AMA DocSIG Webinar Series

Curious about our webinar series?
Reach out to our chair Julia van de Sandt and the organizing team for Special Projects & Partnerships, Xiaoying Feng and Amir Alisha Syed.
If you missed a webinar, or want to rewatch one – check out the YouTube links below.

🚀𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐒𝐈𝐆 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫

In February, we had an incredible session with Dr. Abhijit Guha on the Relevance of Journal Rankings in the Job Market 📚🎓. From demystifying UTD, FT50, ABDC and AJG lists to providing career-focused insights on journal targeting, Dr. Guha shared invaluable and sincere perspectives on how emerging scholars should navigate the lists to maximize their career prospects.

Key takeaways from the session:

✅Journal lists are not one-size-fits-all: each institution values rankings differently.

✅Factors to consider: (1) What your school wants; (2) Your goals (Mobility, Tenure, Personal Goals…) ; (3) Your ability (Training, Resources, Network..) Be Honest!

✅Strategies evolve: keep revisiting the above three factors and adapt your strategy.

✅ Choose journal: (1) Strategy comes first! (2) What idea/data is available?

A huge thank you to Dr. Guha for sharing his insights and to everyone who joined us. You can check out our YouTube Channel if you missed it or would like to review some key takeaways: https://youtu.be/S4-IrbGy2Rw?si=Z8SVALjnDGen_8YQ. Stay tuned for more AMA DocSIG jobmarket webinars to help PhD students thrive in finding a tenure-track position.

🎤Drop your thoughts in the comments on any topic selection for future webinars! 💡

🌟 Hosted by AMA DocSIG, supporting PhD students in their research journeys. Xiaoying Feng and Amir Alisha Syed manage our webinars. DocSIG is led by Julia van de Sandt (Chair) and Ishita Nagpal (Chair-Elect). American Marketing Association Marilyn Stone Matt Weingarden

Is your research at the intersection of Marketing and AI? Consider submitting your proposal to win a $10,000 grant:

The Mays Business School at Texas A&M University is excited to announce the inaugural “Building a Better Future Through Business and AI” Dissertation Proposal Competition, with support from Deloitte and the Deloitte Foundation. This groundbreaking competition will recognize outstanding methodological or empirical dissertation proposals that either leverage AI techniques/methods or explore AI’s impacts across various business fields.
The competition includes six awards, including a dedicated Best Dissertation Proposal in AI and Marketing award for marketing students. The recipient of this award will receive a $10,000 prize and will have the opportunity to present their research at Mays Business School during the week of September 15, 2025.

All submissions must be submitted through here. https://createdatmays.tamu.edu/blogs/2025/01/ai-proposal-competition/ The submission deadline is May 31, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria
• Applicants must have defended their dissertation proposal by May 31, 2025, and maintain enrollment in a doctoral program at an accredited business school within the United States through the Fall 2025 semester

Submission Requirements
• 3,000-word maximum dissertation proposal summary (12 pt. font, 1” margins) without any identifying student information
• A separate dissertation abstract (150 words)
• Student CV
• Nomination letter from dissertation chair confirming the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended and providing a dissertation completion timeline and anticipated graduation date

Evaluation
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of expert faculty judges based on:
• Theoretical and methodological rigor
• Potential contribution to the field
• Innovativeness of the research

Awards
• $10,000 prize for each award
• Commemorative award plaque
• Travel funding to present their dissertation at Mays Business School during the week of September 15, 2025
• Opportunity to network with Mays faculty and Ph.D. students as well as other award recipients
For full details and to start a submission, visit createdatmays.tamu.edu/ai.

We thank Dr. Yan “Lucy” Liu, Marketing PhD Coordinator at Texas A&M for sharing this generous opportunity with DocSIG.

👊 𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐒𝐈𝐆 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭

Schools have differing perspectives when judging research productivity, often following distinct journal lists such as UTD, FT50, ABDC, and others. But how should emerging scholars decide which list to target? Join us for an insightful discussion on Relevance of Journal Rankings in the Job Market, featuring Dr. Abhijit Guha from Florida Atlantic University!
Dr. Guha will share insights on how emerging scholars should align their research efforts with these lists and how target journal lists may evolve throughout a career. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable guidance on navigating journal rankings and positioning your research for academic success!

