The SIM Communications Committee is excited to share a message from our Doctoral Student Committee Chair, @Bart Pierre H Leyen, with updates on current events.
Greetings! This year, I had the pleasure of serving as SIM's Doctoral Student Representative-at-Large.
We created a #SIM PhD Student Committee to ensure continuity and shared ownership. Together with Ahrabie Kirubasuthan, Ahaana Mahanti, Jens Marga and Liva Bertule, we established a small team to support ongoing initiatives and broaden doctoral student representation within the Division.
Our aim is to strengthen the community of SIM doctoral students by moving our engagement beyond the Annual Meeting and building a year-round community grounded in connection and shared support.
We launched the SIM PhD Student WhatsApp Group, which has grown to over 100 members from across the world. In this space you will find peer feedback, job market discussions, informal support, and connections.
Doctoral students interested in joining can connect via: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JkblVR9Do6YKzlLz54hIx14
In the coming months, we are planning:
A "Best (Student) Paper Award" Session (April), in collaboration with the Research Committee. This event will spotlight excellent research and provide insight into positioning work within SIM.
A Buddy System for the next AOM conference, pairing first-time attendees with peers to navigate the conference and feel part of the SIM community.
In 2025 we organized
SIM Walking Tour during AOM 2025 in Copenhagen to create informal space for conversations and belonging within SIM while enjoying the city highlights.
SIM-AOM Open House, introducing doctoral students to SIM's structures, PDWs, awards, and opportunities for engagement.
A SIM Holiday Community Meeting, strengthening ties and maintaining connections beyond AOM.
Together, these initiatives move SIM's doctoral engagement toward a year-round community.
I am deeply thankful for the trust, time, and energy our PhD members bring to this community. Together, we are building a community that strengthens SIM now and, in the years, ahead.
Our aim is simple: give doctoral scholars a stronger voice, clearer visibility, and real peer support within SIM.
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Nabi Ebrahimi
Doctoral Student
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
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