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PhD Student Dissertation Hackathon

2026 UNCG PHD STUDENT DISSERTATION HACKATHON

 

Organizing Committee:

  • Vas Taras
  • Moses Acquaah
  • Aichia Chuang
  • Riikka Sarala
  • Vladislav Maksimov
  • Marketa Rickley

 

Dates & Locations

  • Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April 25, 2026
  • The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

 

What is the Dissertation Hackathon?

The DOM PhD Student Dissertation Hackathon, modeled after research hackathons,  is an intensive working retreat designed to help doctoral students make major progress on their dissertations in a short period of time.

Instead of slow, fragmented progress through occasional meetings, the Dissertation Hackathon brings PhD students and faculty together for two focused days of structured collaboration, feedback, and problem solving.

Participants work directly with professors and fellow doctoral students to develop, refine, or complete key elements of their dissertations.

Depending on their stage in the program, students may use the event to identify a dissertation topic, develop research questions and study design, solve methodological or analytical problems, or finalize a clear plan for finishing their dissertation.

The goal is simple: compress months of scattered progress into a highly productive two-day experience.

By the end of the Hackathon, PhD students will leave with clear research direction, concrete solutions to major challenges, and a detailed plan for completing the next stages of their dissertation.

The event also provides an opportunity to learn from peers, discover potential collaborators, and connect with faculty who may become advisors, committee members, or co-authors.

It also does not have to be limited to dissertation research. PhD students who are nearing completion of their program may use the Hackathon to develop new research projects aimed at journal publications.

 

Who Should Attend?

The Dissertation Hackathon is designed for PhD students at different stages of the dissertation process.

  • Students who need help starting their dissertation. Those who are still identifying a topic and need support developing research questions, hypotheses, and a study design.

  • Students who need help finishing their dissertation. Those who already have a topic but feel stuck with theory, data, analysis, or the final stages of completing the dissertation.

The Hackathon is also useful for advanced PhD students who want to launch additional research projects aimed at journal publications.

Track 1: “STARTERS”

Early-stage PhD students: Jump-start your dissertation (when you still have no clear idea what you will study).

  • Brainstorm possible research topics

  • Get help identifying the most promising ideas

  • Formulate research questions and hypotheses

  • Develop a study design

  • Explore possible sources of data

  • Identify suitable research methods

  • Match with potential academic supervisors

GO HOME WITH:

  • Your dissertation research topic

  • Research questions and hypotheses

  • A clear idea of your study design and methodology

  • Potential supervisor and committee members

  • A clear step-by-step plan for completing your dissertation

  • Awareness of what other PhD students are working on and possible future co-authors

Note: This track may also work for advanced-stage PhD students who want to launch new research studies for publication in addition to their dissertations.

 

Track 2: “FINISHERS”

 

Advanced-stage PhD students: Get unstuck (when you already have a topic but feel stuck).

  • Get suggestions for resolving specific issues you are struggling with

  • Refine your research questions, hypotheses, and theoretical model

  • Explore additional data sources (if needed)

  • Refine your data analysis methodology

  • Get help with any remaining issues (Results, Discussion, Limitations, etc.)

GO HOME WITH:

  • Solutions to the remaining issues in your dissertation
  • A clear step-by-step plan for finishing your dissertation
  • Awareness of what other PhD students are working on and potential future co-authors

 

What’s in It for Professors?

  • Identify PhD students you may want to work with as future co-authors

  • Help your PhD students make meaningful progress on their dissertations. In my experience, we often accomplish more in these intensive two days than in months of occasional meetings.

  • Contribute to the success of our doctoral program by helping students develop strong dissertations and finish on time.

 

PROGRAM/SCHEDULE

Friday, April 24

1:00–2:00    Bryan Luncheon

2:00–2:30    Meet and Greet Session

• Introductions: time in the program, area of study, research interests

2:30–3:30    “Starter” Session

• Early-stage “Starter” PhD students present their initial ideas for dissertation research.
NOTE: Advanced PhD students who already have their dissertations under control and want to launch new research studies for publication may also participate in this session as “Starters.”

• Professors and more advanced PhD students provide feedback on the potential of the proposed dissertation ideas and suggestions on how they could be developed into stronger dissertation topics.

• Professors and “Starters” keep an eye out for potential collaborations (supervisor–supervisee).

Homework for the “Starters”:
• Use the feedback to finalize your dissertation topic.
• Clarify research questions, hypotheses, and possible sources of data.

3:30–4:00    Break / Reserve Time

• Informal interactions, buffer time if the session runs over.

4:00–5:00    “Finisher”Session

• Advanced “Finisher” PhD students share where they feel stuck with their dissertation research (e.g., theory, data, analysis, etc.).
• Professors offer suggestions and guidance on how to resolve these issues.
• Early-stage “Starter” PhD students observe and learn how to avoid similar problems.

Homework for the “Finishers”:
• Use feedback and suggestions to develop a concrete plan for finishing your dissertation.

5:00 and evening: Individual/group work on research design/homework

Saturday, April 25

9:00–10:30 “Starter” Session

• “Starters” present their refined study ideas:

        • Topic

        • Research question(s) and hypotheses

        • Suitable theory or theories

        • Possible sources of data

        • Suitable data analysis methods

• Professors and advanced “Finisher” students provide feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Possible supervisor–supervisee or co-author teams may be finalized.

10:30–11:00 Break / Reserve Time

• Informal interactions, buffer time if the session runs over.

11:00–12:30 “Finisher” Session

• “Finishers” present their detailed plans for completing their dissertations, including:

      • Brief reminder of research questions, hypotheses, and model

      • Relevant theory or theories

      • Data sources

      • Data analysis methods

      • Solutions to remaining challenges

      • A step-by-step plan for completing the dissertation

• Professors provide feedback and suggestions for best results.
• Early-stage PhD students observe and learn.

12:30+ Lunch and informal discussion

Optional (Saturday & Sunday)

Saturday afternoon and possibly Sunday may remain open for students who wish to continue working on their dissertations, possibly together with their supervisors.

Lodging

Participants are responsible for arranging and booking their own lodging.

Students may choose any hotel or accommodation they prefer in Greensboro. The university does not provide a designated hotel for the event, but many options are available near campus.

Registration Fee

There is no participation fee for the Dissertation Hackathon.

The event is organized as a professional development activity for DOM PhD students. Participants simply need to cover their own travel and lodging expenses if applicable.

 

Funding Opportunities

The Dissertation Hackathon qualifies as an academic conference, which may make participation eligible for university travel or research grants at your university.

Additional funding may be available from the Department of Management / Bryan / UNCG for qualified out-of-state participants and in the form of research support for studies developed during the Hackathon.

 

 

Application deadline: March 31, 2026

 

 

icon-question-circle QUESTIONS: Vas Taras, v_taras@uncg.edu