Salma Akther is a PhD student in Finance at Louisiana State University, where she integrates advanced quantitative methods, corporate finance theory, and applied economic modeling to study how individuals and firms make decisions under uncertainty. Her interdisciplinary background—spanning finance, econometrics, leadership science, and data analytics—positions her at the forefront of emerging research on behavioral financial decision-making, AI adoption in organizations, and the economics of climate resilience.
Her research examines three interconnected domains:
- Behavioral and Cognitive Drivers of Financial Decisions – how investors perceive risk, form expectations, and respond to market uncertainty.
- AI, Technology, and Firm Value – understanding how algorithmic decision-making, AI-enabled systems, and human–AI collaboration shape financial outcomes, innovation, and corporate governance.
- Climate and Infrastructure Finance – modeling the financial viability of nature-based coastal defense systems and quantifying long-term economic resilience in vulnerable regions.
She is proficient in R, Python, SQL, SPSS, MATLAB, regression modeling, time-series analysis, structural equation modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and advanced data visualization—skills that enable her to translate complex datasets into evidence-based insights for academic, policy, and industry audiences.
Driven by a strong commitment to impactful, interdisciplinary research, Salma aims to contribute to the field of finance by advancing knowledge on how technology, human judgment, and economic systems interact to shape financial behavior and long-term organizational value.
- Behavioral biases and investor risk perception
- AI-assisted decision-making and organizational performance
- Economic evaluation of climate-resilient infrastructure
- Leadership development and human–AI collaboration in complex systems
Travel Grant, Louisiana State University — 2025
CHSE Dean’s GA TIGER Travel Grant ($1,153) supporting research dissemination at the
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Annual Conference.
Travel Grant, Louisiana State University — 2024
CHSE Dean’s GA TIGER Travel Grant ($1,000) awarded for presentation at the AHRD International
Research Conference in Arlington, VA
International Graduate Merit Scholarship — The University of Melbourne (2016)
Awarded for outstanding academic performance in the Master of International Business
program.
Quantitative Research Presentations
- Akther, S. (2025) – Workplace Civility and Team Productivity. Poster Presentation, 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Copenhagen.
- Akther, S. (2024) – Investigating the Joint Effects of Workload and Work-Life Conflict in Teachers’ Turnover Intentions. Academy of Human Resource Development Conference, Arlington, VA.
- Akther, S. (2024) – Abusive Leadership—Is It Always Bad? LSU Graduate Research Conference, Baton Rouge.
- Akther, S. & Mamun, A. (2017) – Motivating Factors of Investors in Supply Chain Management. International Input-Output Association Annual Conference, Atlantic City.
Qualitative & Mixed-Methods Research Presentations.
- Akther, S. (2025) – Microaggression and Black Higher Education Leaders: An Interpretive Study. American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Annual Conference, Maryland.
- Akther, S. (2024) – Embracing Diversity: South Asian Organizational Traditions and Lessons for Global DEI Practices. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago