Research in AI:
Saunders College of Business
Business analytics spans many emerging artificial intelligence (AI) fields at the intersection of business and technology as Big Data and emerging innovations continue to expand across all business functions.
Saunders faculty research in AI applications spans information systems, data science, social networks, algorithmic trading, machine learning, healthcare innovation, voice conversation agents, electric commerce and business ethics, to name a few areas.
Student clubs and activities include business simulations, business analytics competition, supply chain management, business technology professional, and financial management association trading activities, next generation of accountants, and hospitality financial and technology professionals.
New, state-of-the-art facilities inspired by the future of business include the Sklarsky Business Analytics Center, Behavioral Research Labs, Active Learning Classrooms, Business Solutions Labs, and Business Case Analysis Labs where students access the latest hardware and data-taming software including: R, Python, data visualization software such as Tableau, Structured Query Language (SQL), Systems Applications, Products in Data Processing (SAP), and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS).
Faculty Research in AI
Nikisha Alcindor
Areas of Specialization
Management, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Finance
Description of AI Research
Research applies machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve the success rates of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) by uncovering patterns in data that impact strategic decision-making. Leverages Agentic AI and Quantum Computing to optimize M&A performance. Unstoppable WOW3's Most Inspirational Women of Web3 & AI.
“The Influence of Chief Executive Officer Personality on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Completion” (2026).
Quang Bui
Areas of Specialization
Human-centered Generative AI, Machine Learning, Healthcare
Description of AI Research
Researching challenges of AI adoption, its behavioral repercussions, and governance dynamics within organizational contexts, with a specific emphasis on healthcare organizations, public agencies, and large enterprises. Employing a mixed-methods approach, my research combines experiments, interviews, and machine learning methods to offer a comprehensive understanding of these intricate phenomena.
Saunders Business Analytics Competition, challenging students to apply machine learning techniques to solve meaningful business problems.
William Dresnack
Areas of Specialization
Accounting
Description of AI Research
Research interviewing CPA firms to see how they are using AI, RPA and other advanced technologies, and how these affect firm culture.
Archana Jain
Areas of Specialization
Market Microstructure, Short Selling, Corporate Governance, Financial Regulations, Algorithmic Trading, Exchange Traded Funds
Description of AI Research
Financial Analysts Journal (2021) “Active trading in ETFs: The role of high-frequency algorithmic trading” Research Insight for Active trading in ETFs
Manlu Liu
Areas of Specialization
MIS, Finance
Description of AI Research
“Generative AI NFTs” submitted to AMCIS (American Conference of Information Systems) and collecting data for journal submission.
Sriniwas Mahapatro
Areas of Specialization
Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Credit Ratings, Financial Reporting, Labor & Organizational Economics
Description of AI Research
Uses generative AI and large-scale text analysis to study professional judgment, labor mobility, and information production in financial markets. Current research examines how credit-rating analysts adjust their judgment when moving across rating agencies and whether they adopt the standards of their new organizations. Related work explores whether clients and professional relationships follow analysts across firms, shedding light on the sources of expertise and information production in financial markets.
Emi Moriuchi
Areas of Specialization
Health Communication Technology, Avatar-Based Therapy, Social Marketing, Voice Conversation Agents
Description of AI Research
Psychology & Marketing (2022) “‘Alexa, lock my front door’: An empirical study on factors affecting consumers’ satisfaction with VCA-controlled security devices” Research Insight for Alexa, lock my front door
Rajendran Murthy
Areas of Specialization
Consulting, Consumer Behavior and e-business, Search engine marketing and analytics, Electronic commerce, Business ethics, Marketing high technology, Marketing management, Marketing research and strategy
Description of AI Research
IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management (2022) “Better Angry Than Afraid: The Case of Post Data Breach Emotions on Customer Engagement” Research Insight for Better Angry Than Afraid
Jialin Qian
Areas of Specialization
AI and Big Data, Textual Analysis, Corporate Finance, Corporate Innovation, Investments
Description of AI Research
Uses generative AI and large language models to analyze corporate disclosures and measure managerial expectations about firms and the broader economy. Research develops AI-based indicators that help predict corporate decisions and economic activity. Current work examines how generative AI can be applied to corporate communications, disclosure practices, and financial decision-making.
“ChatGPT and Corporate Policies,” with Manish Jha, Michael Weber and Baozhong Yang. NBER Working Paper w32161.
“Generative AI, Managerial Expectations, and Economic Activity,” with Manish Jha, Michael Weber and Baozhong Yang. Presented at NBER Summer Institute 2025; featured in Chicago Booth Review.
Jing Tang
Areas of Specialization
MIS, Finance
Description of AI Research
“How Does Avatar Yield Public Cultural Confidence?” China Summer Workshop of Information Management, June 24-25, 2023.
“Understanding AI Generated NFTs through Opensea” AMCIS (American Conference of Information Systems), August 2023.
“The Market for AI Generated NFTs: Participants, Items, and Transactions” SIGBIT (Special Interest Group on Blockchain Innovations and Technologies), 2022 Pre-ICIS Workshop on Web3 Technologies and Applications.
Ali Tosyali
Areas of Specialization
Network Science, Machine Learning, Information Systems, Financial Services Analytics, Social Network Analysis, Healthcare Analytics, Digital Platforms, Business Analytics
Description of AI Research
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) (2022) “Detecting Fake Review Buyers Using Network Structure: Direct Evidence from Amazon” Research Insight for Detecting Fake Review Buyers Using Network Structure - With Gijs Overgoor