DocSIG is excited to reintroduce a dedicated doctoral pre-conference in response to the high demand for mentoring and peer-networking opportunities among PhD students. We aim to provide early-career scholars with robust support as they navigate coursework, develop dissertation ideas, prepare for the job market, and transition into their academic careers. Attendees will leave the pre-conference with an improved understanding of how to address the challenges they are currently facing, new tools for a successful career, and a support network of new friends and mentors.
This event occurs on Friday, August 22 at the 2025 AMA Summer Academic Conference.
Key Benefits for Doctoral Students
- Mentorship Opportunities: Intimate sessions led by experienced faculty covering challenges in both early and later stages of a PhD program.
- Networking & Peer Community: Dedicated time to connect with fellow doctoral students and established scholars in an informal, supportive atmosphere.
- Research Feedback from Published Faculty: Engage in interactive discussions about research ideas, learn strategies for publishing, and receive personalized feedback from mentors.
Registration
$50
Breakfast provided.
Current members of DocSIG or The PhD Project are eligible to register immediately. If you are not a member of either group, please ask your advisor to send a brief nomination letter on your behalf to docsig.ama@gmail.com before proceeding with registration.
Becoming a DocSIG member is quick and easy; follow the simple steps outlined below.
Limited seats are available!
Faculty Ambassadors
DocSIG collaborates with faculty ambassadors Professors Dr. Karen Winterich (PennState, CB, Co-Editor JMR) and Dr. Andreas Lanz (Uni Basel, Quant) in making this event a success for doctoral students.
Karen Page Winterich
Karen is the Gerald I. Susman Professor in Sustainability and Professor of Marketing at Pennsylvania State University. She conducts research in the area of consumer behavior, with much of her work examining how consumers’ social identities influence charitable giving as well as sustainable and im(moral) behavior. Her research is published in Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, and Journal of Marketing, among others. She serves as Co-Editor for the Journal of Marketing Research and is Past President of the Academic Council of the American Marketing Association. Karen also enjoys teaching sustainability marketing which she developed as part of Smeal’s Sustainability Education Initiatives.
Andreas Lanz
Andreas is a marketing professor and member of the faculty board at the University of Basel. He joined from HEC Paris in 2023 and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Mannheim. Andreas researches social networks and is recognized for his award-winning work on the effectiveness of micro influence for dissemination (i.e., Lanz et al. 2019 as well as Beichert et al. 2024 and Goldenberg et al. 2024). He published in leading academic journals including the Journal of Marketing (2024; 2024), Journal of Marketing Research (2019; 2024), Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (2025), Management Information Systems Quarterly (2022; 2025), Management Science (2025), and Quantitative Marketing and Economics (2022)—with press coverage, among others, in the Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review.
Doctoral Student Organizers – DocSIG Leadership
Reach out to us at docsig.ama@gmail.com.
Julia van de Sandt
Julia is a fourth-year PhD Candidate in Marketing at the University of South Carolina, specializing in Consumer Behavior. Her research investigates how product materials and information framing influence consumers’ judgment and decision-making in sustainability and financial decision-making. For about a decade before academia, Julia thrived in analytical roles across consumer packaging, cruise tourism, and retail. In 24-25 Julia serves as Chair of DocSIG and concludes three-years of service with DocSIG at SummerAMA in Chicago.
Ishita Nagpal
Ishita is a third-year doctoral student in Marketing at J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Her research interests centered on the intersection of marketing strategy and the social impact of marketing. Passionate about supporting fellow doctoral students, she has been serving DocSIG for over two years. Her dedication and service have been recognized with the Outstanding Service Award at Georgia State
Friday, August 22
Below is the Tentative Program Overview
Students will be divided based on their research methodology (i.e., Behavioral, Strategy, and Quantitative).
Faculty Mentor Session I (Breakfast Session)
- Track 1: Early PhD Years: Focus on coursework, forming a dissertation topic, and building a strong research pipeline.
- Track 2: Later PhD Years: Guidance on preparing for later stages of the PhD, including publication strategies and navigating the job market.
Faculty Mentor Session II (Idea Feedback):
Doctoral students share and refine research ideas, leveraging the insights of faculty mentors and peers.
Thanks to our supporters for making this unique doctoral mentorship opportunity possible
Platinum Supporter
For more than a century, the Darla Moore School of Business has provided an outstanding business education to students who have gone on to become leaders in every business sector. Known globally for its top-ranked programs in international business, the Moore School is home to a world-class faculty and 13 major research centers. The Moore School is committed to educating business leaders and to playing a central role in the economic growth of the state by bringing the world to South Carolina and South Carolina to the world.
Marketing Department | Ph.D. Program