Conference Program

Who is the Doctoral Consortium for?

The DSI Doctoral Consortium provides a unique opportunity for current Ph.D. students to learn about the academic job market process and what life is like as a faculty member. Attendees will hear from an esteemed group of junior and senior faculty members who will share experiences and tips for successfully navigating these formative years. Attendees will also have an opportunity to network with fellow Ph.D. students.

Consortium Program Highlights

The program features three curated panels designed to address the most critical stages of early academic life:

Panel 1: Job Market & Transition to Faculty Get practical, experience-based guidance on navigating the academic job market, interviewing, and transitioning into your first faculty position.

• Panelists: Chris Craighead, Xin Ding, and Hanu Tyagi.

Panel 2: Research Strategies: PhD and Beyond Learn how to develop a sustainable research pipeline, position your work, and publish effectively during and after your PhD.

• Panelists: Asoo Vakharia, Tingting Yan, and Xiang Wan.

Panel 3: Building a Successful Long-Term Academic Career Gain insights into tenure expectations, career trajectory planning, and long-term success in academia.

• Panelists: David Dobrzykowski, Joy Field, and Nagesh Murthy.

Why Attend?

• Direct Access: Receive mentorship from leading scholars across top institutions.
• Strategic Planning: Understand how to navigate the job market and early career stages effectively.
• Research Roadmap: Build a clear strategy for your research and publication success.
• Community: Connect with both peers and senior faculty within the DSI community.

How and when to apply?

If you are interested in participating in the DSI 2026 Doctoral Consortium, you will need to apply via an email to the Doctoral Consortium.  The following documents will be requested. Send all applications to: conference@decisionsciences.org.  Subject Line: Doctoral Consortia

• A brief statement describing why you would like to participate in the Doctoral Consortium and why you should be selected for participation (less than one page, double spaced).
• Your current CV.
• A list of 3-5 questions you would like answered during the event.

There is no additional cost to attend the Doctoral Consortium, but selected participants must register for the 2025 DSI Annual Conference to participate in the event. We encourage you to submit abstracts (the deadline is June 15^th, 2026) to participate in the conference. The conference abstract differs from the documents you submit for participating in the doctoral consortium. Check the DSI conference website for details.

Invitation letters will be sent by email by October 15^th, 2026.

Send all applications to: conference@decisionsciences.org.  Subject Line: Doctoral Consortia

Question about the Doctoral Consortium at the 2026 DSI Annual Conference can be directed to the Doctoral Consortium Coordinator.

Coordinator:  Sandun Perera, University of Nevada, Reno, sperera@unr.edu

Looking to accelerate your academic career and navigate the tenure path with clarity? The Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) invites early career faculty to participate in a high-impact professional development consortium at the 2026 Annual Conference. This consortium is structured to provide actionable guidance, candid insights, and direct engagement with leading scholars and journal leadership in the field. 

Consortium Program Highlights

The program features two curated panels designed to address the most critical stages of your early academic career:

Featured Panels

Panel 1: Establishing Your Foundation as Early-Career Faculty: Building a robust research pipeline, managing competing demands, and establishing a unique scholarly identity.

• • Panelists: Deepa Goradia, Rick Hardcopf, and Sophie Yang-Sun.

Panel 2: Navigating the Tenure Path (and Beyond): Insider perspectives on publishing in “A” journals, strategic work positioning, and the nuances of a successful tenure and promotion bid.

• • Panelists: Nagesh N. Murthy (Editor-in-Chief, Decision Sciences Journal), W. C. Benton, Craig Carter, and Arash Azadegan.

Why you should attend:

• Gain direct, candid advice from leading scholars and journal editors
• Learn what truly differentiates successful tenure cases
• Sharpen your publication and career strategy
• Expand your professional network within DSI

 

How to Apply?
To be considered for participation in the Early Career Faculty Development Consortium, please send an e-mail to: conference@decisionsciences.org.  Subject Line: Early Career Consortia

Your email should include:

1. Current CV.
2. List 2-4 questions that you would like to present to the panelists in order to advance your professional career.
Note: There is no additional cost to attend the Consortium, but selected participants must register for the 2025 DSI Annual Conference to participate in the event.

Deadline to submit is October 15, 2026.

Questions about the consortium can be directed to the Coordinator:

Coordinator:  Kefeng Xu, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, K_XU2@uncg.edu