People

“I appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to such a broad array of research interests and try them out as I go.”

When Ran Zhuo (she/her) graduated from Dartmouth College in 2017, pursuing a doctorate in economics was a natural next step. As she considered programs during her senior year of undergraduate, many of her professors directed her toward doctorates in Economics. “Looking back, I’m stunned that no one recommended Business Economics to me,” she says. “I wanted to conduct research that has real and immediate business applications, and the Business Economics program at Harvard gives me this opportunity.”

Ran appreciates that the program allows her to choose the lines of inquiry she wants to pursue as her research interests evolve, and to pivot when she discovers new areas that are a good fit. In addition, the ability to draw on the knowledge of both Economics and HBS faculty members has been a boon. “Many students don’t know which fields they want to work in when they arrive in the program,” she explains. “That was certainly my experience, and I appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to such a broad array of research interests and try them out as I go.”

In order to ensure that students begin their research on day one, HBS holds a required month-long orientation for new students, during which they work directly with faculty on research projects while getting to know their colleagues and becoming familiar with the abundant resources at Harvard. Coming directly from her undergraduate career—and unsure what to expect from graduate school—Ran found this program incredibly helpful. “The orientation includes cohort outings and events with upper-year students, as well as a mini-research project with faculty, so it covers both the social and intellectual dimensions of life as a graduate student,” Ran explains. “I was very pleased that so much time was devoted to helping us get acclimated. I found it unbelievably helpful.”

Research

Although she is still in the early stages of her program, Ran has been busy exploring a number of different research opportunities. During her first two years at Harvard—when Business Economics doctoral students are primarily focused on coursework in the department of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences—Ran has served as a research assistant to several HBS professors. She’s currently working on a project that includes an investigation into the use of open source vs. proprietary software by US firms, and the broader economic implications of open source software in terms of GDP.