MSI Recognizes Smith’s Liye Ma, Bobby Zhou for ‘Significant Research Contributions’

Associate professors of marketing Liye Ma and Bobby Zhou were named part of the 2024 class of MSI Scholars, an honor awarded by the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) to mid-career academics who have made significant research contributions to the field.

Every two years, MSI selects approximately 30 mid-career scholars, recognizing those who demonstrate strong research productivity and influence in marketing. The program fosters intellectual exchange and collaboration, bringing together scholars who are shaping the future of marketing research.

For Ma, it represents more than just an accolade. It's an opportunity to engage with fellow researchers at a pivotal stage in their careers. 

“I view it more as a research scholarship,” Ma explains. “The idea is to bring together scholars at similar career stages, exchange ideas, and see if our interactions can spark new research directions and collaborations. That’s what inspired me the most.”

For Zhou, the distinction is both an honor and a reflection of his commitment to bridging academic research with real-world policy implications.

"There are a lot of highly qualified people, and I feel fortunate to be chosen among them,” Zhou says. “It really further strengthens my commitment to conducting research on issues rooted in real-world phenomena that have significant policy implications. I truly believe these are important issues that deserve in-depth examination.”

Earlier this year, Ma and Zhou joined 31 other scholars in a three-day conference in Park City, Utah, where they explored emerging marketing challenges and discussed their research.