Studying for my PhD at WBS

From immersing in the vibrant research community to working alongside a diverse group of fellow researchers and academics, PhD student Skyler Xie shares his experience of studying at WBS.

I’m currently a first-year PhD student at WBS. My current research focuses on econometrics and organisational economics, which combines data science with a microfoundations mindset to analyse firm decision-making, strategic interactions, and organisational dynamics.

Vibrant research community

I chose to study for my PhD at WBS because I frequently come across very interesting research articles and reports published by WBS academics. As one of the largest business schools in the UK, WBS has a vibrant research community across different disciplines, such as Finance, Behavioural Science, Marketing, Operations and five other subject groups. As a junior research student, I think it is always helpful to engage with colleagues from different backgrounds and talk with them about our research interests. I also chose WBS because it provides a structured pathway in the PhD programme. The methodology courses offer a comprehensive overview for both qualitative and quantitative students, followed by advanced sessions in each stream.

Additionally, we are given many options for elective modules, depending on our background and research interests. Apart from the business school, the University also has great resources for PhD students from the first day we start. The Doctoral College at Warwick, for example, focuses exclusively on research students and provides consistent support for PhD’s professional skills, wellbeing, network events and scholarship opportunities. I also received great support for my research skills from Warwick Q-step centre, they provide various high-quality quantitative research workshops and masterclasses each term.

Cultivating curiosity

My inspiration throughout my research studies firstly stems from the curiosity for new phenomena, ideas and knowledge. All of these are acquired through my daily reading, thinking, attending seminars and many other activities. It is important to realise that an interesting research project develops from a real-life context, by exploring the phenomena with knowledge from different subjects. In this aspect, WBS has an excellent environment for cultivating curiosity, as all of our ideas are well respected and can always receive genuine feedback.

Secondly, my inspiration comes from the comprehensive research training during the first year of my PhD which enabled me to develop competence in tackling my research questions. Apart from developing an interesting research question, I learned how to identify an appropriate method to cope with potential difficulties throughout the research process.

The last one is about peer learning. I am very lucky to have many great colleagues at WBS during my first-year study. With a cohort made up of nearly 30 talents from different countries representing diverse academic and professional backgrounds, it provides a great environment for me to learn from other colleagues. We discussed our projects and shared different opinions based on our own specialisms. Even though most of our activities are online, we build up our connections through coursework, group project and research seminars. Such active peer learning and idea exchange with colleagues at WBS are extremely valuable for my study and research.

Gaining valuable first-hand experience

I really enjoy the dynamic and vibrant doctoral community at WBS. There are many research seminars organised by different subject groups each week, all of our PhD students are welcomed to attend the presentations hosted not only by our own group but also from other disciplines. Several subject groups also provide various PhD development sessions, which are dedicated to our soft skill development, such as research presentation, publication process and interview preparation. All of these sessions are led by senior academics, providing valuable first-hand insights for our career.

The doctoral programme also has a professional team to support each PhD student, from the day when we make the application. The programme team helps with our modules, training, supervisions and the most importantly, our research progress. I’m also impressed with the weekly PhD newsletter delivered by the programme team, which includes all essential information for our study (e.g., conferences, workshops, seminars, scholarships and many other events).

Bridging behavioural economics and econometric modelling in strategic decision-making

My research applies behavioural economics to strategy theory and practice, using quantitative modelling to explain firms' strategic choices and their impact across different levels of analysis. My current project examines the implementation of digital strategies in the industrial trading sector. By employing econometric modelling with large-scale datasets and conducting behavioural experiments, my research aims to understand how micro-founded factors influence firm strategy execution. Additionally, I investigate how interactions between organisations and individuals shape collective outcomes and firm performance, leveraging rigorous quantitative methods to derive actionable economic insights.

I am particularly excited about this research as it integrates economics with strategic decision-making, applying rigorous quantitative modelling to analyse firm behaviour and organisational dynamics. By incorporating insights from economics, my work examines how cognitive biases, decision heuristics, and social interactions shape firms’ strategic choices and the efficiency of organisational systems.

A key focus of my research is understanding how firms navigate digital transformation, an economic shift that not only influences market structures and business models but also affects individual decision-making at the micro level. Digitalisation alters incentive structures, impacts productivity, and reshapes interactions between firms, employees, and customers. Using econometric techniques and experimental methods, my research seeks to quantify the micro-founded mechanisms driving these changes and assess their broader economic implications on firm performance and market competition.

Working alongside experts to assist my academic development

I am very lucky to have two great professors as my supervisors from the start of the programme, both of them are experts in my field. They have been very supportive for not only my research project but also my academic development. When I came up with new ideas about my research, they have always been ready to read and provide insightful feedback from my research design to methodologies. Although I can’t interact with them face-to-face on campus during the lockdown, they are never ‘offline’ when I ask any questions or seek advice about my study and work. At WBS, I can feel that my supervisors and other academics are genuinely helping me and making efforts to take our PhD students to achieve success.

Discover more about our MRes/PhD Programme at Warwick Business School.