🔹 Date: Friday, Feb 28, 2025
🔹 Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
🔹 Location: Zoom
🔹 RSVP: https://lnkd.in/ezBstBdu

About the Speaker:
Dr. Abhijit Guha, Professor of Marketing at Florida Atlantic University – College of Business, currently works on research topics related to AI and retailing. He has published over 30 papers in leading academic journals like the Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Retailing, Harvard Business Review, etc. Further, he is an Associate Editor at Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Retailing, and Journal of Business Research.
Dr. Guha has been awarded the 2025 Service Award by AMA RAPSIG and was the runner-up for the Sheth Foundation Award (from the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science) and the Davidson Award (from the Journal of Retailing). In 2023, he was a finalist for the Society for Marketing Advances Distinguished Teacher Award. Prior to academia, Abhijit worked for about 10 years in management consulting (McKinsey & Company) and sales (HSBC and Barclays Bank).

November Webinar Recap: Conducting Field Data Collections: Partnering with Industry for Research with Riley T. Krotz

We had an engaging November webinar featuring Dr. Riley T. Krotz, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Florida State University. It was an insightful session filled with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and practical strategies for doctoral students and early-career researchers in the field of marketing and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

1) Building Industry Partnerships: Start with small, local, and nonprofit organizations. They are more likely to collaborate and offer access to valuable data while providing real-world insights for impactful research.

2) Research Relevance Matters: Aligning research objectives with practical, real-world questions that matter to managers and policymakers increases the chances of forging partnerships and driving meaningful impact.

3) Confidence is Key: As researchers, we bring unique expertise to the table. Communicating confidently with potential collaborators is crucial.

4) Field Data Strategies: Working with real companies and behavioral data is challenging but rewarding, often lowering the expected threshold for perfection compared to controlled experiments.

5) Handling Null Effects: Turn unexpected outcomes into opportunities for follow-up studies and insights that keep collaborators invested in the research journey.

6) Leveraging Networking: Local events, alumni connections, and platforms like LinkedIn can open doors to valuable collaborations and data.

Riley also shared his journey from being a first-generation college student to becoming a leading researcher, highlighting the importance of persistence, networking, and leveraging available opportunities. His story was a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we connect research with real-world problems.

Thank you, Dr. Riley, for your generosity and for sharing your knowledge and experiences. Your practical insights and willingness to support the next generation of researchers inspire us all. For everyone who missed it, go to our youtube: https://youtu.be/ffG41vdBmec
Stay tuned for our January webinar in our ongoing Doctoral Student Webinar Series. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/NWSRRkY/docsig

PhDJourney #WebinarRecap #DoctoralStudents #AMADocSIG #PhDLife #AcademicCommunity #MarketingResearch #Networking #FieldData

📢 AMA DocSIG November Webinar: Conducting Field Data Collections

Are you a PhD student struggling to forge industry partnerships for field data collection? Join us for a must-attend webinar on Conducting Field Data Collections: Partnering with Industry for Research, featuring Dr. Riley T. Krotz from Florida State University!

Dr. Krotz will share invaluable insights on building industry connections for research, navigating NDAs, handling proprietary data, and more. As someone with extensive experience securing industry and nonprofit partnerships, Dr. Krotz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to help students who want to enrich their dissertations and research with real-world data.

🔹 Date: Friday, November 29, 2024

🔹 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST

🔹 Location: Zoom

🔹 RSVP: https://forms.gle/xsqapCLU19SLykmZ9

About the Speaker: Dr. Riley T. Krotz, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Florida State University, is known for his impactful research on blood donations, the organizational frontlines, and public policy. His work has appeared in top journals, and he has been awarded over $200,000 in grant funding from major organizations like the American Marketing Association, the Academy of Marketing Science, the Association for Consumer Research, and the American Antitrust Institute. Dr. Krotz has earned numerous accolades, including a Congressional commendation from the U.S. Senate, the City of Lubbock Top 20 Under 40 Award, and the AMA OFR Young Scholar Award. He’s been recognized as a dedicated mentor and educator for his outstanding contributions to research, mentorship, and community impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from his experience and expertise!

🌟 Hosted by AMA DocSIG, supporting PhD students in their research journeys.

October Webinar Recap: Write on Track with Dr. Margaret Echelbarger

We had an inspiring session at the AMA DocSIG October webinar, Write on Track! Dr. Margaret Echelbarger shared her go-to strategies for academic writing success, covering over 40 pre-submitted questions covering everything from writing habits and productivity tools to overcoming fear, composing manuscripts, journal submissions, and handling rejection.

Key Takeaways:
1) Start Small: Don’t wait for the “perfect” time! Use “stealthy writing” to fit in quick moments throughout the day.
2) Writing Hacks: Try the “kitchen sink” approach (jot everything down!), and stop mid-thought—it makes starting up again so much easier.
3) Productivity Tips: Time-blocking, the Pomodoro technique, and community accountability are game-changers. Play defense by creating and protecting dedicated writing time.
4) Stay Motivated: Tap into intrinsic motivation (joy of discovery, connecting with literature) and extrinsic rewards (getting your voice heard).
5) Handling Rejection: Embrace rejections as badges of resilience—they’re all part of the journey!

