After a Master’s Degree in Economics, Banking and International Finance, Alex Bao has been a PhD student in economic sciences at the University of Bordeaux and the Bordeaux School of Economics since September 2021.
In his thesis, entitled “Weather, natural disasters, and international trade”, Alex analyses the impact of weather variability and natural disasters on international trade in the wine industry at different levels of aggregation: country-level, sector-level, product-level and firm-level.
In May 2023, he was admitted to the PhD Fulbright-University of Bordeaux program. He stayed for 5 months at an American university of international renown, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where he was invited by Magali Delmas, Professor of Management at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) and the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
He shares his experience with great enthusiasm!
Why did you choose to do a research stay in the United States?
I wanted to go abroad and to discover how the researchers work in another country. I decided to apply for this prestigious program as my thesis directors agreed as well. Once the grant is awarded and we can benefit from the funding, we undertake the research stay under right conditions.
Regarding my project, I undertook to add a chapter dedicated to this research stay in my thesis. This chapter delt with a topic that also interested the American laboratory in which I worked. It was a win-win project! The aim was to compare American and French wine companies in order to analyze how adaptations to climate change can influence volumes and revenues.
Can you describe your experience?
It was an enriching experience for several reasons. I was warmly welcomed, especially by my colleagues from the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. I experienced another approach to research and discussed with other PhD students and researchers, some of whom are highly well-known in their fields. I also had the opportunity to attend seminars and to lead a presentation!
Moreover, I discovered what life is like on an American university campus with great facilities, and living with roommates had a positive impact on a personal level.
How has this experience added value to your career?
From a professional point of view, I created a rich network and I regularly keep in touch with the people I met there. This experience represents a real asset in my future career, especially if I plan to work abroad as the program is highly recognized and valued internationally! I’m also a member of the Fulbright Alumni network which offers very interesting opportunities.
From a personal point of view, I was in contact with people of different nationalities (Lebanese, Chinese, Korean…), I therefore discovered other cultures. I also discovered what life in the United States is like and I visited the country.
I strongly advise PhD students* who wish to undertake a research stay in the United States to apply for the program. Preparing the application is demanding and has to be anticipated but it’s a positive experience in every way!
* The program is intended for French PhD students