SMU accepts its first batch of Interdisciplinary Doctoral students

SMU PhD students are trained to conduct leading-edge research and are developed into future thought leaders. The students pursue research that targets theoretical advances and practical impact in a vibrant learning environment with easy access to real-life data-sets, and internationally-known scholars, practitioners, entrepreneurs and distinguished educators.

SMU recently launched the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme (IDP) over and above its disciplinary PhD programmes in Economics, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources, and Psychology.

The first batch of SMU IDP students will commence their studies in August 2013. They will pursue PhD programmes in SMU’s research Areas of Excellence in Analytics for Business, Consumer & Social Insights, and Financial Markets & Institutions. They will take their research to the next level by working across disciplines.

Hoang Ai Phuong

Ai Phuong will pursue the PhD in Information Systems, with Marketing as a secondary specialisation.

Soon to graduate with an SMU Master of Applied Information Systems, Ai Phuong is no stranger to the SMU community. Ai Phuong envisions becoming an expert in her chosen field, and hopes to use her knowledge to make an impact. However, she is aware of the tough journey ahead and looks to receive advanced training from SMU to strengthen her skills and theoretical base.

Liu Xiaobin

Xiaobin will pursue the PhD in Economics, with Finance as a secondary specialisation.

Xiaobin is a Master’s student of Finance at Sun Yat-sen University (expected completion in June 2013), and his research interests lie in Model Estimation and Selection, Bayesian Econometrics, and Financial Econometrics. The research process he had experienced during his Master’s education was tough but enlightening. In his own words, ‘It has never been so clear that I want to be a researcher in the future.’

Ming Zeng

Ming Zheng will also be pursuing the PhD in Economics, with Finance as a secondary specialisation.

Having recently graduated from ESSEC Business School with a Master of Science in Financial Engineering, Ming Zeng was attracted by SMU’s vibrant research environment and its pool of distinguished scholars in his research field – panel data model theory. Striving to make a difference, Ming Zeng firmly believes that an SMU PhD will give him the foundation for his future research career.