Big thinkers and big doers

By Kevin Manne

BUFFALO, N.Y. — From undergraduates to PhDs, students in the University at Buffalo School of Management expand their business knowledge through hands-on learning, internships, research and academic discipline. That rich mixture of discovery and accomplishment was on display in front of the entire university Feb. 20 at the school’s inaugural Research and Experiential Learning Showcase. 

This new event is an expansion of the school’s annual PhD Showcase, which ran for the previous 14 years. 

On the PhD side, 14 students from six School of Management departments presented posters highlighting their research accomplishments. Presentations included a wide range of topics — from online shopping returns and sustainable investing, to employee stock options and the impacts of leadership identity and motivation to lead. Four doctoral students were selected to receive student awards.

The Rising Star award — a $1,000 prize given to a student or students who exhibit exceptional early performance in the program through their engagement with faculty on research, coursework and contributions to the intellectual atmosphere of the school — was granted to Viola Hezardastan of Esfahan, Iran, from the Marketing Department for her research titled “Secondhand and Second-Class? How Power Distance Belief Reduces Preference for Secondhand Consumption.” 

Yiling Shen of Yixing, Jiangsu, China, representing the Accounting and Law Department, was honored with the Best Poster award based on overall presentation and the clarity, strength of design and research implications. Shen received a $1,000 cash prize for her research on the unintended consequences of employee disclosure mandates. 

From the Organization and Human Resources Department, Sara Hoseingholizade of Arak, Iran, received the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence, which goes to the senior doctoral student who demonstrates the highest level of potential as a scholar, based on journal publications, research awards and presentations or papers at top conferences. Hoseingholizade presented research titled “The Social Side of Underdogs: Competing Paths to Connection and Retaliation” and received a $2,500 prize for the honor. 

The Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing exceptional promise and performance as a teacher in the program, went to Raghav Singh of Pune, India. Singh is currently working towards a PhD in management in the Management Science and Systems Department and received a $500 prize with the award.

For the undergraduates, 17 students presented on hands-on learning, sharing skills they gained through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. Posters included details of a student internship at a local excavation company, an analysis of price volatility in Major League Baseball contracts, how doomscrolling affects adolescent mental health, a financial analysis of a local nonprofit arts organization and more.  

Business administration student Stephanie Newberger of Buffalo was selected as best poster winner among the undergraduates for her poster, “Shaping the Future of Play” which documented her experience as a marketing intern at Fisher-Price. She received $1,000 with the award.

Luciano Kadian of Smithtown was named first runner-up and received $500 for his poster, “AIET: Artificial Intelligence for Extraterrestrial.” Kadian is a student in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Management program. 

Awards were presented to both groups at a ceremony in Alfiero Center on UB’s North Campus following the morning showcase. Select participants will also present their posters at the university-wide Celebration of Student Academic Excellence on April 30 in Alumni Arena.