Doctoral Studies
The mark of highest achievement in entrepreneurship and information systems scholarship.
The LSU PhD in Business Administration program within SDEIS prepares graduate students for successful careers as researchers and professors. We desire to produce individuals who will become members of top-tier research institutions and make continuing contributions to business and society through their developments and application of new knowledge.
SDEIS currently supports two distinct areas for students to focus their studies:
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is defined as the process of creating value by gathering and combining resources in a unique way to exploit opportunities. This track produces graduates who can research and advance our understanding of the entrepreneurship process and its outcomes. The program is highly personalized to reflect individual intellectual interests. Yet, it closely involves internationally recognized faculty who aim to advance your career as a research professor at a top-tier academic institution. Students collaborate with faculty to explore many different entrepreneurship topics, including creativity, innovation, social entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, family business, venture capitalism, and new venture creation, among many others.
Information Systems
Advances in cloud computing and software as a service, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and the “Internet of Things” enable any firm in any industry to reconsider its value proposition. SDEIS understands that these trends are not just technology changes—computer scientists will continue to push the boundaries of the capabilities of IT. This is why advancing the domain of information systems research and thought leadership are critical to this ever-evolving industry.
Key Research Areas
Entrepreneurship
Innovation & Creativity
Entrepreneurship Process
Social Entrepreneurship
Family Business
Strategic Entrepreneurship
Crowdfunding
Venture Capital
Information Systems
Digital Transformation
IT Outsourcing
IT Strategy
Cybersecurity
Organizational & individual adoption of new and emerging technology
Program Details
SDEIS welcomes applications from highly qualified individuals considering a career in academics or industry. Through coursework and independent research, you will hone your analytical and technical competence while mastering skills in research design, project management, and teamwork. The program also emphasizes the ability to communicate research findings to academic audiences and practicing managers. This blend of knowledge and skills are valuable to anyone pursuing a career as an academic researcher, university professor, or individuals who intend to work in industry as a data scientist.
The LSU Ourso Advantage
Active Faculty: Collaborate with and learn from our faculty of world-class researchers, who are continually published in top journals and serve as journal editors.
Selective Enrollment: A limited and selective enrollment that allows students to develop personal and professional ties with faculty and fellow students
Funding Available: Admitted students generally receive a competitive level of funding through departmental research or teaching assistantships. Students are also eligible for fellowships and other awards offered by the LSU Graduate School.
Scholarship-First Focus: PhD students have access to all resources of the LSU academic community, allowing you to pursue your interests in related fields, like any business discipline, computer science, experimental statistics, or other areas important to your development.
Team Environment: Our culture of collegiality encourages students to work closely with faculty and fellow PhD students.
Extensive Network: SDEIS faculty are well-connected within the world of academia. They use these connections to help PhD candidates gain visibility with potential employers.
Faculty Features
AJ Burns
Assistant Professor - Information Systems
A. J. Burns studies human factors in cyber risk with a specific interest in understanding how organizations can better protect the sensitive information they create, collect, and process. As a cyber risk expert, his research sheds light on diverse topics, from intentional insider attacks to spear phishing and security training. Overall, he has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers on cyber risk, including some in the highest-rated academic journals in the information systems field.
His current research interest includes online information integrity, specifically the emerging issues around false and misleading information on social media that create new cyber risks for individuals, organizations, and society.
G. Tyge Payne
Professor - Entrepreneurship
H. Norman Saurage Jr. and Community Coffee Company Inc. Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship
Tyge Payne's research resides at the intersection of entrepreneurship and strategic management, examining how and why new and existing organizations combine opportunity-and advantage-seeking decisions and behaviors that lead to innovation and value creation. He has over 80 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Family Business Review (FBR), Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Organizational Science, and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. Payne is the former editor-in-chief of FBR and is currently a field editor for the Journal of Business Venturing, the top journal dedicated to the study of entrepreneurship.
His current research is focused on understanding how and in what ways entrepreneurs utilize signals and language to motivate and persuade investors and other stakeholders to provide resources or otherwise support a venture.
Doctoral Studies Contacts
Andrew H. Schwarz
Professor of Information Systems
2221 Business Education Complex
225-578-9075
aschwarz@lsu.edu
Tyge Payne
Professor of Entrepreneurship
2200 Business Education Complex tygepayne@lsu.edu