Dr. Echelbarger also recommended amazing resources, including #100DaysOfWriting and A Field Guide to Grad School. And remember, writing doesn’t have to be perfect—a bad draft is always better than no draft! Stay tuned for our November webinar in our ongoing Doctoral Student Webinar Series.

The recording of the session is available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ZV9G7fHDX44?si=yihOvg1q2oKX-HfM

Thank you once again for being such a generous and valued part of the faculty community and for your incredible support of the doctoral student community! Our webinars are organized by Xiaoying Feng and Amir Alisha Syed. Proudly hosted by AMA DocSIG as part of our commitment to supporting the global marketing PhD community.

September Webinar Recap: Navigating Your PhD Journey

In response to high demand, we reintroduced the AMA DocSig Webinar Series in September! As part of our first webinar, we featured an amazing session on “How to Navigate Your PhD Journey” with Dr. Shrihari (Hari) Sridhar, attended by around 50 PhD students from across the globe.

The session was highly interactive, with participants engaging in insightful discussions and receiving valuable advice from Dr. Sridhar from Texas A&M University on overcoming challenges during their PhD journey.

Here are six key tips shared by Dr. Sridhar during the session:

1. One moment can change your life forever: Success often hinges on just a few pivotal moments. Be kind and open, as you only need a couple of good days to make a significant difference.

2. It’s about who you don’t know during the job talk: Stay customer-centric and practice what you pitch. Share your work widely, simplify your message, and always be approachable.

3. Maintain both breadth and depth: Learning doesn’t stop after earning your PhD. Strive for a balance between deep expertise in your field and broad knowledge across other areas.

4. Keep an open mind: Pay attention and listen actively. Your SIG is just one part of your journey—don’t limit yourself.

5. Focus on what is urgent and important: Not all ideas will succeed. Respect your body, mind, and your family’s needs, and prioritize what truly matters before addressing the urgent.

6. Go where you are loved: Opportunities are plentiful. Instead of constantly focusing on where you want to go, focus on environments that value and support you. The right role or title will come naturally.

A huge thank you to Dr. Sridhar for sharing his expertise and to everyone who attended and made it such a dynamic session. We hope you found it as inspiring as we did! Stay tuned for our next webinar in October as part of our ongoing Doctoral Student Webinar Series.

Sparring with your Research Question Before You Go Into the Ring: A Key Milestone in the Journey from Research to Publication

Click here to read about this session by Prof. Linda Price, in association with AMA DocSIG at the AMA Academic Winter Meetings, Las Vegas, 2022, where she talks about the importance of building research questions and how we can position them to publish in top marketing journals.

Networking in Academia

Dr. Ryan Hamilton, Associate Professor of Marketing at Emory Goizueta Business School helped PhD students understand the importance of networking in academia. · Networking in academia. Why is it important? · Networking as a Ph.D. student. When and how? · Collaborating with other academics · Collaborating with industry · How to approach collaborations. What you should not do! https://youtu.be/UZ4s4z13V4w

Secured your first Academic Job! Whats Next!

Dr. Prokriti Mukherji, Lecturer in Marketing at Kings Business School share her insights on what’s next for you within the Academic job you have just secured. This webinar is directed toward helping doctoral students understand the journey and set expectations after securing a full-time academic position. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bZRdEtQwm7o

Balancing Act of the Academic Career with Dr. Nita Umashankar

Dr. Nita Umashankar, Associate Professor of Marketing at Fowler College of Business, San Diego State University, presented on preparing for a career in academia after securing an academic job. Watch the webinar on our YouTube channel through the link below to learn more about the skills required and the decisions that need to be made to grow and thrive in their academic career after securing an academic position. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ph3BF-668

Job Market with Dr. Shankha Basu

Dr. Shankha Basu, Lecturer in Marketing at Leeds University Business School, shares his insights, tips and tricks for doctoral students who are unfamiliar with the American or British Academic Job markets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-GmGGsqjDI

Brand Yourself with Dr. Aulona Ulqinaku

Dr. Aulona Ulqinaku, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Leeds University Business School shares her perspective on how to brand yourself and position your job market papers and studies when applying for jobs within the USA and UK academic markets. The virtual synchronous session was conducted at 2pm CST (8pm UK time) on 10th February 2021. Specifically, the webinar session was designed to coach you through the best ways to present yourself and highlight your work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie7weTn2WYA