Co-hosted by NYU Shanghai’s Center for Business Education and Research and Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Antai College of Economics and Management, the 7th Marketing Science Salon of Shanghai Universities was held on June 14 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Xuhui Campus. Since its launch in 2018, the salon has served as an academic platform for young scholars, fostering innovative and open exchange across universities.
This year’s salon brought together young scholars from renowned institutions including Peking University, Hong Kong Baptist University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China Normal University, and the University of Macau. The salon has previously been held on the campuses of NYU Shanghai, Fudan University, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Donghua University.
NYU Shanghai’s Dean of Business Professor Chen Yuxin welcomed the attendees, noting that the salon gives young scholars a space to share and discuss their latest research. “We hope the salon not only supports early-career scholars in advancing their work, but also offers valuable exposure to emerging research trends and methodologies for faculty and PhD students alike,” he said.
Based in Shanghai and serving as an academic hub for the Yangtze River Delta and beyond, the salon remains true to its mission of open, research-focused dialogue. The lively discussions at the salon were enlightening and thought-provoking.
Peking University Professor Zhang Yi presented her team’s study using vending machine purchase data from Japan to examine how consumers react when they find their favorite item is missing.
Hong Kong Baptist University Professor Zheng Wanyi presented her team’s research on how visual information—such as product images or geometric icons—used to indicate quantity in online retail affect consumer purchasing decisions.
Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Professor Liu Ruhan shared her research team’s exploration of how business managers can leverage customer feedback to enhance employee well-being, improve performance, and strengthen employees’ sense of belonging.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Professor Shi Zhengyu presented her team’s research on how people seeking physical or mental healthcare show differing preferences for in-group medical professionals who share their regional, gender, or ethnic background.
East China Normal University Professor Yu Jingling presented her team’s research on how consumers of different age groups attend to visual versus textual information in online shopping, with a particular focus on behavioral patterns among older users.
Concluding the salon, University of Macau Professor Liu Qianqian brought her team’s exploration of how a recommender’s age affects perceptions and purchase behaviors across different types of products in word-of-mouth marketing.
Following each presentation, attendees had the opportunity to raise questions, and the Q&A sessions sparked fresh perspectives on their on-going research, opening up new directions for future inquiry. The roundtable discussion in the afternoon also provided a valuable opportunity for PhD students to engage directly with the presenting scholars.
Professor Chen from NYU Shanghai noted that the salon’s influence has gradually expanded beyond Shanghai to regions such as Beijing and the Greater Bay Area. “The salon aims to be a platform where junior faculty can make a striking academic debut in the marketing science community,” he said, citing several past presenters—such as NYU Shanghai Assistant Professors of Marketing Lei Ying , Xie Jieru, and Huang Jin—whose research went on to be published in top-tier journals.
Looking ahead, Professor Chen said he hoped that the salon will continue to grow and attract young scholars from more institutions and regions.