PDW Call for Applications!
Navigating Qualitative Dissertations: Advice from the Experts
Organizers: Valerio Iannucci, Boston University; Sara Estevez Cortes, University College London; Eunice Kim, Boston University, and Nathan Tong, ESSCA School of Management
"Navigating Qualitative Dissertations: Advice from the Experts" is a PDW designed to support doctoral candidates conducting dissertations that incorporate qualitative methods (i.e., mixed-method or purely qualitative) by providing focused, personalized feedback from experienced qualitative researchers. The PDW has two components:
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An open in-person session, which DOES NOT require an application, and will consist of a panel discussion addressing topics of interest to burgeoning qualitative scholars. The panel is followed by roundtable discussions, giving attendees the opportunity to converse with faculty facilitators and other Ph.D. students in a smaller setting.
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A focused 1-1 feedback session with a faculty mentor, which DOES require an application. This meeting can take place in the same location or virtually, at the convenience of the faculty mentor and student. Accepted applicants must register for the conference.
This year, we are proud to have the following distinguished scholars involved as faculty mentors (in alphabetical order): Amy Wrzesniewski, Ashley Hardin, Betty Frino, Callen Anthony, Carrie Oelberger, Chad Murphy, Christi Lockwood, Curtis Chan, Daisy Chung, Daphne Demetry, Devin Rapp, Douglas Hannah, Elana Feldman, Elizabeth (Bess) Rouse, Emily Heaphy, Esther Leibel, Felipe Massa, Gerardo Okhuysen, Glen Kreiner, Jaco Lok, Jean Bartunek, Jen Rhymer, Jennifer (Jen) Howard-Grenville, Joel Bothello, John Paul "JP" Stephens, Julie Yen, Kira Schabram, Kristie Rogers, Lee Watkiss, Leroy Gonsalves, Lidiia Pletneva, Liza Barnes, Mark Zbaracki, Marya Beshrov, Mathew Sheep, Matt Beane, Melissa Valentine, Michael Pratt, Nishani Bourmault, Rodrigo Canales, Rohin Borpujari, Sarah Kaplan, Scott Sonenshein, Shelley Brickson, Tiffany Johnson, and Vanessa Conzon.
To apply to the 1-1 sessions with a faculty mentor:
Applicant eligibility: Doctoral candidates who are using qualitative methods in their dissertation projects and are at any stage of the dissertation process (e.g., study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript development). Previous participants are welcome to apply, although preference will be given to first-time attendees. Please, no junior faculty applications.
Applications should be prepared as a single PDF or Word (.doc or .docx) file, saved as "Last Name, First Name_NQD2026" (e.g., Brown, Sarah_NQD2026). Your file should include all of the following information:
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Your first and last name, the name of your school, and your email address
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A 200-word (max) abstract of your dissertation along with 4-5 keywords that capture your topic to help best match participants with faculty mentors
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A 1,000-word (max) in-depth description of your dissertation project addressing:
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Your research question(s) and theoretical framing
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A description of your method(s) (e.g., grounded theory, ethnography, etc.) and rationale for use
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The stage of your dissertation you anticipate being in at the time of the conference in early August
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What feedback do you most hope to gain on your 1-1 session and why
Please submit your application through this link: https://forms.gle/tjo7GR1bnGPhPsqn7
The online application form will also ask you to identify questions you would like to discuss in the panel and/or roundtable discussions. The online application form will also ask you to propose questions for discussion during the panel and/or roundtable sessions. These may relate to the dissertation process, research methods, and the challenge of developing a research identity amid growing uncertainty in both the settings we study and the broader societal environment.
Submission deadline: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (New York time) on Monday, 1 June 2026. Acceptance notices will be sent in early July.
If you have any questions, please email us at aomnqd@gmail.com. Once submitted, we will do our best to accept applications by matching student participants to our faculty mentors based on methodological expertise and/or common theoretical interests. Incomplete applications may not be processed.
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Sara Estevez Cores
UCL - University of London
LONDON
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