Our PhD Students

Mohammed  Alrashdani is a PhD student in Financial Technology at the Business School of Worcester Polytechnic. His research focuses on the impact of decoupling Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors on portfolio performance, exploring how individual ESG components influence investment returns. Employing advanced financial modeling techniques, , he analyzes the predictive power of ESG factors in forecasting future portfolio performance.His professional background includes roles as a financial analyst at Saudi Aramco, a financial auditor, and an assistant professor at Sacred ...

Doaa Alrefaei is a PhD candidate at WPI Business School and faculty at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Her research integrates human-computer interaction, eye tracking, and NeuroIS, focusing on enhancing user experience design with AI and neuroscience. Her work applies these methods to healthcare, aiming to improve user interactions and outcomes. 

Salim Eray Celik is a PhD student at the Business School of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in circular economy, operations and supply chain management, sustainability, and blockchain. His research focuses on carbon emission data management using blockchain technology, with a particular emphasis on its role in a circular economy framework. By leveraging advanced simulation, mathematical modeling, strategic decision-making, and experimentation, he explores the dynamic interplay of these systems to drive sustainable and efficient solutions.

Zhuowen (Karen) Chen is a PhD candidate at the Business School of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in circular economy, operations and supply chain management, sustainability, and blockchain. Her research explores the intricate intersections of safety and environmental factors within these domains, with a specific emphasis on the framework of a circular economy. Employing advanced modeling techniques, strategic decision-making, and experimentation, her work addresses the dynamic nature of these systems. Zhuowen has contributed to publications including the International Journal of ...

Sahar Ebrahimi Bajgni is a Ph.D. candidate with a passion for developing sustainable supply chain network models and exploring the transformative potential of blockchain technology. Her research focuses on investigating the challenges of adopting blockchain technology in supply chains plagued by counterfeit issues. She designs supply chain networks to simulate real-world scenarios and examines how cooperation between supply chain participants can sustain blockchain technology as a profitable solution.In addition to her work on blockchain technology, Sahar is conducting empirical research aimed ...

Allen Gutierrez has a background in business and technology education. A Fulbright alumnus, he was awarded the prestigious scholarship to complete his MS in Information Technology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and began his PhD in Entrepreneurship in 2024 under the mentorship of Professor Rosanna Garcia. His research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems, especially the role of incubators, AI, and digital platforms in driving startup success. Through his work at WPI’s i3Lab, he helps student entrepreneurs refine their ideas and transition from concept to commercialization. His main ...

Prateek Jain’s PhD research focuses on User Experience. His research interests are augmented reality, internet of things (IoT), accessibility and eye tracking. He is working on multiple research projects focusing on use of augmented reality to improve user experience of products and services. Along with that, he believes augmented reality itself needs to have a great user experience since it is changing the way we interact with the world around us. Prior to entering the PhD program, he received MS in Information Technology from WPI and BE in Electronics and Communication from Sanghvi ...

I am Amir Jamali, a Ph.D. Student in Business Administration and Management at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in Operations Management. My research integrates advanced analytical techniques, including supply chain optimization, simulation, and machine learning, to address complex industrial and operational challenges. With a focus on enhancing efficiency and resilience in supply chain systems, I develop innovative solutions that improve decision-making processes in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and service operations. Through my work, I aim to bridge the gap ...

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Business Administration at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in Information Systems. My research focuses on user perception and responses in technology interactions, particularly with chatbots. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, I aim to deepen our understanding of user-technology relationships.My work contributes to improving technology design by enhancing user empowerment, fostering adoption, and increasing the prevalence of emerging technologies. By bridging theory and practice, I seek to ensure that technology evolves in ways ...

Kexin Lin has a Master's degree in Management Science and Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Cost from North China Electric Power University. Her research includes sustainability and big data analytics, and has appeared in Computers & Industrial Engineering and Journal of Cleaner Production. Her current research seeks to develop big data performance evaluation and benchmarking tools for blockchain technology and its applications.

Warich Ngamkanjanarat started his PhD in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship in Fall 2023, focusing on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and the broader factors that shape regional entrepreneurship beyond individual founder skills. His work examines how universities, networks, culture, and policy influence startup success. He is currently conducting research on university student entrepreneurship under Professor Rosanna Garcia and serves as the Entrepreneurs Engagement Lead at WPI’s i3 Lab startup incubator.Warich received a full merit-based scholarship from Thailand's Ministry of Science and ...

Gaayathri Sankar is a Ph.D. candidate with a passion for research that lies at the intersection of people, business, and technology. Her work leverages mixed methods data to inform user experience and decision-making across applications in healthcare and robotics. She focuses on applying eye-tracking technology to understand and quantify cognitive processes such as engagement in real-time. Through her research, Gaayathri aims to bridge the gap between theoretical insights and practical solutions, thereby enhancing the design of human-centered systems that foster inclusive and evidence-based ...