At NUS Business School, our professorships play a pivotal role in driving academic excellence, innovative research, and industry collaboration. Through these prestigious positions, we attract world-class faculty who push the frontiers of knowledge in diverse business disciplines.
Professor Sam Yam Kai Chi, the Jardine Cycle & Carriage Professor of Business Administration at NUS Business School, is shaping the future of human-technology interaction.
“There’s a lot of speculation about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots replacing our jobs, but my research shows that even in highly automated environments, widespread job displacement isn’t the reality.”
To understand how humans and technology can coexist successfully, Professor Yam explores the complexities of human-technology interaction. He notes that even with advanced technology, human-like qualities in robots are still important, “We still prefer humanoid robots with names and friendly faces in service roles.”
As Associate Dean (Faculty Development) and Head of the Management & Organisation department, Professor Yam also champions innovative teaching experiences. Drawing on his extensive field research in Japan, where he collaborated with organisations like the world’s first robot-staffed hotel and temple, Professor Yam designed a first-of-its-kind study programme to Kyoto for NUS business students. This immersive experience allowed students to witness cutting-edge automation firsthand, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.
“The chaired professorship I received in March 2024 empowers me to go beyond research,” Professor Yam shares. “It also provides the resources to create truly impactful learning experiences that bridge the gap between theory and the real world.”
Looking ahead, Professor Yam plans to explore the ethical dimensions of AI, particularly its impact on young adults and the potential of AI-powered therapies as well as coaching. “By understanding how to effectively implement these technologies, we can harness their power to improve our lives,” Professor Yam emphasises.
Research and teaching, with the aim of improving Asian societies, are important roles for NUS Business School, according to Professor Chang Sea-Jin. He tries to inspire the faculty through intellectual research leadership that helps both the academic community and the people who will use the findings.
He is the Lim Kim San Chair Professor of Business Administration at NUS Business School and previously was a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Kumho Asiana Group Endowed Chair Professor at the School of Administration at Korea University. He also was a professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University.
“As a chaired professor, I get research funding from donors. This frees me from applying for research grants every year so that I will have more time to devote to research projects,” he says. “It gives me the freedom to think about more interesting topics. It is also a recognition and an honour, and people tend to take you more seriously.”
He adds that chaired professors enhance the Business School’s visibility by interacting with the wider community through media enquiries. Prof Chang has published extensively and is an exemplary scholar and a role model for the faculty, especially the junior ones.
“My research for the past 20 years has been on the corporate strategy of Asian companies in the context of global competition, especially in the Asian context. My current thesis is on how the strong local companies that have emerged out of China compete with the multinational companies.”
Prof Chang’s current research focuses on understanding the process of creating operating synergies in diversified lines of business and building strong local organisations after the entry of a foreign player.
His other research interests include organisational learning, corporate growth through joint ventures and acquisitions, foreign direct investment, and comparative management studies between Japan, Korea and China.
Ultimately Prof Chang says the emphasis at NUS Business School is on finding answers to questions today that have relevance for the future.
Professor David Reeb takes on some of the hard questions in finance that often are ignored.
“You see companies such as Coca-Cola bring out new products and even though there is mandatory reporting of research and development, none of the research on how these new products are developed is revealed by these companies. The product just appears. Why is that?” he asks.
Prof Reeb is the Mr and Mrs Lin Jo Yan Professor of Banking and Finance, and a professor in the Department of Finance at NUS Business School, an editor at the Journal of International Business Studies, and a senior fellow of the Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research (ABFER). Previously he was the Fuller Senior Research Fellow at Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia.
“The chaired professorship allows you to think more broadly, much more about public policy and big picture issues,” Prof Reeb says. “Also, it’s an effective way to attract talented faculty to your university.”
“The research unit’s role is critically important in getting people to focus on creating new knowledge. Disseminating knowledge is relatively easy; creating knowledge is challenging. The universities we think of as really good universities are the ones that are very good at creating knowledge.”
Prof Reeb’s research ranges from founding-family ownership to the properties of mandatory disclosure rules, spanning the roles of information intermediaries to the efficacy of international financial regulation.
