumer behavior, specifically race, class and culture in the marketplace. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Business degree from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Email: amking1@uci.edu
Angela King is a Marketing PhD student at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She studies consumer behavior with a focus on issues such as food choice, health decision-making and sustainable consumption.
Email: xiajingz@uci.edu
Xiajing Zhu is a PhD candidate in Marketing at the Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration with honors from Jiangnan University, China. Her research focuses on the impact of ideology, social media, sociopolitical factors, and branding strategies on consumer information processing and behaviors, including misinformation sharing, donations, and purchases. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Business Research and the International Journal of Advertising. Her latest paper on ideology and misinformation has been invited for minor revisions at the Journal of Marketing. Her dissertation uses two essays to explore how ideology and sociopolitical factors influence financial and other forms of support for ingroups.
As a first-generation college student, Xiajing is acutely aware of the barriers that underrepresented groups face when pursuing higher education. She has actively served as a representative of the DECADE program at Merage, which aims to promote inclusivity and foster a welcoming environment for PhD students from diverse backgrounds. She also initiated a weekly writing group starting during the COVID-19 pandemic to boost research productivity and help build community among her fellow PhD students at Merage.
Saghar Ansaripoor is a PhD student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include social media marketing, digital markets, and sharing economy. She obtained her BS in Electrical Engineering from the K.N.Toosi University of Technology and her MBA from Sharif University of Technology (Tehran, Iran).
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: jeeh2@uci.edu
Jee Hae Ha is a doctoral student in Quantitative Marketing at UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research focuses on the application of AI/ML, text/image/video analysis, causal inference, and econometric analysis in the biomedical, healthcare and business sectors.
Working paper:
“AI in the Dental Industry: Transforming Healthcare and Business Dynamics”Christine Hu is a Marketing Ph.D. student at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business. She earned her BA in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing from UCI’s School of Humanities. As an undergraduate student, she also studied Shakespeare, politics, and film at the University of Cambridge. Additionally, Christine has spent her entire career in marketing starting at UCI’s Graduate & PostDoctoral Scholar Resource Center as a student and professionally in managerial roles across industries including broadcast and digital media, black-tie fashion e-commerce, and nonprofit. Christine also has experience as a social media consultant working with organizations and individuals to improve their digital presence. Prior to entering the Ph.D. program, she created viral content for a TV network while earning her MBA at Cal Poly Pomona.
Christine’s primary research focus is Consumer Culture Theory.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
Business education is special because it significantly influences industry which affects our everyday lives. I’m pursuing my Ph.D. in Marketing because I love this area of study and want to make meaningful advancements to this scholarly and impactful discipline.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I chose Merage for its world-class faculty, location, and fit. Merage has a longstanding and celebrated tradition of notable faculty members conducting research in the unique area of marketing that I study. Personally, as an Anteater alumna, I am delighted to be back!
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn here.
Email: kananiam@uci.edu
Mona Kananian is a doctoral student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Prior to joining UCI, she 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. She obtained her Master’s degree in Socioeconomic Issues in Natural Resources Management and Policy from the University of Tehran.
Her research utilizes 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. Originally from Iran, Mona chose UCI for its diverse student body and its faculty’s emphasis on culture, equity, and sustainability.
Hanzhi Li is a PHD student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include digital marketing, social media and business economics. She received her BS in Finance from Changzhou University in China, MS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I chose Merage School because of the excellent faculty and the great atmosphere. Also, the comfortable climate and beautiful coast of Southern California attracted me.
Email: yuenanl1@uci.edu
Heather (Yuenan) Liu is a PhD student in Marketing at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She obtained her Master’s degree in Business Analytics from Duke University in 2021, and her Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics & Management from Rutgers University and South China University of Technology in 2020. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Heather worked in Infosys Limited as data scientist. Her main research interests are related to the intersection of technology development and consumer behavior. She is particularly interested in how advanced technology, such as AI chatbots, influence consumer decision-making processes, engagement, and perceptions. Her work aims to uncover insights into how these technological innovations shape customers’ purchasing behavior and the implications for businesses in the digital age.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: rmillerm@uci.edu
Rachel Miller-Moudgil is a marketing PhD at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Prior to joining UCI, she earned her MS from the University of Oregon, where she also served as adjunct faculty and her MBA from Baylor University, where she managed the university’s social media marketing and strategy.
Her research employs 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. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Rachel chose UCI for its diverse student body and its faculty’s focus on race, culture, and equity.
