Alex Li is a PhD student in Marketing at the Olin Business School. Prior to his doctoral studies, Alex received a bachelor’s degree in economics, English, and mathematics and a master’s degree in cognitive psychology from Vanderbilt University. During his master’s studies, Alex grew increasingly drawn to the complexities of market dynamics, which cannot be quantified in controlled lab settings. This curiosity pushed Alex towards quantitatively researching market behaviors, such as sharing and competing. Before joining Olin, Alex served as a research assistant at Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, auditing modeling courses and participating in management science seminars. The experience sharpened his analytical toolkit and deepened his understanding of making stylized models reflect real-world market behavior. Alex’s current stream of research examines competition in emerging markets, with a focus extending beyond helping firms make profit. Alex is equally interested in what novel business models mean for consumers and society, approaching these questions with a concern for wider social implications in evolving market environments.
