Catagories

Dr. Shiyuan (Eric) Liu, Assistant Professor at the College of Business and Public Management, Wenzhou-Kean University (first author and corresponding author), together with Professor Ola Henfridsson from the Herbert Business School, University of Miami, and Associate Professor Jochem Hummel and Professor Joe Nandhakumar from Warwick Business School, accomplished a research project entitled “The Complementor’s Dilemma: Navigating Growth Ambitions and the Dependency on Focal Actors in Platform Ecosystems.” The study has been published online in MIS Quarterly (UTD24, FT50), a top-tier international journal in management, marking Wenzhou-Kean University’s first breakthrough in publishing in a UTD24 journal in the field of management. This achievement signifies the university’s continuous growth in disciplinary development, research capacity, and international academic influence in management science.刘博士在《MIS Quarterly》发表的论文Research HighlightsHow does an unknown complementor rise to fame in the shadow of platform giants? Hitting this growth ambition often triggers “the complementor’s dilemma” of (a) acting on the ambition but risk losing the platform support needed for that growth, or (b) relinquishing the growth ambition to ensure the platform support continues. This groundbreaking study dives deep into this dilemma by examining the meteoric rise of a Chinese short-form video platform, Douyin (known as TikTok outside of China), from 0.75M to 208M users in just two years. The Non-focal to Focal (NFTF) model reveals how the complementor’s dilemma evolves over time and provides a roadmap to navigate the dilemma, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on ecosystem momentum to make strategic moves at the right time.About the AuthorShiyuan Liu, Ph.D. in Management, University of Warwick (2022); Postdoctoral Fellow, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden (2023); Assistant Professor at the College of Business and Public Management, Wenzhou-Kean University; Research Fellow at the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation; Selected into Wenzhou “Ouyue Talent Program”. Program committee member for the 44th (2023) and 45th (2024) International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS). He serves as an anonymous reviewer for leading academic journals including Information Systems Research, European Journal of Information Systems, Journal of Information Technology, and Journal of Strategic Information Systems. His research focuses on digital platforms, digital innovation, digital transformation, and digital entrepreneurship.Reference:Liu, S., Henfridsson, O., Hummel, J., & Nandhakumar, J. (2025). The complementor’s dilemma: Navigating growth ambitions and the dependency on focal actors in platform ecosystems. MIS Quarterly, 49 (3), 1123-1152.

On August 27, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced the results of its 2025 funding program. This year, Wenzhou-Kean University received three funded projects with a total grant amount of RMB 2.1 million. Among them, Dr. Donghoon Lee from the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology / International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute secured one General Program project; Dr. Susan Rutherford from the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology / International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute, together with Dr. Alexander English from the College of Liberal Arts, each obtained one Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists project. These achievements represent a historic breakthrough for the university.According to relevant statistics, the average funding rate for NSFC projects in 2025 was only 12.29%. In recent years, Wenzhou-Kean University has placed strong emphasis on building its research capacity and accelerating innovation. The number and quality of NSFC funded projects at the university have shown a steady upward trend. Through a series of reforms and initiatives, the university continues to attract and cultivate high-level talents, strengthen the development of advanced research teams, and foster scientific platforms to enhance research performance and capacity. Looking ahead, WKU will continue to implement national strategic directives on scientific and technological innovation. By prioritizing organized research and capacity building, the university aims to further advance scientific innovation and contribute to the high-quality development of the institution.Donghoon LeeDr. Lee’s research centers on the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and its regulation under physiological and pathological conditions such as starvation, inactivity, cancer, and aging. He has uncovered novel mechanisms that activate the 26S proteasome during catabolic and proteotoxic stress, identifying ZFAND5 as the first known proteasome activator that enhances enzymatic activity and promotes the clearance of ubiquitinated proteins. These discoveries have important implications for cellular health and diseases linked to muscle atrophy and proteotoxic stress, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. At WKU, Dr. Lee continues to investigate protein quality control, with a focus on the 26S proteasome and p97 as key regulators and drug targets.Susan RutherfordDr. Rutherford is dedicated to biodiversity conservation and deeply interested in the processes and patterns that drive plant evolution and speciation. Her research focuses on: (1) landscape genomics of closely related native species and species complexes to identify genetic diversity centers and hybridization hotspots, thereby advancing understanding of species evolution and distribution; (2) the responses of invasive weeds to new habitats in their introduced ranges, explored through interdisciplinary methods such as genomics, greenhouse experiments, field trait measurements, and environmental niche modeling; and (3) the evolutionary dynamics of rare and threatened species to generate insights that support effective conservation management.Alexander EnglishDr. English studies how culture affects the way humans behave. He also studies how people who move to new environments encounter subtle changes that lead to variations in psychological and cognitive processes. Recently, Dr. English had been interested in talent workplace management and development. Dr. English is the Director for the WKU Center for Behavioral Research Across Cultures (C-BRAC) and is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Intercultural Relations.