Operations and Decision Technologies
Email: xlin32@uci.edu
Xi (Henry) Lin is a doctoral candidate in Operations and Decision Technologies at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He is interested in devising and using tailored mathematical model to facilitate operational decision-making for newly emerged businesses in e-commerce and the retail industry. His current work focuses on various aspects of the emerging trend of livestream commerce, including negotiations between stakeholders, pricing and revenue sharing, consumer behavior, social implications, as well as inventory management and environmental impact.
Another application that he is working on is retail operations for food recovery such as pricing schemes of food waste supermarkets. He is also broadly interested in business model innovations for socially responsible operations.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Statistics and Operations Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He is on the 2024-2025 job market.
Meiling Wu is a PhD student in Operations and Decision Technologies at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She obtained an MS in Supply Chain Management from Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis; And a BA in Logistics Management from the School of Business, Tianjin Normal University. Her research interests are Supply Chain Management, Operations Strategy, Inventory Control, and Revenue Management.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
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.
Jiamei Zhang is a PhD student in Operations and Decision Technologies at UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering in 2016 at Tianjin University in China, MS degree in Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley in 2017 and MS in Statistics in 2020 at UC Riverside. Previously, Jiamei worked as a Management Consultant in SF Express Co., Ltd in China, focusing on business models of last-mile delivery services. Her research interests are statistical learning and applied optimization.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
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.
Mobin Ghasempour Nejati is a PhD student in Operations and Decision Technologies at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He obtained a M.Sc. in Business Administration at Sharif University of Technology in 2020. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Mobin worked in Unilever as a member of the supply chain department. His main research interests lie at the intersection of operations and marketing.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
I enjoy the application of quantitative methods in solving business related problems. A PhD in Business provides me with the opportunity to extend my knowledge in quantitative methods as well as theoretical literature under the supervision of adept faculty members. Moreover, the fact that the PhD programs in business are flexible and enable students to pursue their research in their desired path adds to their appeal.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
Paul Merage provides students with the chance to take related courses from almost every school in the university. The staff and faculty members are extremely 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 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.
Email: rkharazm@uci.edu
Reyhaneh Kharazmi Pour is a Ph.D. student in the Operations, Decisions, and Technologies program at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her academic journey began with obtaining an Industrial Engineering degree as an undergraduate student at Sharif University of Technology. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Reyhaneh gained experience as a data analyst at Digikala, Iran's leading e-commerce company, where she collaborated with marketing and product teams. This experience illuminated the importance of continuous optimization in even the most substantial business processes and sparked her passion for research in the realm of business problem-solving. Reyhaneh's primary research interests encompass optimization, data analysis, and marketing, reflecting her interest in bridging the gap between academic theory and practical business solutions.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
I decided to go for a Ph.D. 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 Ph.D. is the best way to gain the knowledge and skills I need to make a real impact in this field.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
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.
Email: wanfeny1@uci.edu
Wanfen Yang is a PhD student in Operations and Decision Technologies at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Information Management and Information Systems in the School of Business at Jilin University, MS in Management Science and Engineering in Lingnan College at Sun Yat-sen University in China. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Wanfen worked as an algorithm product manager in SF Express Co., LTd and worked as a product manager in PDD Holding Inc. in China, focusing on logistics network optimization and e-commerce platform efficiency improvement. Her research interests include the analysis and optimization of supply chain issues in the retail industry, e-commerce platforms, logistic networks, and related fields.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
Paul 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.
Email: cjlam1@uci.edu
Chris Lam became a PhD student in Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business in 2020. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in 2017, concentrating in Organization and Management. After graduation, he worked as a Workday consultant at Alight Solutions for three years, leaving as a senior consultant in 2020. His current research 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.
Email: seongbiy@uci.edu
Simon (Seongbin) Yoon is a doctoral student in Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interest lies labor market, online platform, and entrepreneurship. He received his master's degree from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and bachelor's degree from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
Patrycja Arundel is a PhD student in Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Patrycja graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology with the highest Departmental and College Honors distinctions. With UCLA Anderson School of Management Professor Craig Fox as her advisor, she won the prestigious 2019 Nissim and Arlyne Levy Endowed Award for outstanding senior thesis paper. Prior to entering a PhD program at UCI, Patrycja has worked in operations and business development at AIIR Consulting, a global leadership development consultancy. Her research interests encompass perception and impression formation, ethics and morality in human-AI interactions (HAI), expert identities, and women in leadership.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
I chose Merage School of Business because of the outstanding faculty, the collaborative departmental culture, and the beautiful Southern California location.
