PhD Specialization in Human Resources

The primary goal of the Management and Human Resources PhD program is to develop top-class researchers in the field of management, with specializations in the areas of entrepreneurship, human resource management, international business, organizational behavior and strategic management.

The specialization in Human Resources (HR) is dedicated to understanding how work organizations can perform more effectively by better management of their human resources. That is, we are interested in understanding, identifying, and improving the effectiveness of HR practices (whether in the U.S. or in other countries) in the various functions and activities carried out as part of HR, and determining the optimal fit between these practices and organizational strategies, cultures, and performance.

Important research areas include recruiting, employee selection, performance management, learning, training and development, total rewards (compensation and benefits), and strategic human resource management.

Our faculty studies HR from theoretical perspectives based in economics, psychology, sociology, and management using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Typically, our faculty’s research investigates issues that contribute to the academic discipline as well as inform practice.The emphasis is on studies at the individual, team or group, organizational, and crosslevels of analysis. Our faculty also examines topics that can be considered to be in the realm of organizational behavior including work-family balance, job and work design, and teams. Also, our HR research is not limited to any one type of industry. We study practices within industries such as the middle markets, call centers, the military, restaurants, and hospitals as well as non-profits such as fire departments.

The primary goal of the Management and Human Resources PhD program is to develop top-class researchers in the field of management, with specializations in the areas of entrepreneurship, human resource management, international business, organizational behavior and strategic management.

The specialization in Organizational Behavior (OB) is devoted to understanding individuals and groups within an organizational context. OB focuses on attributes, processes, behaviors, and outcomes within and between individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational levels of analysis. Major topics include: Individual characteristics and processes (e.g., personality, motivation, emotions); Interpersonal processes (e.g., trust, social exchange, networks); Group/team characteristics and processes (e.g., diversity, cohesion, conflict); organizational processes and practices (e.g., leadership, work design, socialization); Contextual influences (e.g., culture, climate); and the influence of all of the above on individual, interpersonal, group, and organizational outcomes (e.g., performance, creativity, stress, turnover).

10 Reasons to Choose to Study at OSU

1. Our OB/HR faculty are at the forefront of engaging, high-impact research that redefines how people understand the workplace. From leadership, motivation, personality, and identity to HR, work-life balance, emotions, human capital, networking, relationship-building, status, trust, music listening, and the use of artificial intelligence, our scholars examine the real human experiences that shape modern work. Their research—published in top academic journals—drives both theoretical innovation and practical change across industries. Simply put, our faculty’s work doesn’t just contribute to the conversation—it reshapes it.
2. High Productivity: Our program was ranked #4 in the 2021 TAMUGA management research productivity ranking (http://www.tamugarankings.com/rankings/2021-2/). MHR faculty at Ohio State have been cited a total of 458,252 times on Google Scholar (as of February 2025) —more than any other management department among the 18 universities in the Big Ten.
3. Strong Student-Faculty Ratio: Our PhD program features 13 faculty members specializing in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources (OB/HR) and a close-knit cohort of 8 doctoral students, ensuring personalized mentorship and meaningful engagement. This structure provides students with abundant opportunities to collaborate across a diverse group of scholars—each bringing unique perspectives, expertise, and research strengths to the table.

Figure. Big “10” Management Department Research Impact: Google Scholar

4. Supportive Community & Networking Opportunities: Our faculty guide students in building meaningful professional networks—creating pathways for impactful collaborations, enriching mentorship, and long-term career success. We further nurture a vibrant and inclusive community through regular social and professional gatherings that strengthen connections, laying a solid foundation for ongoing support, personal growth, and enduring relationships.
5. Editorial Leadership: Our faculty members have served or are currently serving as editors or associate editors of major academic journals, including:
   • Benjamin Campbell, Associate Editor at Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal
   • Tracy Dumas, Senior Editor at Organization Science
   • Tanya Menon, Associate Editor at Management Science
   • Raymond Noe, Former Associate Editor at Journal of Organizational Behavior
   • Bennett Tepper, Former Associate Editor at Academy of Management Journal
   • Steffanie Wilk, Former Senior Editor at Organization Science
6. Editorial Board Representation: Our OB/HR faculty members serve on the editorial boards of numerous top-tier outlets, including Academy of Management Journal (1 faculty), Academy of Management Review (1 faculty), Journal of Applied Psychology (2 faculty), Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (3 faculty), Personnel Psychology (1 faculty), Journal of Management (1 faculty), Organization Science (1 faculty), and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1 faculty). 

7. Academic Leaders: Our faculty members continually distinguish themselves in their respective fields, including:
   • Two of our esteemed faculty members - Raymond Noe and Bennett Tepper - have been honored as Fellows of the Academy of Management and/or the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Each of these distinguished scholars has amassed over 10,000 citations on Google Scholar.
   • Two of our faculty members - Timothy Judge and Raymond Noe - hold high rankings on the list of "Most-cited Authors in Popular Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology Textbooks," as per the study by Aguinis et al., 2017.
   • Timothy Judge, Raymond Noe, Bennet Tepper were recognized as “World’s Top 2% of the most-cited scholars and scientists” (2022)
   • Timothy Judge holds the distinction of being the most highly cited academic in the field of business and management among those whose first publication appeared between 1990 and 1999 according to a recent study by Dr. Harzing.
   • Timothy Judge and Bennett Tepper have been recognized as among the most productive and most-cited leadership scholars, as noted in studies by Arici et al., 2021, and Zhao and Li, 2019.
   • Our faculty have frequently earned prestigious recognitions such as the 'Best Paper' award (most recently won by Kathleen Keeler in Academy of Management Review in 2021), and the 'Best Reviewer' award (most recently bestowed upon Hun Lee in Journal of Applied Psychology in 2022).
   • Our faculty have utilized their expertise to author textbooks in the OB/HR field (e.g., Timothy Judge and Raymond Noe).
   • Robert Lount has been recognized as "Best 40 Under 40 Business School Professors" by Poets and Quants.
8. Successful Alumni: Our recent OB/HR alumni hold tenure-track positions at research-intensive institutions, including Sarah Doyle (University of Arizona), Hee Man Park (Penn State University), Seunghoo Chung (Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Carrie Zhang (Wayne State University), and Yuhan Zhan (Florida International University).
9. Vibrant Location: Columbus is frequently acclaimed as one of the most livable cities in the United States, particularly favored by Millennials and Young Professionals. It is celebrated for its diverse business landscape, dynamic neighborhoods, and an exciting fusion of arts, culture, and culinary delights.  (Sources: Far & Wide; Forbes; NYTimes, CommercialCafe, ExperienceColumbus).
10. Affordable Living and Strong Financial Support: Residing in Columbus is relatively cost-effective, with the cost of living being lower than the national average. OSU offers a competitive financial support package for PhD students. Furthermore, we have increased the PhD student stipend in 2023, further enhancing the financial benefits of our program.