Introduction
As an undergraduate, I was drawn to interdisciplinary research and programs. My major was in an interdisciplinary field—a blend of economics, operations research, and computer science. I also minored in American Studies and brought my major and minor fields together with a thesis examining American fiction through the lens of a statistician. I was drawn to the HBS ITM program (now STM) because it blended two fields—computer science and business—in a way that particularly appealed to me. I wanted to be engaged in research that brought the best from engineering into the social sciences.
My Research Interests
My research interests (behavioral economics, behavioral decision making, intrapersonal conflict, and dynamic inconsistency) came as something of a surprise. I had been turned off by economics as an undergraduate when I took a haphazard introductory course. Then I came to Harvard and fell in love with economics, specifically with behavioral economics—the field that was attempting to bring psychological principles to economics so that decision making processes could be more accurately modeled. I became particularly interested in research on dynamic inconsistency or peoples' tendency to plan to behave virtuously tomorrow (to diet, exercise, save, etc.) but to then give into temptation when tomorrow becomes today and again behave impulsively (eating unhealthy foods, skipping the gym, and spending wastefully).
The Science, Technology & Management Program
Within this program, I've gained a deep understanding of how an optimal decision maker (a computer) would approach problems. Since I study ways in which humans deviate from making optimal decisions, better understanding optimal decision making from the perspective of a computer scientist has been extremely useful. I've also become comfortable working with large databases and programming, which has facilitated much of my work analyzing massive consumer data sets.
The HBS Experience
The best part of the HBS experience for me has been my relationship with my advisor and mentor, Max Bazerman. Although I came to Max with a bizarre background for doing research in his area, he welcomed me and has provided me with incredible support and guidance over the years. And it has been great to be at a school where the top people in my field are constantly passing through as seminar speakers. Harvard is an incredible magnet for amazing researchers.
After HBS
I am joining the faculty at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. I will be an assistant professor (tenure-track) in the Operations and Information Management Unit (OPIM). I will be teaching an elective to undergraduate business majors and also to MBAs on Managerial Decision Making—just what I study!
Advice for prospective HBS doctoral students
Finding a terrific mentor is the key to a successful and enjoyable graduate school experience. And, don't underestimate the value of a vibrant academic community and great research support!