Seungmin Yoo of Boston University was a recipient of the 2025 Will D. Mitchell Dissertation Research Grant program. Learn more about their work:
What is your research question/topic?
My research investigates how two underexplored phases of the skilled migrant lifecycle—student immigration and return migration—shape innovation and entrepreneurship.
What are you hoping to accomplish through your research?
I hope to shed light on how skilled migrants in these underexplored phases—student immigration and return migration—drive innovation and entrepreneurship, which in turn shape the competitive landscape, and to inform policies that better leverage global talent flows.
What impact could this research have more broadly on the field of strategic management?
I believe this research will help the field better understand how strategic human capital—one of a firm’s unique resources—influences the formation of firms and their competitiveness.
What SMS resources (members, workshops, events, etc.) were helpful to you during the application process?
I received some helpful tips from a PhD colleague with prior experience receiving the grant, which helped me better understand how to structure my proposal.
Who inspires you the most to do this work? (whether that is professionally or personally).
I am inspired by many skilled immigrants in the United States—from top scientists and inventors to my friends—whose mobility across borders illustrates how they drive innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to economic progress.