His current projects include investigating the impact of family ownership on financial misconduct, the organisational structure of financial analysts, the nature of missing innovation data, comparative bias in global R&D efficiency, and insider trading of corporate customers and suppliers.
“My job is to create new knowledge and to figure out what makes finance work. Most of my research has focused on finance and accounting but more of my forthcoming research will be more policy-oriented,” Prof Reeb says.
Professor Sumit Agarwal, the Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor in Finance at NUS Business School, is a leading voice in sustainable finance. His passion for the environment, however, has deep roots. “Growing up in Kenya, Tunisia, and Uganda,” he shares, “I was surrounded by environmental challenges that left a lasting impression.”
He initially envisioned exploring these issues in his PhD, specifically the economic impacts of overfishing in Uganda’s lakes, but the academic landscape at the time led Professor Agarwal towards finance and economics.
“The chaired professorship, which was awarded in June 2018, allowed me to explore sustainability in depth, which had always been my first love.”
Professor Agarwal, who heads the Real Estate department, focuses his research on critical global issues such as climate change and air pollution, exploring their impact on financial markets and real estate.
“The professorship has also enabled me to build a dynamic research team of PhD students,” Professor Agarwal explains. “They handle crucial data collection and analysis, allowing me to pursue more ambitious projects and mentor future researchers.”
One such project, a collaboration with Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, explored how feedback on water usage could influence household behavior. “Our findings led to the implementation of the Smart Shower Programme,” he shares, “which reduced water consumption by 10% in participating households.”
The professorship has also facilitated impactful international collaborations in China and India. In these countries, Professor Agarwal worked with local experts to examine the impact of air pollution on housing markets. “Air quality is a pressing issue across Asia,” he notes. “This collaboration provided crucial insights into how environmental factors influence financial decisions and public health.”
Looking ahead, Professor Agarwal remains dedicated to advancing sustainable finance. “This professorship has been pivotal in turning research into real-world impact,” he says. “I’m eager to continue exploring how finance can help address the pressing environmental challenges we face.”
“The future of finance is about empowering financial systems with artificial intelligence or emerging technologies”
Assistant Professor Daniel Rabetti envisions a future where the foundations of finance are strengthened by intricate algorithms and unbreakable code, enabling institutions to offer innovative solutions that expand financial access and opportunity for everyone.
Since receiving the S. Dhanabalan Professorship in July 2023, Assistant Professor Rabetti from the Departments of Accounting and Finance, is at the forefront of this revolution, exploring the potential of blockchain, AI, and decentralised finance to reshape the global economy.
His research has provided invaluable insights for regulators grappling with the challenges posed by emerging financial technologies. Published in top journals like Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of International Business Studies, Management Science and Journal of Accounting and Economics, Assistant Professor Rabetti’s work has shaped global discussions on regulating cryptocurrencies and decentralised lending services, contributing critical insights to strengthen financial security and promote responsible innovation.
The chaired professorship has also allowed Assistant Professor Rabetti to present his findings at major international conferences and collaborate with regulators like the Federal Reserve and the European Bank Authority. It has also enabled Assistant Professor Rabetti to hire students as research assistants. “They gain valuable experience through hands-on projects while developing key skills in research and data analysis. This experience provides a bridge between academic work and real-world applications,” he shared.
Looking ahead, Assistant Professor Rabetti plans to delve deeper into how these new technologies can promote financial inclusivity, particularly for those who lack easy access to banks and traditional financial services. “By creating technology-driven solutions,” he emphasises, “we can empower those who have been excluded from traditional financial systems and build a truly global economy that works for everyone.”
Imagine a work environment where you feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach your full potential.
This vision drives Professor Christopher Barnes from the Department of Management & Organisation at NUS Business School to conduct research on human sustainability – the degree to which an organisation cares for and creates value for its employees.
“Through science-based studies, we can create workplaces that are both productive and supportive of both the organisation and employees,”
His recent findings are already generating significant interest. Professor Barnes has discovered a compelling link between sleep deprivation and negative workplace behaviours. “Managers who neglect their sleep tend to mistreat their employees, leading to poorer outcomes,” he explains. “Similarly, sleep-deprived employees are more likely to engage in unethical conduct.”
