Notre Dame marketing professor recognized for research contributions

In a recent study, University of Notre Dame business professor Frank Germann explored how marketing can improve the world.

Germann’s study, “Do Marketers Matter for Entrepreneurs? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Uganda,” published in the Journal of Marketing, found that marketers can help entrepreneurs in emerging markets grow their businesses, which in turn helps them to improve lives, sustain livelihoods, enhance overall living standards and strengthen societies.

For his contributions to marketing strategy research through studies such as this, the Mendoza College of Business associate marketing professor was recently awarded the 2021 Varadarajan Award for Early Career Contributions. The Varadarajan Award, presented annually by the AMA’s Marketing Strategy Special Interest Group, recognizes the contributions of a marketing faculty member who has completed 10 or fewer years after receipt of her or his doctoral degree. The recipient is selected by a committee of leading research scholars in marketing strategy. The criteria for selection include the overall impact on marketing strategy research and practice, research quality, research quantity and research leadership.

Germann’s research focuses on marketing strategy; specifically, he studies how marketing actions, personnel and assets influence firm performance. His research has been published in top academic journals, including the Journal of Marketing and Journal of Consumer Research. Previous research recognitions include winning the 2020 Sheth Foundation/Journal of Marketing Award, being named as a 2017 MSI Young Scholar and becoming a finalist for the 2016 Paul Root and Shelby D. Hunt/Harold H. Maynard awards. His teaching awards include a 2020 Joyce Award given by Notre Dame to honor faculty members who have had a profound influence on undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching.

Germann earned a Master of Applied Statistics and a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and diplomas from Reutlingen University and the University of Savoy. Before entering academia, he worked for Johnson & Johnson, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and the German Red Cross. He also served as an academic advisor to McKinsey & Co.’s Datamatics team.