About DocSIG
What is DocSIG?
DocSIG is the American Marketing Association’s special interest group for marketing doctoral students. Based in the United States and led by an international team of doctoral students at North American universities, we support the development of researchers, teachers, and future faculty.
Who is DocSIG for?
We support marketing doctoral students worldwide, across research interests, methods, and stages of the PhD journey.
What programs and resources does DocSIG offer?
- Virtual programs and online resources: Monthly webinars, JMR Scholarly Insights, the annual Who Went Where report, weekly email updates, and biannual newsletters.
- In-person events: The DocSIG Global Colloquium and networking receptions at AMA Winter and Summer Academic Conferences, offering mentorship, research feedback, and professional connections.
Membership
How do I become a member?
Join or renew your AMA Professional or Academic Membership and select “Doctoral Students SIG” among your special interest groups. DocSIG membership carries no additional fee with your AMA membership. Visit our Membership page for instructions and doctoral student discount information.
What are the benefits of membership?
Membership connects you with fellow doctoral students and faculty, provides access to member-only conference programs, and offers opportunities to develop your research, teaching, and leadership skills. Members may also receive priority for selected initiatives, as outlined in each announcement.
Stay Connected: Email, Website & Social Media
How can I stay connected with DocSIG?
Members and nonmembers can follow our news and explore public resources through:
- Weekly Digest emails: Subscribe using the homepage form for news, events, deadlines, and opportunities.
- Our website: Explore programs, resources, and announcements.
- LinkedIn: Follow our page for event updates and community highlights.
- YouTube: Subscribe and watch available webinar recordings.
Does subscribing to emails or following DocSIG make me a member?
No. Email subscriptions and social media follows keep you connected but do not create official membership. To become a member, select “Doctoral Students SIG” through your AMA membership.
DocSIG Newsletter
What is the DocSIG Newsletter?
Our biannual newsletter highlights DocSIG’s activities, achievements, program updates, and community contributions over the preceding months.
Webinars & Professional Development
What are DocSIG webinars about?
Our monthly webinar initiative brings leading scholars into conversation with doctoral students. Series such as Track Discovery and the Job Market Series explore research areas, publishing, teaching, career preparation, and doctoral life.
How can I attend?
Visit our Webinar page or follow our email and LinkedIn announcements. Register using the link provided for each session.
Can I watch a webinar I missed?
Yes. Find available recordings on our YouTube channel or through our Webinar archive.
DocSIG events at AMA Winter & Summer Academic Conferences
What events does DocSIG offer?
Our two signature events bring doctoral students and faculty together:
- Global Colloquium: Faculty mentorship, research feedback, and professional development.
- Networking Reception: Opportunities to connect with peers, faculty, and members of the wider marketing community.
How do I attend?
Our signature conference events require DocSIG membership and advance registration both for the conference and our event. Visit our Conferences page for schedules, eligibility, and registration instructions.
Financial Support & Grants
How does DocSIG financially support doctoral students?
DocSIG has offered grants supporting conference travel, AMA membership, and conference registration. Available support depends on funding and the opportunities announced for each year.
How can I apply?
Watch our website, Weekly Digest, and LinkedIn announcements for grant calls. Each announcement explains eligibility, covered expenses, application requirements, and deadlines.
Who Went Where: Academic Job-Market Insights
What is the Who Went Where report?
The annual Who Went Where (WWW) report offers insights into the North American marketing academic job market, including applications, interviews, offers, placements, and compensation.
Who provides the data?
The report draws on voluntary, self-reported responses from marketing doctoral candidates and recent graduates who participated in the relevant academic job-market cycle. It reflects respondents’ experiences rather than the entire market.
When does data collection begin?
DocSIG announces the survey launch and participation deadline for each annual cycle typically at the end of the spring semester each academic year.
When is a new report available?
A new report is released annually after data collection and analysis at the beginning of every Fall semester.
Where can I find the reports?
We have a full archive of this report for the last two decades. Visit our WWW archive to explore available reports.
Scholarly Insights
What is Scholarly Insights?
Through this collaboration with AMA journals such as the Journal of Marketing Research, doctoral students interview authors of recently published articles and write accessible posts explaining their research contributions.
Why should I participate?
Contributing offers an opportunity to connect with established researchers, collaborate with fellow doctoral students, strengthen your research communication skills, and increase your scholarly visibility. You will have a chance to interview the authors and write a blog on it in practitioner, non-academic language.
How can I contribute?
We have regular calls for participation announcements. Visit our Scholarly Insights page for contributor calls, participation requirements, and deadlines.
Awards & Recognition
What awards does DocSIG offer?
- Mathew Joseph Emerging Scholar Award: Recognizes a marketing doctoral student with exceptional scholarly promise at the AMA Summer Academic Conference.
- Mathew Joseph Mentor Award: Honors a faculty member for outstanding mentorship of marketing doctoral students at the AMA Winter Academic Conference.
How do I apply or nominate someone?
Visit the relevant award page and follow the current call for eligibility, required materials, and submission deadlines.
Leadership, Collaboration & Contact
Who leads DocSIG?
DocSIG is led by doctoral student officers who serve annual terms from August 1 through July 31. Meet our current leadership team.
How can I become a DocSIG officer?
Recruitment takes place each spring for the following academic year. Visit Become an Officer for available roles, application instructions, and deadlines.
Support DocSIG
How can I collaborate with or support DocSIG?
Contact the DocSIG Chair to discuss sponsorship, partnerships, or contributions to our programs and events.
Who should I contact with questions or ideas?
Reach out to the DocSIG chair through our Leadership page or email docsig.ama@gmail.com.