The Student's Research Companion The Purpose-driven Journey of Scientific Entrepreneurs

Omid Aschari, Associate Professor of Strategic Management, University of St. Gallen, Benjamin Berghaus, Scientific entrepreneur and Lecturer, University of St. Gallen

Professor Omid Aschari is an Associate Professor of Strategic Management and founding Managing Director of the globally respected flagship Master in Strategy and International Management (SIM-HSG) at the University of St. Gallen since its inception in 2003.


Dr. Benjamin Berghaus (HSG) is a scientific entrepreneur at the intersection of research, education, and practice in his field. Since 2018, Benjamin has established himself to work a broad portfolio of self- and co-initiated projects geared towards fostering young people at the transition from the academic to the professional phase of their lives.

1 - Approach
1.1. Skills and the will to grow
1.2. Relevance follows audience
1.3. Rigour suggests approach
1.4. Deduce the research design
1.5. Purposeful scientific entrepreneur
1.6. Renewable research energy
1.7. Why even bother?
1.8. Preparation determines motivation
1.9. A peer called supervisor
1.10. Countless shades of supervision
2 - Begin
2.1. Conduct a project
2.2. Follow one trajectory
2.3. Try not to build roof-down
2.4. Build well-dimensioned bridges
2.5. Impression management
2.6. Maturing your mind
2.7. Comparing with others
2.8. A researcher's humility
2.9. Theory is there to help
2.10. Castle under siege
3 - Conduct
3.1. Growing into an expert
3.2. Help others understand you
3.3. Strange birds
3.4. Writing as modern architecture
3.5. A magnetic introduction
3.6. A contextualising theory chapter
3.7. An instructive methodology chapter
3.8. A resolving findings chapter
3.9. A progressive discussion
3.10. A consolidating conclusion
4 - Complete
4.1. Revise frequently
4.2. Core motivator, key critic
4.3. Frustration is a fuzzy teacher
4.4. Relaxation as a research methodology
4.5. Fear of writing
4.6. Mitigating mental overload
4.7. Write like a journey
4.8. Be kind to yourself
4.9. Necessity of ownership
4.10. Throwing off a weight
5 - Continue after
5.1. Take in your accomplishment
5.2. Feedback eats grades for breakfast
5.3. Your degree is a trusted symbol
5.4. Do good for yourself and others
5.5. Keep in touch
5.6. Career serendipity
5.7. Never consider yourself unfree
5.8. Fortify your academic skills
5.9. Grow forward
5.10. Share the fire