The Daugherty Logistics Doctoral Symposium (DLDS) is an academic gathering aimed at doctoral students in the field of logistics and supply chain management. It was founded by Patricia (Pat) J. Daugherty at the University of Oklahoma in 2005. The DLDS serves as a platform for doctoral students to engage with established academics and industry professionals. It focuses on research, career development, networking, and sharing knowledge in the logistics and supply chain fields. The concept began as an informal meeting to foster research and professional development among young logistics scholars. It includes panel discussions, paper development workshops, tours, and presentations, in addition to several networking opportunities.
Past hosts include Auburn University, Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Texas Christian University, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, University of North Texas, University of Oklahoma, and University of Tennessee. These schools underwrite the event activities to keep costs low. Faculty and students only need to pay for travel and lodging (i.e., there is no cost to register).
The annual DLDS includes:
Our event at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business will span two and a half days (i.e., February 20-22, 2025), including informal meet-and-greet sessions, sessions with experts, and opportunities to engage with the field’s top editors, a company and lab tour, and concludes with future directions in logistics research. This time there will also be a new ‘early career researcher’ session for advanced doctoral students and young assistant professors (typically < 4 years into their career) on Thursday before the welcome reception.
Any faculty members may attend and we encourage them to bring as many Ph.D. students as they are able. The more students, the better for the future of the field in terms of enhancing the quality of research, preparing the next generation of academics, and building a community of scholars in logistics and SCM.
There is no registration fee, but we require a headcount for planning purposes. Please register as soon as possible.
Atlanta (GA), and Montgomery (AL) are the two most convenient airports to Auburn. The Atlanta airport is about 90 miles away and has direct connectivity to most US and global cities. Montgomery is a regional airport that will typically connect to other cities through hubs in Dallas and Washington DC. Guests can rent a car at either one of these airports to drive to Auburn. The drive from Atlanta is about 90 minutes, while that from Montgomery is about 60 minutes (Guests are informed that there is a time zone change between Atlanta and Auburn). Shuttle services are also available from Atlanta to Auburn through Groome Transportation.
Pat Daugherty is one of the most eminent academicians in the field of logistics and supply chain management, known for her expertise in logistics, supply chains, integration, and cooperation. Throughout her academic career, she has held several prestigious positions including the Siegfried Chair in Marketing at the University of Oklahoma, the Bowersox–Thull Chair in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, and the Debbie and Jerry Ivy Chair in Business at Iowa State University. She has published extensively in research journals and was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Business Logistics from 2001 to 2005. Her work has contributed to understanding integrated logistics, supply chain collaboration, and logistical service performance. She retired in 2022, but her contributions to the field of logistics and supply chain management continue to be recognized and resulted in her being named to the alumni hall of fame by the Western Michigan University Haworth College of Business. Starting from 2024, this annual event will be called the Daugherty Logistics Doctoral Symposium to honor her tireless contributions to our discipline.