INFORMS Combined Colloquia
The 2026 Doctoral Student and New Faculty Colloquia
The 2026 Doctoral Student Colloquium is a one-day program for advanced doctoral students preparing for careers in academia or industry. Experts from operations research, analytics, and data science will share perspectives from both sectors.
Whether you’re exploring academia or industry—or have already chosen—this colloquium offers expert guidance as you launch your career. Sessions compare pathways and provide practical advice on the academic market, the industry search, and work-life balance. You’ll also build a network of peers and mentors. The program targets doctoral students 2–3 years from graduation (dissertation stage preferred), though final-year students are encouraged to apply.
The 2026 New Faculty Colloquium is a pre-conference program for early-career faculty focused on thriving in the first years of an appointment. Connect with established scholars and emerging leaders for actionable guidance on navigating the tenure process. For faculty in their first three years, sessions focus on the core pillars of success—research agenda, external funding, teaching excellence, and effective advising—while balancing research, teaching, and service. You’ll also build meaningful connections across the INFORMS community. Leave with practical tools and confidence to establish a sustainable foundation for your academic career.
When:
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8AM-5PM
Where:
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
Who:
Doctoral Student and New(ish) Faculty
What:
A day of professional skill and career development
Why:
Learn from the successes (and misses), that our members have made in their careers to help get yours moving in the right direction.
Cost
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.
Doctoral Student Colloquium
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 and how to prepare for industry job interviews.
Through a mix of presentations and panel 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. You’ll also gain insights on what you should be doing now to prepare for success in whatever career path you choose.
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, while helping you develop your professional network.
2026 Doctoral Student Colloquium Co-Chairs
Academic Co-Chair
Jennifer K. Ryan, PhD
Department Chair
Decision and Technology Analytics
Lehigh University
Industry Co‑Chair
Yigit Arisoy, PhD
Sr. Applied Scientist
Amazon
New Faculty Colloquium
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 2026 INFORMS Annual Meeting.
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.
2026 New Faculty Colloquium Co-Chairs
Academic Co‑Chair
Matthew J. Drake, PhD
Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management
Palumbo-Donahue School of Business
Duquesne University
Academic Co-Chair
Maria E. Mayorga, PhD
Director and Goodnight Distinguished Chair in Operations Research
Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
North Carolina State University
Coordinating all the efforts is our 2026 Combined Colloquia Chair:
Ebru Bish, PhD
Reese Phifer Fellow and Professor of Operations Management
Department of Information Systems, Statistics, and Management Science
Culverhouse College of Business
The University of Alabama
