Skip to main content

Research membership

This category of membership is open to all academics but admittance is through a detailed application process which is open every two years. Research members are appointed on the basis of their academic work by a special committee.

Someone speaking in front of a crowded hall

ECGI is a global interdisciplinary academic network. The Research Members are the guardians of ECGI's academic integrity. They have a majority on all boards and committees, and they produce high quality research and events which are disseminated through the ECGI network.

When is the next possible opportunity to apply to become an ECGI Research member?

ECGI will next be accepting applications for research memberships in the summer 2026. This will be announced through the ECGI mailing list and on the ECGI website. Click here to subscribe to the ECGI mailing list. 

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply to become a research member of ECGI, however there is a high bar for admittance. At a minimum, applicants should be producing research on corporate governance related topics and have a solid record of quality papers and publications.

Do I need to be nominated?

No, anyone can apply without being nominated. ECGI seeks nominations from our existing research members to help identify those conducting quality research and to ensure that they apply to become a research member. Individuals who are nominated will be contacted with a request to submit an application. Soliciting multiple nominations is generally discouraged but will not count against applicants.

What are the main reasons for non-admittance?

Some common reasons for non-admittance include:

  • Insufficient focus on corporate governance topics, broadly defined.
  • High calibre early stage scholars without an adequate record.
  • Primary discipline of research is outside the scope of the ECGI working paper series (law and finance) - for example management and behavioural sciences.

The assessment criteria differs between law and finance scholars. For example, journal publications and citations are less relevant for law scholars.

The decision of the Appointments Committee is final and they do not provide feedback or reasons for decline.

Research Membership

€150 per annum (effective from January 2025)

The benefits include:

  • Eligibility to publish in the ECGI working paper series.
  • Use of the ECGI affiliation for professional accreditation.
  • Speaking opportunities at ECGI events.
  • Participation on ECGI boards and committees with fellow members.
  • Promotion of research activities through ECGI channels (newsletters, interviews, social media etc.)
  • An individual professional listing in the ECGI membership directory.
  • Registration for public and members-only email communications.
  • Free attendance at the ECGI Annual Conference and Dinner.
  • Networking opportunities and access to leading academics.
  • Access to the ECGI Community platform and noticeboard.
  • Free access to events when applicable.

*Research Members are encouraged to sign up their universities as Academic Institutional Members to support our ongoing work. 

Other membership options 

Our community of research members

  • Javier Suarez

    Professor of Finance
    Centro de Estudios Monetarios y Financieros (CEMFI)
    Research Member
  • Johan Sulaeman

    Dean’s Chair and Associate Professor of Finance, NUS Business School
    National University of Singapore
    Research Member
  • Oren Sussman

    Reader in Finance
    Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
    Research Member
  • Eric Talley

    Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law and Co-Director, Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership
    Columbia Law School
    Research Member
  • Anjan Thakor

    Director of Doctoral Programs & CFAR and John E. Simon Professor of Finance
    John M. Olin School of Business, Washington University, St. Louis
    Research Member
  • David Thesmar

    Franco Modigliani Professor of Financial Economics
    MIT Sloan
    Research Member
  • Randall Thomas

    John S. Beasley Professor of Law and Business
    Vanderbilt University Law School and Owen School of Management
    Research Member
  • Steen Thomsen

    Professor
    Center for Corporate Governance, Copenhagen Business School
    Research Member
  • Jean Tirole

    Scientific Director
    Institut d'Economie Industrielle
    Fellow, Research Member
  • Tobias Tröger

    Professor of Private Law, Commercial and Business Law
    Leibniz Institute SAFE, Goethe University Frankfurt, House of Finance
    Research Member
  • Andrew Tuch

    Professor of Law
    Washington University in St Louis School of Law
    Research Member
  • Kristin van Zwieten

    Clifford Chance Associate Professor of Law and Finance
    Law Faculty, University of Oxford
    Research Member
  • Umakanth Varottil

