DeGroote School of Business
PhD student at the DeGroote School of Business, woman with curly hair in hallways leaning on a railing.

The PhD Program at DeGroote

PhD student at the DeGroote School of Business, woman with curly hair in hallways leaning on a railing.

Welcome

The PhD program in Business Administration at DeGroote offers students the opportunity to study and conduct leading-edge research with some of the top researchers in their fields.

Students develop the theoretical and methodological expertise required to create original research that makes a significant impact on the business community. Graduates of DeGroote’s PhD program move on to academic roles in schools across the globe as well as lucrative consultant and analyst positions.

Groundbreaking Research. Global Impact. Your Future.

Impressive External Funding

In the 2022-24 period, DeGroote researchers have generated approximately $1.4M from the SSHRC Insight program alone.

In addition to SSHRC funding, the Faculty was very successful in securing external funding from the 2021-2024 period, generating approximately $6.4M from Tri-Agency, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and other sources of agency funding.​

Driving Innovation in Aging

DSB is leading a McMaster Institute for Research on Aging Major Program of Research entitled EMPOWrD – Enhancing Mobility and Participation for Older Adult Wellness through Digital Inclusion valued at $1,048,940

Read more

New Research Centres

Two new research centres were established in 2023/2024, the Centre for Community Oriented Entrepreneurship (CRCE) and the McMaster Centre for Research on Employment and Work (MCREW)

Helpful Resources

Program structure and fields of study

DeGroote PhD students choose a specialization and focus their studies and research in a particular field. Check the status of your preferred field of study.

Fields of study

DeGroote community

What sets DeGroote apart is our vibrant community. United by a shared purpose, our students, faculty, and PhD candidates are committed to making a meaningful impact on business and society.

Meet our students & alumni

Research impact

Work with leading researchers dedicated to impactful, real-world solutions. At DeGroote you connect with faculty ready to mentor and support your graduate research journey.

Our supervising faculty

Admissions

We are in the final rounds of the September 2025 admissions. Please visit the below for the key dates and steps to apply.

View key dates & steps

Awards

Learn more about awards and prizes available for PhD candidates.

Awards and prizes

Fees and funding

Visit the fees and funding page for more information about tuition, funding, benefits, and awards.

Fees and funding

Download our brochure

Subscribe to get updates about the program and download our PDF brochure!

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Research

Visit our research website to learn more about our academic areas and to read about our world-renowned researchers and their work.

Research Website

PhD Highlights

Eric Wilson

PhD Candidate

Finance

I conduct research in empirical asset pricing, with a special interest in return predictability and hedge funds. I am attracted to topics where there is a large gap between the perspective of financial market participants and the perspective in the academic literature.

Nicole Rakowski

PhD Candidate

Health Policy and Management

My PhD research explores how healthcare leaders define, detect, and manage failure in Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives. It aims to understand the challenges leaders face in identifying and responding to QI failures and how they learn from these experiences to improve healthcare quality and safety. By examining these processes, my study seeks to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of QI efforts in healthcare settings.

Ahana Malhotra

PhD Candidate

Management Science

My research focuses on tackling food insecurity by creating systems that rescue surplus food and deliver it to those in need. I developed a mobile app that connects donors, retailers, and food-insecure individuals, using volunteer drivers and advanced optimization models to ensure faster, sustainable, and equitable delivery. By prioritizing underserved communities, my work leverages technology and collaboration to improve global food rescue systems.

Mupwaya Mutakwa

PhD Candidate

Information Systems

My favorite part of being on campus is the positive learning environment. It is inspiring to cross paths with people from diverse backgrounds, at different stages of their academic journeys, and who are seeking to develop both their intellectual and social skills. This creates a dynamic and enriching environment.

Saina Sehatkar Langrodi

PhD Candidate

Health Policy & Management

My research focuses on understanding the factors that influence how older adults transition between different healthcare settings, such as acute care, long-term care, and home care. By identifying these factors, I aim to inform better decision-making and policies that ensure seniors can access the care they need when they need it.

Sima Fallah-Tafti

PhD Candidate

Finance

In my research, I explore the relationship between firms’ carbon reduction targets and their financial costs. Additionally, I look at greenwashing, which is misleading data published by some companies about their environmental footprint, and try to find if those companies are the same as ones who also publish misleading financial data.

Toli Amare

PhD Candidate

Human Resources and Management

My research examines how the experiences, skills, and relationships gained by migrants in a new country influence their ability to start businesses upon returning home. Focusing on immigrants, refugees, and return migrants, I explore how differences in institutions, expectations, and local contexts impact this process, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of cross-border entrepreneurship.

Wenting Wang

PhD Candidate

Information Systems

I chose DeGroote for my doctoral studies because of its multidisciplinary academic support, spanning diverse fields. This dynamic and collaborative environment serves as a vast ocean of knowledge, offering me the freedom to explore a wide array of research opportunities and intellectual pursuits.

Fateme Akbari

PhD Candidate

Information Systems

My research focuses on applying machine learning (ML) algorithms to improve healthcare decision-making and older adults’ quality of life. By analyzing large sets of data, I aim to develop predictive models that can identify patterns, diagnose abnormalities earlier, and communicate the results with health care providers in a more effective way. Essentially, I’m working on using advanced technology to make healthcare smarter, faster, and more effective.

Hamidreza Masoumi

PhD Candidate

Finance

My Ph.D. research focuses on creating mathematical models to predict market trends, like identifying when markets are likely to rise or fall. These models use advanced statistical techniques to make smarter investment decisions by reducing risk and improving returns. Ultimately, my work aims to help investors better navigate the complexities of financial markets.

Shamik Pushkar

PhD Candidate

Management Science

My PhD research focuses on drone delivery. Specifically, I’m investigating the impact of government regulations on the business potential of drones in last-mile space. The findings of this study aim to provide delivery planners with the necessary insights to make informed decisions regarding the integration of drones into their logistics.

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