International business, risks and AI

We are offering a self-funded PhD position in artificial intelligence and international business with the Brunel Business School. The project focuses on international business, risks and AI.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the project or would like to arrange an informal discussion, please reach out to Dr Xufei Zhang at xufei.zhang@brunel.ac.uk.

The project

Recent global shocks have prompted multinational companies to rethink their exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks, leading them to seek new organisational strategies.

I'm looking to supervise PhD students interested in exploring the impact of risks such as pandemics, international conflicts, and other geopolitical challenges on firm strategies, Global Value Chains (GVCs), and international collaborations.

Possible research questions include:

• Are firms shifting towards regional value chains?
• How do they manage these risks?
• How can they balance efficiency with resilience?

With the recent advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence, we are also keen to investigate the implications of advanced technologies on international business. Can Artificial Intelligence revolutionise how multinational companies identify, assess, and respond to international risks?

Postgraduate researchers will undertake a comprehensive study involving key tasks such as literature review and conceptual framework development, data collection and analysis, and writing and presentation.

Eligibility

We welcome applicants with a master’s degree in International Business, Business, Management, Strategy, Economics, Finance, Data Science, or a related field.

If you are ready to contribute to impactful research and advance your academic career, join our dynamic research team and help shape the future of global business strategies.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Xufei Zhang - Dr Xufei Zhang is a Senior Lecturer in International Business in the Global Management division at Brunel Business School; Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Prior to Brunel, Xufei held various academic roles in China, at the University of Nottingham and Middlesex University. I specialise in empirical research on various topics in international trade and international finance, including firm finance and trade; finance and business decisions/firm behaviour; offshoring and foreign direct investment; firm level adjustment to globalisation in emerging markets.  I have published in high impact journals such as Journal of Business Research, Journal of Development Studies, International Journal of Finance and Economics among others. 3 doctoral students have successfully completed their PhD under my direct supervision. 

Related Research Group(s)

Strategy Entrepreneurship and International Business - Our themes of research range from entrepreneurial and internationalisation strategies of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to inward and outward investment by large enterprises and supra-national governance.