Per Accelerate 2025, Robinson’s strategic plan, the college’s mission is to “prepare people from all backgrounds to lead, innovate, and achieve their potential to advance business and society.” But students can’t become the best version of themselves if they don’t know about all their options. That’s why Jen Bailey, associate dean for undergraduate programs, created the Undergraduate Business Research Experience (UBRE), an initiative that exposes participants to the possibilities of a business research career.
“There are different ways to lead. We need not only on-the-ground practitioners but also thought leaders who question the way we conduct business,” Bailey said. “The people who challenge assumptions in an intentional way understand research frameworks grounded in academia. That’s where change really happens.”
Undergraduates studying any business major with a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible to apply to become research fellows. Participants don’t receive course credit but get paid. Students proceed as a cohort through four semesters. The inaugural cohort comprises 40 fellows and launched in January.
Jen Bailey stands with the inaugural UBRE cohort.
Over the course of spring 2024, fellows will explore how research ideas are generated. In a recent session, Bailey encouraged them to scour the Wall Street Journal for current business problems and—hopefully—discover issues they would be excited to address. Each week, fellows attend not only a group meeting but also a research workshop or event.
The UBRE crystallizes in individual research projects that fellows present at the Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC), which occurs every April. This summer, students will learn about research methods. This fall, they will draft a research topic and get matched with a faculty mentor. They’ll spend spring 2025 working on their projects and preparing for the GSURC.
Jen Bailey leads a weekly UBRE session.
Bailey wants fellows to realize the diverse career options within the world of research. A Ph.D. degree could result in a faculty position at a university, or a sponsored research opportunity with a company. Through a Doctor of Business Administration, graduates could advance to an executive position within a firm or move into consulting.
“Researchers get to perform tests, question the status quo, and prove a better way for things to be done,” Bailey said. “The UBRE is a great space for students to consider the impact they can make on society.”
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Georgia State University #1 for undergraduate teaching for four consecutive years, and #2 for innovation three years in a row. A business school that equips undergraduates with research rigor is a rarity.
“Research pipeline programs typically sit within life science departments,” Bailey said. “We are disrupting higher ed by exposing our undergraduates to the world of business research.”