Education
I am currently a Ph.D. student in Economics, Management and Decision Making (39th cycle) at the University of Catania, Italy, as a recipient of the Italian Government Scholarship, under the supervision of Professor Melita Nicotra.
As part of my Ph.D. research, I am undertaking a research stay (April 2025 – March 2026) at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany, in collaboration with Professor Matthias Menter (Chair of Business Dynamics, Innovation, and Economic Change), where I am developing my own research project.
Previously, I obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Management with a specialization in E-Commerce at the Islamic Azad University of Iran (2022), with a final grade of 19.37/20. My thesis was entitled “Investigating the Effect of Online Shopping Experience on Online Shopping Intention with the Mediating Role of Perceived Risk Components.”
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology Engineering at the Islamic Azad University of Iran (2012).
About me
I am a motivated researcher with a background in Information Technology and Business Management, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Decision Making at the University of Catania. Recently, I have focused on two research streams: the intersection of digital technologies and environmental sustainability, and the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems, aiming to generate insights that inform both theory and practical applications.
Research Interests
- Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
- Environmental Sustainability and Green Performance
- Innovation Management and Digital Transformation
- Business Models and Organizational Strategy
Research Stays Abroad
- Guest Researcher at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany (April 2025 – March 2026)
Collaborated with Prof. Matthias Menter on research projects related to sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Conferences & Workshops
- Sinergie-SIMA Conference 2025, University of Genova, Italy – Presented paper: “Bridging Digital Technologies and Environmental Sustainability at Firm and Ecosystem Levels: The Mediating Role of Innovation.”
- Seminar on “Dimensions of Economics and Societal Transformation”, Rügen, Germany – Presented ongoing research on “Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.”
- Workshop on “Green Innovation”, Thiessow, Germany.
Teaching Experience
- Teaching for the course Innovation Systems Exercise (Master’s level), Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany (2025)
- Teaching Assistant, Store & Retailing Management in E-Commerce, Islamic Azad University, Iran (2020)
Courses and Certifications
- Business Sustainability in the Circular Economy – University of London (Coursera)
- Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behavior – University of London & London Business School (Coursera)
- The Strategy of Content Marketing – University of California, Davis (Coursera)
- Principles of Management – Johns Hopkins University (Coursera)
- OxfordCert – Certificate of training at the 12th International Conference on Modern Tricks of Management, Accounting, Economics and Banking
- C++ Programming – Industrial Management Institute
- Lotfi, S., Mallamaci, V., Menter, M., & Nicotra, M. (Under Review). The Intersection of Digital Technologies and Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review.
- Lotfi, S., Nicotra, M., Mallamaci, V. (2025). Bridging Digital Technologies and Environmental Sustainability at Firm and Ecosystem Levels: The Mediating Role of Innovation. Presented at Sinergie-SIMA 2025 Conference, Genova, Italy.
- Lotfi, S. (2023). Investigating the Effect of Perceived Risk on Customer’s Online Purchase Intention towards Jewelry Brands. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Management, World Trade, Economics, Finance and Social Science, Berlin, Germany.
- Lotfi, S. (2022). The Impact of Marketing Strategies on the Company’s Reputation: The Mediating Effect of Market Orientation. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference of Modern Research in Management, Economics and Development, Poland.
- Lotfi, S. (2022). In-Store Factors Influencing Impulse Purchase Behavior. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on New Ideas in Management, Economics, Accounting and Banking, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Lotfi, S. (2022). Investigating the Effect of Online Shopping Experience on Satisfaction and Online Purchase Intention. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Modern Tricks of Management, Accounting, Economics and Banking, Berlin, Germany.