Center for Global Business Announces PhD International Research Award

The Center for Global Business (CGB) announces that Abhay Grover, PhD candidate in supply chain management (Logistics, Business & Public Policy), has been awarded the 2023 PhD International Research Award for “A Study of the Impact of the United States’ Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) on a Domestic Firm’s Global Trade.” Now in its tenth year, this award supports doctoral candidates performing research on international topics. The Center for Global Business strongly encourages candidates to conduct studies related to international business, and this award provides the funding needed to assist with the significant costs associated with that.

“I am thrilled to have received the CIBE research award,” Grover said. The grant will allow him to greatly advance his work “and contribute to broader debates in international supply chain research regarding the role of regulations in shaping global trade patterns,” he added.

Grover began the Smith doctoral program in the fall of 2020 and his primary research interest is at the intersection of public policies, operations, and supply chain management as it relates to the agri-food industry. Prior to pursuing his PhD at Smith, he earned his MS in Industrial Technology and Systems Engineering from Iowa State University and his BE in Agricultural Engineering from the Punjab Agricultural University of Ludhiana.

His deep analysis of the FSMA’s impact on U.S. domestic firms’ global trade operations found potential consequences like increased production costs, restricted ability to explore global markets, and increased monitoring costs of global suppliers. He also found that compliance with FSMA would enhance product safety and quality, improving competitiveness in international markets.

The study concludes that while previous research has examined the impact of government policies on supply chain compliance, inventory performance, and various other areas, there is a gap in how regulatory change affects the behavior of firms that participate in global supply chains. With his research, he aims to fill that gap and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of government policies on international markets.

Grover is thankful for those that helped him along the way. “I am grateful to my research mentors, including Dr. Tom Corsi and Dr. Martin Dresner at the University of Maryland and Dr. Dave Cantor at Iowa State University, for encouraging me to apply for this award. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the awards committee for recognizing my work.”

The Center for Global Business at the Smith School of Business provides funding for PhD research that aligns with the mission of the CIBE grant, to contribute to the internationalization of business disciplines and/or the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses.

This award is funded in part by CIBE, a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.