Program Overview

PhD in Information Systems

The Information Systems (IS) doctoral program is a research-based program where students work with world-renowned scholars to build skills that will prepare them for impactful careers as professors in information systems at business schools.

Program Overview

The doctoral program places a heavy emphasis on training students through active engagement in the research process. Students develop a strong foundation in research methods and statistics, while closely collaborating with multiple faculty members on research projects.

Program Faculty

Our renowned, award-winning IS faculty are published experts on topics like:

• Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning
• Cybersecurity Risk Management
• Digital Strategy and Digital Transformation
• Digital Platforms and Governance
• Digitalization and Emerging Digital Technologies
• Social Media and Its Impact
• Generative AI and Large Language Models
• Natural Language Processing and Image Recognition
• Behavioral Online Experiments
• Tools and Methods for Making Sense of Big Data

Faculty Members

• Jason Bennett Thatcher: Tandean Rustandy Esteemed Endowed Chair • Information Systems PhD Program Director
• David Dobolyi: Assistant Professor
• Abram Handler: Assistant Professor
• Kai Larsen: Professor
• Ramiro Montealegre: Professor
• Zhiyi Wang: Assistant Professor

Admissions

General details about the curriculum, requirements, and structure of the program can be found in the program documentation.

Funding

Information on funding opportunities for PhD students is available.

Research Requirements

Students develop a strong foundation in research methods and statistics, while closely collaborating with multiple faculty members on research projects.

Teaching Requirements

The PhD program prepares students to be researchers and teachers at major universities.

Program Graduates

The PhD program has a strong track record of placing graduates in academic positions at top universities. Some notable placements include:

• Aakash Saxena: PhD (2020), Placement: Sykes Enterprises, Inc.
• Jaebong Son: PhD (2017), Placement: California State University
• Jeffrey Sweeney: PhD (2016), Placement: Erasmus University
• Jingjing Li: PhD (2013), Placement: University of Virginia
• Tomasz Miaskiewicz: PhD (2010), Placement: NOVA School of Business and Economics
• Zainab AlQenaei: PhD (2009), Placement: Kuwait University
• Dirk Hovorka: PhD (2006), Placement: Bond University, Australia
• Emilio Collar: PhD (2005), Placement: Western Connecticut State University
• Younghwa Lee: PhD (2005), Placement: University of Kansas
• Mark W.S. Chun: PhD (2003), Placement: Pepperdine University
• Matt Germonprez: PhD (2002), Placement: Case Western Reserve University

Publications

Graduates of the PhD program have published research in top-tier journals, including:

• Decision Support Systems: "An Explainable Framework for Assisting the Detection of AI-Generated Textual Content" (2025)
• Management Information Systems Quarterly: "Unlocking Knowledge Inheritance of Behavioral Research: A Design Framework and an Instantiation" (2016)
• Information Systems Research: "Don’t Mention It? Analyzing User-generated Content Signals for Early Adverse Event Warnings" (2019)
• MIS Quarterly: "Information technology use as a learning mechanism: The impact of it use on knowledge transfer effectiveness, absorptive capacity, and franchisee performance" (2015)
• MIS Quarterly: "Can online wait be managed? The effect of filler interfaces and presentation modes on perceived waiting time online" (2012)