Doctoral Consortium Fast Facts

Download Call for Participants

Get a PDF Copy

Who is This Event For?

The 2025 Academy of International Business (AIB) Doctoral Consortium will be held in Louisville, KY, on Sunday, June 29, 2025. The Consortium will provide a unique opportunity for doctoral students to refine their research ideas, learn about the challenges of conducting international business research and building a successful academic career in the field, and broaden their professional networks. The Consortium is designed to foster a constructive and supportive dialogue among doctoral students and participating faculty. Sessions will focus on conducting high-quality international business research, managing the dissertation process, and navigating the academic job market. In addition, students will receive concrete feedback on their individual research projects, along with valuable insights and guidance for their future research agenda. Each year, one participant in the consortium is awarded the AIB Award for the Best Doctoral Dissertation Proposal.

Ph.D. students in international business who have completed their course work, are in the dissertation stage of their programs, and have a relatively clear idea about their dissertation research are eligible candidates for the Consortium.

While all such candidates will be considered, preference will be given to those who have defended their dissertation proposals. Selection criteria will also include the research potential of the dissertation topic and contribution to the disciplinary and geographical diversity of participants. In order to make the consortium an effective exchange forum, we will be restricting the number of participants to 40 and will emphasize quality and diversity in the selection.

How is This Event Structured?

The consortium will be held in person and will feature the following activities:

  • 8 am – 11 am: Panel Discussions and Q&A with senior faculty & small-group breakout sessions
  • 11:15 am – 12 pm: Ethics and AI Workshops
  • 12 pm – 1 pm: Lunch
  • 1 pm – 4 pm: Reviewing Workshop

Who Will be in the Doctoral Consortium’s Faculty Panel?

The faculty panel of the 2025 Doctoral Consortium will feature a distinguished group of international business scholars from around the world. The faculty have extensive publication records, have served as editors or editorial board members of leading academic journals, have won numerous research awards, and have substantial experience in supervising doctoral students.

How Can I Apply to Participate?

To apply, please complete the following form by January 31, 2025: Doctoral Consortium Application. All applications must include the following:

  1. Letter of nomination from faculty advisor: The letter should discuss the progress of the student in the program and their academic performance and potential. It should state clearly whether the applicant has defended (or is expected to defend by January 31, 2025) their dissertation proposal. If the student is enrolled in a doctoral program that does not have a formal proposal defense, the dissertation advisor’s statement of approval of the proposal will suffice.
  2. Student resume highlighting your academic and work experience.
  3. Abstract of dissertation proposal (5-page maximum): The first page should include the title, authors, abstract, keywords, and a dissertation summary. Diagrams, tables, and references should be provided at the end of the document but do not count towards the 5-page limit. The extended abstract should succinctly cover the research question, theoretical background, proposed research design, and intended contribution.

Please note that late submissions or submissions that do not follow the requirements will not be considered.

AIB Award for the Best Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

All participants in the Doctoral Student Consortium are eligible for the AIB Award for the Best Doctoral Dissertation Proposal. There is no separate application process for this award. All completed applications to the Consortium are automatically entered into the competition. The winner will receive a plaque and a monetary award. The selection is done by the faculty panel of the Doctoral Student Consortium and is based on the submitted dissertation proposal abstracts.

The criteria used in evaluating the abstracts include:

  • Originality and theoretical foundations of the work;
  • Rigor and soundness of the proposed methodology; and
  • Potential contribution and impact of the proposed work to advancing the field

Is There Financial Support Available for Attending the Consortium?

Due to the kind support of AIB members, a limited number of travel grants are available for students in need of financial assistance to attend the Consortium. If you would like to apply for one of these travel stipends after you have received notification of your acceptance to the 2025 Doctoral Consortium, please check the AIB 2025 Travel Stipends page for further instructions.