Frequently Asked Questions

What is the conference program?

The Duke Strategy PhD Conference 2026 will start on Sunday, May 17, 2026, with a social dinner at 6:00 p.m. in Durham, NC. The main conference will occur between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Fuqua School of Business. Breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks will be provided.

The program will include a keynote lecture and up to 10 paper presentations. To stimulate discussion, each presentation will be assigned a discussant among the presenters. Paper presenters should prepare a 20-minute presentation, followed by 5 minutes of discussion by the assigned discussant, and 5 minutes of Q&A with the audience. Discussants should read the assigned paper and prepare a few questions and constructive comments to share with the presenter and audience members.

The presentations and discussions will take place between PhD students. Faculty will not be present. A detailed conference schedule will be published before the event.

Who can apply?

We invite applications from PhD students in Strategy and related fields who have already passed their preliminary examination and/or have advanced to candidacy. We particularly encourage applications from students who are in the early stages of preparing their job market papers (or other solo-authored papers).

What is the cost of attending?

There are no submission or registration fees thanks to the generous support of the Duke Strategy Area and the Dean’s Office, Fuqua School of Business. We will cover the cost of one night of accommodation at the JB Duke Hotel on campus (or an alternate hotel near campus) for each presenter. Dinner on May 17 and breakfast and lunch on May 18 will be covered too. However, presenters will have to cover their other travel expenses.

How do I submit my application?

Apply online here. The application deadline is Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. We will communicate decisions by April 6.

My project needs polishing, can I still submit my work?

Yes! Working papers and early-stage projects are both welcome.

If my paper gets accepted, what will I have to produce, and by when?

Presenters are required to submit either a draft paper or draft presentation slides by Sunday, May 3, 2026. This will allow us to share the materials with the assigned discussant (selected from among the presenters) at least two weeks prior to the conference.

The final version of the presentation slides is due by Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Both the draft materials and the final presentation slides should be submitted to strategy-phd-conference@duke.edu.

Can I attend the conference without an accepted paper?

Yes, we welcome attendance from graduate students in Strategy and other related areas. To help us plan for the conference, RSVP no later than Thursday, April 30, 2026, by emailing strategy-phd-conference@duke.edu.

Can I participate if I study outside the U.S.?

Yes, we welcome students from everywhere. The conference organizers can provide a letter acknowledging the accepted paper and upcoming presentation. We are unable to assist further with visa or other travel requirements.

Can I participate remotely?

Face-to-face interaction among participants is essential for obtaining feedback, networking with peers, and improving presentation skills. Consequently, attendance is only possible in person.

I have additional questions, who can I contact?

For additional questions, please send an email to strategy-phd-conference@duke.edu.