DIAN YU

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I am a postdoctoral research associate of NEXT Innovation Lab, D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. My research intersects innovation, institutions, and entrepreneurship, focusing on how firms navigate regulatory environments and strategize within emerging technologies such as drones, robots, and intelligent machines.

During my Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, I examined the global commercial drone industry, investigating the impact of government support on firm establishment, product feature experimentation, and the emergence of new product categories. Supported by the NSF Science of Science Dissertation Improvement Grant, my research provides valuable insights for policymakers on balancing regulation with market support and for managers on aligning product strategies with institutional environments.

At NEXT Innovation Lab, I extend my focus to innovation and entrepreneurship as pathways to better sustainability and equity in the construction industry. Here, I investigate how startups leverage digital platforms, robotics, and site control technologies to drive innovation and efficiency.

For more information, please feel free to contact me at: dia.yu@northeastern.edu 

Ongoing Research

“Institutions Meet Ecosystem: China’s Market and Institutional Infrastructure in the Commercial Drone Industry.” 


“Institutions Meet S-curve: Product Innovation in the Drone Industry around Precision Agriculture.” 

“When and What to Conform to: Product Framing Strategies in the U.S. Small Drone Market.”


“Integrating Smart Machines in Conventional Industries: the Case of Construction Industry” 

“Academic Invention Disclosure.” 

“Policy as a Catalyst: the Role of Local Regulations in Advancing RFID Technology in the Cannabis Sector” 


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