    Professor of Law
    Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
    Research Member
  • Marco Ventoruzzo

    Head of Department and Professor of Corporate Law
    Paolo Baffi Center on Financial Regulation, Bocconi University Law Department
    Research Member
  • Theo Vermaelen

    Henry Grunfeld Chair in Investment Banking, endowed by S.G. Warburg Group PLC
    INSEAD
    Research Member
  • Erik Vermeulen

    Professor of Business & Financial Law
    Tilburg University
    Research Member
  • Vikrant Vig

    Professor of Finance
    London Business School
    Research Member
  • Belen Villalonga

    Associate Professor of Management and Organizations
    Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University
    Research Member
  • Xavier Vives

    Professor of Economics and Finance
    IESE Business School
    Research Member
  • Paolo Volpin

    Stratakis Chair in Corporate Governance and Accountability | Academic Director of the Gupta Governance Institute | Professor of Finance
    LeBow College of Business, Drexel University
    Research Member
  • Alexander Wagner

    Professor of Finance
    Swiss Finance Institute, University of Zurich
    Research Member
  • Uwe Walz

    Full Professor of Economics
    Goethe University Frankfurt and CFS/ SAFE Frankfurt
    Research Member
  • Tracy Wang

    John Spooner Professor of Finance
    University of Minnesota
    Research Member
  • Charles Wang

    Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration
    Harvard Business School
    Research Member
  • Susan Watson

    Dean, University of Auckland Business School, Professor of Law, University of Auckland Faculty of Law
    University of Auckland
    Research Member
  • Michael Weisbach

    The Ralph W. Kurtz Chair in Finance
    The Ohio State University
    Research Member
  • Russ Wermers

    Professor of Finance
    University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business
    Research Member
  • Yupana Wiwattanakantang

    Associate professor, Department of Finance
    NUS Business School, National University of Singapore
    Research Member
  • Eddy Wymeersch

    Founder
    Financial Law Institute, Ghent University Law School
    Fellow, Research Member
  • Fei Xie

    Chaplin Tyler Professor of Finance & Iannaccone Faculty Fellow
    University of Delaware, Lerner College of Business and Economics
    Research Member
  • Yesha Yadav

    Professor of Law and Milton R. Underwood Chair
    Vanderbilt Law School
    Research Member
  • Yishay Yafeh

    Professor
    School of Business Administration, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Research Member
  • Tina Yang

    Associate Professor
    University of South Florida
    Research Member
  • Jun Yang

    Dean, President's Chair in Finance, Professor
    College of Business (Nanyang Business School)
    Research Member
  • David Yermack

    Chairman, Finance Department, Stern School of Business
    New York University
    Research Member
  • Bernard Yeung

    Stephen Riady Distinguished Professor and Dean
    National University of Singapore
    Research Member
  • Xiaoyun Yu

    Professor of Finance
    Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Research Member
  • Josef Zechner

    Chair of Banking and Finance
    Department of Business Administration, University of Vienna
    Research Member
  • Shan Zhao

    Associate Professor of Finance
    City University of Hong Kong
    Research Member
  • Luigi Zingales

    Robert C. McCormack Professor Entrepreneurship & Finance
    University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
    Fellow, Research Member

ECGI is a vibrant network of governance experts. Listen to what some of them say about being part of the ECGI community.

How can I apply to become a member?

You can apply directly here using our easy application form. If you would like more information about the categories of membership and associated benefits, you can visit our becoming a member page.

Do I need to be nominated to become a member?

No. It is possible to apply for each category without being nominated. However, there is a difference between academic membership and research membership. You can sign up for academic membership today, but applications for research membership are only received every two years. Learn more about the differences in membership categories here.

How can I reinstate my lapsed membership?

We are happy to help you to reactivate your membership. Please send a request by email to membership@ecgi.org.

Hear directly from our members...

Scroll to Top