“Thanks to ‘Student Research Day’, I realized that research isn’t something distant—it’s much closer to us than we think.” Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) recently celebrated a milestone—its 10thannual Student Research Day, a tradition that’s reshaped how students view academic inquiry. During the opening ceremony, Wang Yiling, a graduating senior from the Psychology Department, shared her experience. Wang has taken part in seven research projects during her undergraduate years, gaining valuable skills in communication and critical thinking. Her research experience also paved the way for successful applications to research-focused master’s programs abroad. She has received offers from world-renowned institutions, including the UCL-Yale Collaborative Program, the University of Chicago, and King’s College London. Since launching in 2016, WKU’s Student Research Day has attracted over 3,500 participants and featured more than 2,500 research projects, making it a central driver for undergraduate research and future scholars. WKU Research Day Highlights: Over 600 Students and 400 Research ProjectsUpon entering WKU’s Ge Hekai Hall, visitors are greeted by rows of presentation boards and lively discussions. As more than 600 students this year presented more than 400 research projects, turning the space into a hub of curiosity and innovation. The research projects were developed by WKU students and cover fields from biology, economics, mathematics and computer science to psychology and education, reflecting WKU’s global research practices and interdisciplinary spirit. Students presented their findings through vibrant poster displays and three-minute speeches, offering a dynamic platform for students to showcase their work. One standout project in artificial intelligence came from accounting majors He Xinye, Huang Yuwei, and Chen Keqi, who surveyed 259 students. Their findings? Frequent users of AI tools like ChatGPT tended to have higher GPAs. Their study, “How Generative AI Tools Affect Academic Performance”, highlights that AI is becoming a “study assistant” for students but stresses the importance of proper guidance from instructors to prevent over-reliance. In public health, a Malaysian-led international team studied the potential impact of pet diseases on public health. By sequencing the genome of a multidrug-resistant bacterial strain, they revealed the risks of cross-species transmission. Psychology student Wang Shimeng presented her study, “A Longitudinal Study of Neurotic Traits and Life Satisfaction: The Meditating Role of University Belonging.” Her study revealed that students who often experience emotional fluctuations reported lower life satisfaction, but this negative effect was significantly reduced when they felt a sense of belonging on campus. Her research calls for universities to pay greater attention and make efforts in fostering an inclusive, emotional and supportive campus environment. Over 3,500 Participants and 2,500 Projects: A Decade of WKU Research DayWenzhou-Kean University launched its first “Student Research Day” in 2016 with the goal of building a diverse high-level research platform. Over the past decade, Student Research Day has attracted more than 3,500 participants and showcased over 2,500 research projects, making it a cornerstone for collaboration between undergraduate and postgraduate studies. From the inaugural Research Day, with just 72 student participants, to nearly ten times that number today, research at WKU has evolved from a niche activity to an integral part of the academic journey. Research once seen as an extra add-on for graduate school applications, has now become a “compulsory course” that supports the academic growth of many students. “Student Research Day” offers a platform for students to showcase their research and encourages critical thinking, teamwork, innovation and leadership skills. This year’s 10thedition celebrated not only student achievements but also WKU’s broader commitment to research development and student-centered education. An official from WKU credits the event with building a strong academic culture on campus rooted within students’ spirit of curiosity and exploration. From the laboratory to the community, and from academic papers to practical products, “Student Research Day” emerges as a foundational starting point and a pivotal milestone for the development of WKU students. Dr. Jungbin Kim, a faculty member in the College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, emphasizes that importance of integrating research into real-world challenges. “Scientific inquiry should transcend the boundaries of purely academic disciplines,” he states. “It must address the tangible issues that we encounter in daily life.” One example of this approach in action is Dr. Jungbin Kim and his team of six students who have undertaken a municipal water recycling project. The team developed a system using reverse osmosis and electrodeposition to clean surface water and remove heavy metals from sources in Wenzhou. Their work was recognized internationally at the 14thAsia-Pacific Membrane Society Conference and has resulted in a patent filing. From this platform, other WKU students have developed innovations with real world impacts. In the Biology department under faculty guidance, students developed an antibacterial laundry detergent that now holds patents in both China and Europe and has been successfully commercialized. In addition to “Student Research Day,” the university has established the “Student Partnering with Faculty/Staff Research Program,” which covers the entire research process, from early-stage exploration to project implementation and publication. As of September 2024, more than 500 students collaborated with 130 faculty members on over 280 research projects with funding amounting to nearly seven million RMB. WKU has also supported over 500 students in participating in academic conferences both in China and internationally, giving them the opportunity to share their work on global stages. More than 250 student-led papers have been published in top academic journals, with many students listed as first or corresponding authors, a sign of their growing role in research and WKU’s rising influence in research. Translator: JIN Ziyang, ZHENG SiyuanProofreader: Amira Caballero