“To truly and deeply understand these trends, we need to collect data from both leaders and their teams and conduct field experiments with real-world interventions. This chaired professorship provides the necessary resources to make these studies a reality,” Professor Barnes emphasises. This support, he notes, allows academics to explore innovative ideas and shape a new generation of business leaders committed to creating thriving workplaces.
To take his research forward, Professor Barnes envisions a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools can create a more compassionate and productive workplace for all. He is aiming to develop an AI coach that provides managers with personalised recommendations to improve their leadership practices. “This is a truly innovative application of AI with the potential to revolutionise how we approach leadership and well-being in the workplace,” he says.
Imagine a world where airlines can set pricing based on demand and competitive pressures, offering savings and value to passengers, or where global supply chains can anticipate disruptions before they even occur. Professor Teo Chung Piaw, from the Department of Analytics and Operations, isn’t just solving problems; he’s revolutionising how we approach them. His research, deeply rooted in real-world applications, tackles complex challenges across diverse industries.
By blending combinatorial optimisation theory with insightful observations of practical business settings, the Stephen Riady Professorship recipient is developing powerful models and algorithms to address critical issues facing our society.”It’s fascinating how seemingly random choices can reveal underlying patterns and biases that can be analysed and leveraged for the greater good,” Professor Teo observes.
His work on logistics and supply chain management focuses on building agility and resilience. By studying various processes and combining them with real-time information, he has developed strategies to reduce buffer stock and is currently creating tools to stress-test supply chains against disruptions. “In today’s volatile world,” Professor Teo emphasises, “robust supply chains are essential, and data-driven insights can help us anticipate and mitigate risks.”
“A chaired professorship offers the opportunity for researchers like me to pursue ambitious research programmes and translate discoveries into real-world impact,” Professor Teo says. “It also allows one to take on leadership roles within the school, guiding the next generation and shaping the future of our field.”
Looking ahead, Professor Teo is excited to explore the application of AI and analytics to enhance operational efficiency in supply chains. He’s particularly interested in understanding consumer choice dynamics, building resilience against adversarial attacks, and developing strategies for competing with stronger opponents.
“The future of operations lies in harnessing the power of data and AI. By embracing these tools and collaborating across disciplines, we can unlock new levels of efficiency, resilience, and customer-centricity in various industries.”
Professor Allaudeen Hameed, from the Department of Finance at NUS Business School, is tackling contemporary issues in financial market investments. His recent work explores mutual funds, which traditionally invest in publicly traded stocks, and their new inclusion of illiquid, private, convertible preferred securities issued by start-ups.
“I was intrigued by the different valuations reported by funds for the same private security,” explains Professor Hameed, recipient of the Tang Peng Yeu Professorship. His research meticulously documents the extent and drivers of these valuation variations.
These findings have significant implications for investors who commit capital to these funds, start-up employees interested in the value of their equity stakes, and policymakers overseeing this expanding asset class.
“Understanding how prices are set is crucial, as it affects the flow of capital to promising ventures, ultimately enhancing innovation and economic growth.”
“After receiving the chaired professorship in 2018, I had more resources and flexibility to assemble a team to explore research questions quickly,” shares Professor Hameed. “This helped me to expand the depth of my research on understanding the rationale and potential biases in retail and institutional investor behaviour.”
Professor Hameed’s impactful research has resonated with regulators like the Monetary Authority of Singapore as well as with international financial institutions such as the Bank of International Settlements and UBS. He actively engages with these stakeholders, highlighting opportunities and advocating for greater market oversight globally. The Professorship has also been invaluable in facilitating collaboration with other researchers and academic institutions worldwide.
“Through our research, we see a greater need to shape how opportunities arise in markets and how regulators respond, ensuring that investors have the right information to make informed decisions,” he explains. Professor Hameed adds that there is a positive impact on his teaching as well, since sharing real-world insights prepares students to navigate the complexities of the financial markets.
Looking ahead, Professor Hameed plans to explore how market liquidity relates to recent developments in the financial system. “By understanding the complex dynamics of these markets,” he emphasises, “we can work towards a more robust financial system for all.”