Doctoral Consortium

Message from the Doctoral Consortium Chairs

The ICER 2013 Doctoral Consortium provides an opportunity for doctoral students to explore and develop their research interests in a workshop under the guidance of a panel of distinguished researchers. We invite students who feel they would benefit from this kind of feedback on their dissertation work to apply for this unique opportunity to share their work with students in a similar situation as well as senior researchers in the field. The strongest candidates will be those who have a clear topic and research approach, and have made some progress, but who are not so far along that they can no longer make changes. However, we welcome submissions from students at any stage of their doctoral studies. In addition to stating how you will gain from participation, both you and your advisor should be clear on what you can contribute to the Doctoral Consortium.

Allison Elliott Tew, University of Washington Tacoma
Jonas Boustedt, University of Gävle
icerdc2013@gmail.com

What is the Doctoral Consortium?

The Consortium has the following objectives:

  • Provide a supportive setting for feedback on students’ current research and guidance on future research directions
  • Offer each student comments and fresh perspectives on their work from researchers and students outside their own institution
  • Promote the development of a supportive community of scholars and a spirit of collaborative research
  • Support a new generation of researchers with information and advice on research and academic career paths
  • Contribute to the conference goals through interaction with other researchers and conference events

The Consortium will be held on Sunday, August 11 2013. Students at any stage of their doctoral studies are welcome to apply and attend. The number of participants is limited to 12. Applicants who are selected will receive a limited partial reimbursement of travel, accommodation and subsistence (i.e., food) expenses of $600 (USD).

Preparing and Submitting your Consortium Proposal

Current graduate students pursuing a PhD project who would benefit from detailed workshop discussions of their doctoral research should submit a single PDF file that includes the following elements, described in detail in the ICER Doctoral Consortium submission template [Word / LaTeX]:

  1. Extended Abstract. A 2-page research description covering central aspects of your PhD work, which follows the structure, details and format specified in the ICER Doctoral Consortium submission template [Word / LaTeX]. Key points include:
    • Your situation, i.e., the university doctoral program context in which your work is being conducted
    • Context and motivation that drives your dissertation research
    • Miniature Background/literature review of key works that frames your research
    • Hypothesis/thesis and/or problem statement
    • Research objectives/goals
    • Your research approach and methods, including relevant rationale
    • Results to date and their validity
    • Dissertation status
    • Current and expected contributions
  2. Appendix 1. A one-paragraph statement of expected benefits of participation for both yourself and the other consortium participants (i.e., what will you contribute as well as gain). (1 page)
  3. Appendix 2. A letter of nomination from your primary dissertation advisor, that addresses the questions posed in the ICER Doctoral Consortium submission template [Word / LaTeX] (1 page).
  4. Appendix 3. Your concise current Curriculum Vita (1-2 pages)

Once you have assembled – and tested – the PDF file, the entire submission file should be emailed to icerdc2013@gmail.com no later than 17:00 PDT on 31 May 2013. When submitting the applications, please put “ICER DC 2013 - <Last Name>” in the Subject line.

Doctoral Consortium Review Process

The review and decision of acceptance will balance many factors. This includes the quality of your proposal, and where you are within your doctoral education program. It also includes external factors, where as a group the accepted candidates exhibit a diversity of backgrounds and topics. Your institution will also be taken into account, where we are unlikely to accept more than two students from the same institution. Confidentiality of submissions is maintained during the review process. All rejected submissions will be kept confidential in perpetuity.

Upon Acceptance of your Doctoral Consortium Proposal

Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection on 10 June 2013, or shortly after.

Authors of accepted submissions will receive instructions on how to submit publication-ready copy (this will consist of your extended abstract only), and will receive information about attending the Doctoral Consortium, about preparing your presentation and poster, about how to register for the conference, and about travel arrangements and reimbursement details. All such benefits are contingent on attending the Doctoral Consortium. Please note that submissions will not be published without a signed form releasing publishing copyright to the ACM. Attaining permissions to use video, audio, or pictures of identifiable people or proprietary content rests with the author, not the ACM or the ICER conference.

Before the Conference

Since the goals of the Doctoral Consortium include building scholarship and community, participants will be expected to read all of the Extended Abstracts of your colleagues prior to the beginning of the consortium with a goal of preparing careful and thoughtful critique. Although many fine pieces of work may have to be rejected due to lack of space, being accepted into the Consortium is an honor, and involves a commitment to giving and receiving thoughtful commentary with an eye towards shaping the field and upcoming participants in the field.

At the Conference

All participants are expected to attend all portions of the Doctoral Consortium. We will also be arranging an informal Welcome Dinner for participants and discussants on Saturday August 10, 2013 before the consortium begins. Please make your travel plans to join us this evening to get acquainted. Each student will present his or her work to the group with substantial time allowed for discussion and questions by participating researchers and other students.

Students will also present a poster of their work at the main conference. In addition to the conference poster, each student should bring a small version of the poster (e.g., using letter or A4 paper) for sharing with faculty mentors and other students during the Consortium sessions.

Poster board panels vary from venue to venue, but typically you will have a space 4 feet by 4 feet square (1.2 x 1.2 meters). Posters should be designed and printed portrait style and will be hung with materials provided by the conference.

After the Conference

Accepted Doctoral Consortium abstracts will be distributed in the ACM Digital Library, where they will remain accessible to thousands of researchers and practitioners worldwide.