Maria D. Perez
About Me
Welcome! I hold a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California. I also hold a Master of Science in Applied Economics and Econometrics (MS AEE). I have a strong mixed methods background through my experience working with survey data, A/B testing, survey experiments, interviews, focus groups, text analysis, vector autoregressions (VAR), time series data, and multilevel-regression analysis with postratification frames (MRP).
Currently, I pursue my career as a mixed methods UX Researcher. I lead both qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, supporting product development and shaping business strategy. I have a track record of running rapid product research cycles, enabling fast and iterative product development. One of my key strengths is my ability to build and scale robust research practices in new domains and teams.
My dissertation looks at corporate activism to identify its determinants, as well as its consequences on the behavioral attitudes of the firms' social and political stakeholders. Prior to my doctoral education, I worked as a public affairs and strategic communications consultant and analyst for international private firms from the pharmaceutical, technological, luxury retail, financial, and investment sectors.
Research Interests
Nonmarket Strategy
State-Business Relations
Corporate Activism
Corporate Political Strategy
Corporate Social Responsability
Quantitative Research Methods
Causal Inference
Dissertation Committee Members
Dr. Nan Jia (co-chair), Associate Professor of Management and Organization, USC Marshall School of Business
Dr. Gerardo Munck (co-chair), Professor of Political Science, USC
Dr. Christian Grose, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, USC