Academic groups
Our research staff and students are all placed within one of the School’s academic groups. Each group centres on one of our research strengths – the areas of business and society where we feel our research can make the biggest difference.
- To find out more about how our research is having an impact on business and policy, take a look at some of our latest research projects and impact case studies.
- Read more about our commitment to helping organisations and governments progress with purpose.
Accounting and Finance
Our Accounting and Finance group focuses on research into contemporary accounting and finance issues and debates. The group has particular expertise in corporate finance, financial markets, management accounting and sustainability.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- corporate governance and accountability
- corporate finance
- financial markets and asset pricing.
Economics
Our Economics group specialises in applied research relating to microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.
Our researchers are exploring in particular how to apply the powerful and flexible tools of economics to better understand and inform the economic decisions of individuals, firms, governments and institutions.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- macroeconomics: monetary policy, economic development
- financial economics, financial technology
- microeconomics: industrial economics, productivity analysis, energy and environmental, behavioural economics
- international economics: international money and finance, exchange rates, international trade, foreign direct investment, globalisation.
Information Management
Our Information Management group undertakes globally-leading research relating to the effective management of information and knowledge assets. From investigating big data, mobile technologies, email and social media, to exploring open and linked data, and knowledge management in the voluntary sector.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- AI: applications, ethics and cultural considerations
- digital culture, wellbeing, decentralisation and disintermediation, open data
- analytics and decision: sentiment analysis, decision support, smart contracts, decentralised autonomous organisation.
International Business, Strategy and Innovation
Our International Business, Strategy and Innovation group is involved in globally-significant research that helps managers make better sense of some of the most complex problems of globalisation and the technology revolution.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- corporate governance and jurisdictions
- culture-strategy nexus in global organisations
- digital innovations and development
- entrepreneurship in emerging markets
- internationalisation strategies
- social innovations and entrepreneurship
- strategy and performance in complex environments.
Management Science and Operations
Our Management Science and Operations group is working on research to improve management practice. The group focuses in particular on designing and implementing analytic approaches that help tackle routine, strategic or policy problems.
Our research is typically supported by models that can be represented mathematically or visually, and built using specialist software.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- designing and implementing analytic approaches to aid management decision making;
- new approaches to data analysis, typically via specialist software;
- contributing analytical insights to areas such as health, transport, supply chains and emergency management.
Marketing
Our Marketing group advances knowledge in marketing through applied research, often with an international perspective.
Key areas of expertise include: international marketing, marketing strategy, sales management, B2B marketing, social media, product and service innovation and adoption, marketing ethics and corporate sustainability.
We welcome PhD proposals on all marketing topics but also specifically relating to:
- international marketing strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation
- consumer behaviour, social media, customer engagement, sustainability and marketing ethics
- international brand management.
Work and Organisation
Our Work and Organisation group focuses on interdisciplinary social science teaching and research that brings together academics interested in people management. Much of the group’s research draws on psychology and sociology as its influences, while other studies have a more historical or geographical focus.
The group conducts research in particular in the areas of organisation studies, work psychology and employment relations. Output ranges from traditional academic scholarship to work that has a significant impact on public policy and management.
We welcome PhD proposals relating to:
- digital technology at work
- changing work practices and employee wellbeing
- societal and environmental issues, sustainable business and employee voice.
Centres for Doctoral Training
Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) combine PhD research and enhanced research training into a four-year integrated programme.
Loughborough Business School is part of the new EPSRC Centre for Sustainable Hydrogen (SusHY) in partnership with Nottingham, Birmingham and Ulster.
The School is also part of the University-funded CITHEI Centre for Doctoral Training to understand cultures of equality, diversity and inclusivity in higher education.
Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
Loughborough Business School is also a member of the ESRC Midlands Graduate School DTP in partnership with Warwick, Nottingham, Birmingham, Aston and Leicester.