James Fernando Rodriguez is a PhD Student in Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He received his BA in Psychology with minors in Management and Informatics at UC Irvine. His research interests lie in the future of work and AI/automation implementation.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
I chose the Merage School because having graduated from UCI, I know how the faculty welcomes interdisciplinary approaches as well as how open-minded and forward-thinking the university is in general.
Email: yihaw43@uci.edu
Becca (Yihan) Wang is a PhD student in Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She received her BS in Mathematics from UCI and MS in Data Science at Columbia. Her research interests focus on culture and diversity, the intersectionality of gender and ethnicity, NLP, and social media dynamics.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
The environment is welcoming and collaborative. The faculties engage in outstanding research and are passionate about innovative ideas. Having completed my undergraduate studies at UCI, I am also familiar with the campus and Orange County area.
Taryn Williams is a Graduate Opportunity Fellow studying Organization and Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include internal labor markets, team dynamics, and corporate social responsibility. She currently holds a bachelor's degree with a double major in Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management from California State University, Long Beach and dual associate's degrees in Business Administration and Economics from Long Beach City College.
Taryn has presented research on community pushback to farmers' markets, multiple-regression analysis of opioid overdoses in the U.S., and bias and judgment as barriers to human growth and upward mobility. Most recently, her honors thesis explored the creation of faculty development diversity training focusing on formerly incarcerated (FI) students. For her doctoral studies, she plans to investigate the experiences of FI job seekers and jobholders. Some of the questions that she wants to pursue are: How are FI turned away from higher levels of employment? Are bias, judgment, and discriminatory hiring practices impacting FI's ability to advance within an organization? Does educational attainment for FI serve as a catalyst for employment or promotion? What perspective do FI bring to teams and organizations? And how do FI mediate stigma in the workplace?
Taryn aspires to create programming and change policies in support of the FI community getting and maintaining employment, as well as help companies understand the value that FI brings to team dynamics and organizational outcomes.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
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.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryndeannewilliams/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pBKlUKUAAAAJ&hl=en
Link to Research presentation (5-minute video)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZMNsM5h-XpUz-S-5MNT1Hh38ccM6bOen/view?usp=sharing
Email: jeesoo.k@uci.edu
Jeesoo Kim is a doctoral student in Strategy at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research lies at the intersection of cognitive and social psychology and 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. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration (double major) and a master’s degree in management from Korea University.
Email: jay.park@uci.edu
Jay (Jinwon) Park is a doctoral student in Strategy at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research domains are concentrated on the antecedents and consequences of organizational decision-making. He is currently interested in how temporal horizons impact organization’s feedback, how feedback in user community influences community-level attention, and how changes in information communication technology impacts organizational structure. He is conducting research projects in professional sports, video gaming and healthcare industry setting. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Korea University and a master’s degree from Seoul National University.
Email: ahrose@uci.edu
Alexander Rose is a PhD student in Strategy at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He holds dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Business Analytics from the University of Utah and earned undergraduate degrees in Communications and French Studies from Brigham Young University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of 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 did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
Alexander’s hands-on experience in industrial automation inspired his research interests in how digital transformation impacts organizational structures and the role that technology plays in goal formation, decision making, and performance evaluation. 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 UCI.
Wenjun Wang is a doctoral student in Strategy at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. Her research interests include alliance management, relation management, and contract governance. She received her BA in Tourism Management from the School of Management, Donghua University. And she got her Master of Management Business Administration from the School of Management at Xi'an Jiaotong University.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
I wanted to pursue a PhD in strategy because I developed my research interest during my master's research 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 did you choose to come to the Merage School for a PhD?
I chose the UCI 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.
Haoran Zheng is a doctoral student in Strategy at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. His research interests lie in strategic decision-making, behavior strategy, organization design, and corporation governance. He received his MS in Business Analytics, BA in Quantitative Economics, BS in Mathematics with minors in Accounting at UC Irvine. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program, Haoran worked in a regional accounting firm as Accountant, in a private equity as Investment Specialist.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD in your discipline of Business?
Strategy studies could not provide the “best solution”; The beauty of the field is that any new perspective might lead to a different result for the problem. I would like to keep exploring new angles to pursue better explanations of this fast-changing environment.
Why did you choose to come to (the Merage School) for a PhD?
I chose the Paul Merage because of the encouragement of interdisciplinary approaches by faculty members, the advancement in behavioral and qualitative research methods in the field as well as the opportunities to cooperate with multiple faculty members across the university.
