Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School has announced the six winners of its second annual AI Dissertation Proposal Competition, recognizing doctoral students whose research explores how artificial intelligence is changing markets, organizations, platforms, and decision-making across business disciplines.
The six winners were chosen from nearly 50 submissions and represent doctoral programs at five of the nation’s top research institutions: the University of Maryland, University of Southern California, New York University, UC Berkeley, and MIT.
A panel of expert faculty judges evaluated submissions based on theoretical and methodological rigor, potential contribution to the field, and innovativeness of the research. Now in its second year, the competition spans six disciplines: accounting, finance, information systems, management, marketing, and supply chain management. Each winner receives a $10,000 prize, a commemorative award plaque, and travel funding to present their research at Mays Business School in College Station.
“What makes this competition unique is that we are seeing AI treated both as a subject of study and as a methodological tool across six distinct disciplines,” said Dr. Rogelio Oliva, associate dean for research and scholarship at Mays Business School. “We recognize the six winners in a single event because when you put an accounting researcher in the same room as someone studying supply chain or marketing, the cross-pollination of ideas is where the real breakthroughs start to take shape. Mays is proud to host these conversations at this crucial time.”
The 2026 winners are:
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Accounting
Leonard Yang Liu, University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business
“Synthesizing the Consensus: Generative AI, LLM Visibility, and the Integration of Multi-Provider Consensus Forecasts”
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Finance
Winston (Wenqian) Chen, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“AI and Appropriation Risk”
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Information Systems
Hongxian Huang, New York University, Stern School of Business
“Generative AI, Large Language Model, and Content Creation Platform Design”
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Management
Farnam Mohebi, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
“Where to Draw the Line: How Delegating Peripheral Work to AI Undermines Core Professional Judgement”
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Marketing
Lei Huang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management
“Designing Self-Sustaining Markets: An Application to Content Platforms”
Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Supply Chain Management
Xiaoyu Fan, New York University, Stern School of Business
“Large-X-Model Based Robust Inventory Operating Systems”
“The caliber of research we are recognizing through our AI Dissertation Proposal Competition speaks to the extraordinary work happening in doctoral programs across the country,” said Dr. Nate Y. Sharp, dean of Mays Business School. “These six scholars demonstrate the kind of rigorous, innovative thinking that should make all of us in higher education proud. As AI continues to reshape every business discipline, Mays is committed to supporting meaningful research that will help build a better future through business and AI.”
Learn more about the AI Dissertation Proposal Competition and Mays’ broader investment in AI-focused research and education.
About Mays Business School
Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School is building a better future through business. By providing leadership-centered, experiential education to more than 8,000 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, and supply chain management, Mays consistently ranks among the top public business schools nationally for its programs and faculty research. Our mission is developing leaders of character who make a positive difference in the communities where they live, work, and serve.
