Brian Lowery, Professor of Organizational Behavior, talking with students. Credit: Elena Zukhova

Academic Experience in the PhD Program

The PhD program’s distinct academic approach is designed to enable students to excel as researchers, educators, and scholars in the future.

Throughout their five-year experience, students focus on one of seven distinct areas of study. Students work closely with PhD faculty and the other students within their field of study, among other scholars and peers across the university. Small class sizes and an intimate faculty-to-student ratio ensures that all students benefit from the attention and expertise of respected experts in their fields. 

Rigorous

The intensity of the full-time PhD program demands energy and zeal in the pursuit of greater understanding, and a commitment to master the behavioral, economic, and mathematical sciences that are the essential components of academic research in business-related disciplines. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the tools to pursue the most challenging research agendas. Residence is required for the majority of the program’s duration.

Flexible

While disciplined and rigorous in training, the program is also flexible for students to pursue their unique research interests. Students customize their program within their chosen discipline to their own goals and research interests.

Collaborative

The collaborative culture of Stanford GSB thrives in the PhD program. Students learn, study, and work together. It’s a dynamic that leads to deep relationships, shared accomplishments, and an enduring support network.

Recent Journal Articles

Publication Search

Contingent Trade Agreements: Linking Free Trade and Environmental Conservation

Bård Harstad
Economic Journal (forthcoming) August2026

Learning in a Correlated World

Arjada Bardhi, Steven Callander
Annual Review of Economics August2026 Vol. 18 Issue 1

Do Mergers and Acquisitions Improve Efficiency? Evidence from Power Plants

Mert Demirer, Ömer Karaduman
Journal of Political Economy July2026 Vol. 134 Issue 8

The Social-Class Gap in Negotiation: Lower-Class Individuals Negotiate Less and Face More Backlash

Ying Lin, Jackson G. Lu, Michele J. Gelfand
PNAS July2026 Vol. 123 Issue 30

Titles Framed as Questions Reduce Reader Engagement

David Fang, S. Christian Wheeler
Journal of Consumer Psychology July2026