Poster Session: Place of honor to the PhD program on its 10th anniversary

Thursday 8th December – an essential annual gathering for the ESSEC PhD program. Sharing their work with the whole ESSEC community, thirteen doctoral students participated in the fourth annual PhD Poster Session.

How to summarize a complex research project in a concise way and in the shape of a poster? Such is the challenge a number of ESSEC PhD program student-researchers have faced for the past four years now. On Thursday 8^th December they presented the fruit of their reflection in the Knowledge Lab. Thirteen posters in total, all attempting to satisfy the same stakes: find the perfect balance between visual expression, academic content and the prioritizing of the most important information – an “exhibition” made available to the whole ESSEC community and which honored the 10^th anniversary of the PhD program.

Nava Cohen, 4^th year PhD in Accounting, works on the relationship between corporate sponsoring and tax evasion for companies. “It’s interesting to present our research to everybody,’ she exclaims. ‘It obliges us to make our subject more attractive.’ A point of view shared by José Benedicto Duhaylongsod, PhD student in operations management, and who co-organized this year’s Poster Session. “It’s a tricky exercise, because you don’t only speak to the scientific community – you have to find the right balance between understandable content and a good academic level. We’re very proud, but also a little stressed!’

‘It’s over for the shy and withdrawn researcher’

PhD students have to learn to address different populations, and are trained at ESSEC to adjust their presentation according to their audience. ‘It’s over for the shy and withdrawn researcher,’ states Anca Metiu, Associate Dean in charge of the PhD program. ‘They work on the presentation of their research, and help each other within the community.’ In total, there are 75 PhD students studying at ESSEC this year over various specializations. ‘It’s a large-scale investment for the School,’ explains Anca Metiu. ‘With this event we are able to show what they do. Being an ESSEC PhD graduate means that you create new knowledge and share it with various communities.’

A remark supported by Vincenzo Esposito Vinzi. The Dean of Faculty opened the event by urging the students to ‘produce good work, but also know how to communicate it, showcase it. You’ll be ambassadors for ESSEC, and will bear the image and the value of the School wherever you go.’

The wager was won – many visitors from the ESSEC community ESSEC came to visit throughout the morning to meet the PhD students and discover their posters. They were then invited to vote to select the winner in three categories. Giovanni Pagliardi carried off the best content and best presentation prizes. Mailys George was rewarded for the best poster design.

Giovanni Pagliardi: ‘At thirteen, I followed the Italian Stock Exchange.’

Giovanni has monopolized the Poster Session prizes for three years. In the 4^th year of the PhD program, this Italian student-researcher notably works on the impact of extreme events on financial markets. In 2016 he co-published an article with his supervising Professor, François Longin, in the Economics Letters revue, Tail relation between return and volume in the US stock market: An analysis based on extreme value theory.

What do you think of the Poster Session concept?

I think it’s a great concept because I love presenting my ideas, transmitting things to others. I like to keep close to society, the most important thing for me being to share our work and help people. Moreover, that’s I love teaching. And you’ve got to know how to explain and make things accessible, show enthusiasm and energy to stimulate attention and transmit your passion.

Why did you choose to study finance?

I’ve been passionate about finance for a very long time. I’ve a story on this subject: when I was 13, I was already following the Stock Exchange on Italian TV news. I found it fascinating!

How did you end up in France and at ESSEC?

After completing my studies in Italy, I wanted to experience life abroad during my PhD. I was accepted in several countries, and one of my Italian professors advised me to take up a place at ESSEC for its prestige. So I arrived in France, without speaking a word of French. The School helped me to integrate, I matured on a personal level, and in a top business school. French people have always made me feel at home and it’s a country that I now hold dearly to heart!