UROP Project

entrepreneurship, economic development, public policy, Ukraine

Research Mentor: Dr. Eric Liguori,
Department, College, Affiliation: Entrepreneurship, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Contact Email: eliguori@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Michael Cedeno
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mac19f@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Vilma Fuentes, Program Director, FSU Ukraine Task Force; Susana Santos, Jim Moran Professor, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Faculty Collaborators Email: ssantos@jmc.fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: No
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but students studying (or interested in) Business, Entrepreneurship, Economics, International Relations, Public Administration, and/or Political Science may find a particularly strong alignment.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8,
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: Friday, September 6, 1:30-2:00pm
Zoom: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/8257454875
Meeting ID: 825 745 4875

Project Description

This forward-looking research project is a joint effort between the LEAD Lab in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (https://jimmorancollege.fsu.edu/research/labs/lead-lab) and FSU’s Ukraine Task Force (https://lsi.fsu.edu/fsu-ukraine-task-force). The project’s goal is to begin exploring strategies for post-conflict recovery in Ukraine, and in particular, strategies to rebuild and strengthen their entrepreneurial ecosystem. More specifically, we aim to identify, understand, and address the challenges Ukrainian entrepreneurs can expect to face as they navigate the complex process of rebuilding their businesses and fostering economic growth in a post-conflict environment.

The research will be conducted through a series of in-depth interviews with Ukrainian entrepreneurs and policymakers, as well as through the study of lessons learned from other economic recovery situations (e.g., BP Oil Spill; COVID-19 pandemic; hurricanes). UROP students will get a ground-level perspective on the obstacles and opportunities that arise during the recovery phase. These interviews will provide unique and valuable insights, as they capture the real-time experiences of those who are directly involved in the economic revival of the nation.

We anticipate that the findings will contribute to the development of a robust framework for fostering entrepreneurial success in Ukraine, with potential applications in other regions facing similar challenges. Given the innovative nature of this research, we are confident that it will be well-positioned for presentation at leading conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, we expect our findings to be of significant interest to policymakers at various levels, as well as to the broader media, given the global relevance of Ukraine's recovery efforts.

Research Tasks: Our work will proceed forward in phases, beginning with a comprehensive literature review of entrepreneurial recovery situations. Once completed, we will shift to exploring the current state of entrepreneurship in Ukraine, including looking at what the status quo was pre-conflict. Then we will move into an active data collection phase, talking to entrepreneurs, policy makers, and other experts, with the goal being to develop an actionable framework to aid recovery efforts. The ultimate deliverable is a conference presentation, a journal publication, and taking steps to deliberately position our findings to have real-world impact.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required Skills: strong written and verbal communication skills; high attention to detail
Recommended Skills: understanding of global politics and / or economies; critical thinking; collecting and analyzing data; conducting literature reviews