October 25, 2025
OMNI Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
Atlanta, GA
Are you an advanced doctoral student or early-career faculty member ready to take the next step in your academic journey? Join us in Atlanta for the 2025 INFORMS Combined Colloquia—an immersive, one-day experience designed to support your transition into the academic profession and help you thrive in your first years as a faculty member.
This unique pre-conference event brings together peers, mentors, and thought leaders from across the operations research, analytics, and data science communities to focus on what matters most at this pivotal stage of your career:
- Preparing for the academic job market
- Building a strong research agenda
- Navigating the early years of a faculty role
- Making meaningful professional connections
- Learn from established scholars and rising academic leaders
- Gain clarity and confidence about your next steps
- Build a supportive network of peers and mentors
- Position yourself for long-term academic success
Whether you’re nearing the completion of your PhD or looking to sharpen your path as a junior faculty member, the Combined Colloquia offers expert insight, practical guidance, and a powerful network of support.
Combined Colloquia Activities
Participants will have opportunities to interact with each other and with the colloquia participants and speakers during meals, breaks and of course, the Networking Reception after the event.
Combined Colloquia Committee Chair
Mihai Banciu
Freeman College of Management
Bucknell University
Email: mmb018@bucknell.edu
Doctoral Student Colloquium (DSC)
The Doctoral Student Colloquium is designed for PhD candidates nearing a key crossroads: deciding whether to pursue a career in academia—on either a research or teaching track—or to explore professional opportunities in industry, government, or the nonprofit sector.
This one-day program offers practical, candid insight into the diverse career pathways available to doctoral graduates. Sessions will explore the academic job market from multiple angles, including what it takes to succeed in a research-intensive role and the unique opportunities and expectations associated with teaching-focused faculty positions. You’ll also gain valuable perspective on careers outside of academia, including how to position your expertise for success in industry or applied research roles.
Through a mix of presentations and discussions led by experienced professionals across sectors, you’ll reflect on how your skills, interests, and aspirations align with the wide range of options ahead.
Whether you’re committed to academia, curious about teaching-focused roles, or considering a transition into industry, the Doctoral Student Colloquium will provide the clarity, knowledge, and perspective you need to take your next step with confidence.
Doctoral Student Colloquia Co-Chairs
Ebru Bish
Information Systems, Statistics, and Management Science
The University of Alabama
Email: ekbish@ua.edu
Ruhollah Heydari
Manager – Operations Decision Science, Delta Airlines
Email: Ruhollah.Heydari@delta.com
Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Student Colloquium
These grants will be awarded in September. If you receive a grant, INFORMS will refund you the Annual Meeting and Colloquia fees you paid.
Application Deadline is September 12, 2025.
- Women in OR/MS (WORMS) will award one student member a $500 grant to attend the 2025 Doctoral Student Colloquium and the INFORMS Annual Meeting. The award also includes a year membership to WORMS. To be considered, please include the following additional items in the nomination package and indicate whether the student is interested in applying for the Women in OR/MS (WORMS) Doctoral Student Colloquium Award (open to both male and female students): A brief paragraph from the nominee describing their interest in supporting women in OR/MS (50-150 words); A letter of recommendation from the department chair or supervisor.
- Minority Issues Forum (MIF) will sponsor one student member to attend the 2025 Doctoral Student Colloquium at the INFORMS Annual Meeting. The award includes registration to the INFORMS Annual Meeting, registration to the Doctoral Student Colloquium, and a year membership to MIF. To be considered, please include the following additional items in the nomination package and indicate whether the student is interested in the MIF award: A brief paragraph from the nominee describing their interest and past efforts in supporting minorities in OR/MS (50-150 words); A letter of recommendation from the department chair or supervisor. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and a minority.
- The Seth Bonder Foundation will sponsor two students to attend the 2025 Doctoral Student Colloquium at the INFORMS Annual Meeting. The award includes registration to the INFORMS Annual Meeting and registration to the Doctoral Student Colloquium. Priority will be given to students from programs that traditionally may not have nominated participants for the INFORMS Doctoral Student Colloquium. Students from smaller programs or HBCUs are encouraged to apply.
New Faculty Colloquium (NFC)
The New Faculty Colloquium is designed for early-career faculty in the fields of operations research, analytics, and data science—whether you’re in a tenure-track research role or a teaching-focused position.
This one-day program provides practical strategies to help you navigate the transition from doctoral student to full-time faculty member. Sessions address essential topics such as balancing teaching and research, setting a sustainable pace, understanding institutional expectations, and establishing a professional presence within your department and the broader academic community.
You’ll gain insight from faculty who have successfully made this transition and are eager to share the lessons they’ve learned—from time management and course design to publishing, collaboration, and long-term career planning. Importantly, this program recognizes that there is no single path to success—and aims to support new faculty across a range of institution types and roles.
Whether you’re building a research portfolio or focusing on teaching excellence, the New Faculty Colloquium offers the tools, insights, and connections to help you succeed in your first years on the job and beyond.
To be eligible for the NFC, an individual must:
- be a member of INFORMS or have applied for membership at the time of the application;
- be employed as a faculty member and be pre-tenure;
- attend the 2025 INFORMS Annual Meeting.
New Faculty Colloquia Co-Chairs
Austin Buchanan
Industrial Engineering & Management
Oklahoma State University
Email: buchanan@okstate.edu
Matt Drake
Palumbo-Donahue School of Business
Duquesne University
Email: drake987@duq.edu
Prior to the colloquia, you may be asked to prepare the following:
- a copy of the participant’s curriculum vitae,
- a statement by the participant outlining expectations from the colloquium.
