Three Penn State Smeal Research Scholars set to graduate

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –– Three of the four Penn State Smeal College of Business students who were selected in the inaugural cohort of Research Scholars for the Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility will be graduating this weekend.

The graduating students are Om Dobariya, a fourth-year student who majored in business analytics and information systems; Bhavya Velugula, a graduate student who earned a master's degree in real estate; and Claudia Deng, a supply chain management master’s degree student. The fourth member of the initial cohort was Shraman Pandey, a first-year student who intends to major in actuarial science.

“A strategic initiative of the Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility is to support student and faculty efforts to advance the presence of ethics and social responsibility in business through research activity,” said Michelle Darnell, the Tarriff Family Director of the Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility. “With this spring 2026 pilot of our Research Scholars, we were able to support students’ critical inquiry into the ethical dimension of topics that are central to their chosen field of study.”

The four students completed research deliverables, worked with Smeal alumni mentors, created posters and delivered three-minute pitches to earn $1,000 scholarships for their work.

The five-step process included:

• A scholar deliverable, which involved problem-framing and a 3-5 page literature review
• Engagement with a Smeal alumnus for advice
• A three to four page thesis, contribution and call to action
• A three-minute research pitch to Darnell
• Poster development and presentation

Dobariya’s research focused on examining the behavior of large language models to help advance more ethical and responsible artificial intelligence systems.

He also earned a Rodney A. Erickson Discovery Grant and collaborated with Akhil Kumar, professor of supply chain and information systems, to examine how polite prompts may impact accuracy when communicating with generative AI like ChatGPT.

Velugula’s research examined inequitable infrastructure growth in urban India. She explored how rapid development in major cities has concentrated population growth, investment and institutional capacity. Yet, many smaller cities remain underdeveloped. This imbalance doesn’t just shape economic opportunity; it can increase inequities as talent and capital migrate toward major metro areas.

Deng examined the hidden ethical risks within the global electronics supply chain. Her research explored how intense pressure for low prices, speed and flexibility can contribute to excessive working hours, unsafe conditions, weak labor protections and unfair pay in factories. Drawing from firsthand experience in supply chain management, Deng approached the issue not only as an operational challenge, but as an ethical responsibility tied directly to procurement decisions.

Pandey researched how algorithmic bias shapes insurance pricing models. When companies rely on opaque algorithms without transparency or accountability, discriminatory outcomes can persist, leaving individuals powerless to change unfair treatment. As a future actuary, Pandey said he recognizes that the models he builds may one day impact millions of lives. His research goes beyond identifying bias. He is seeking meaningful, ethical solutions to ensure data-driven decisions to promote fairness.

“I have received tremendously positive feedback on this pilot from alumni and students,” Darnell said. “I am pleased to share that we will not only continue this initiative next fall, we would also like to expand the number of Research Scholars as well as formalize structures to provide additional support for our scholars’ success. This support will involve both faculty and alumni engagement, proving once again that success is maximized when we can bring stakeholders together.”

The inaugural pilot was made possible by a gift from alumna Sherise Curd, vice president of human resources at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Curd holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an MBA in finance, both from Smeal.

Gifts to support the Research Scholars for the Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.