Doctoral Colloquium 2021: Virtual Meeting

The BHC Doctoral Colloquium in Business History will be held once again on June 10th and 11th, 2021.  Because of the pandemic, this prestigious workshop for PhD students will be held remotely via Zoom; we may also schedule a few professional development sessions at earlier times.

Typically limited to ten students, the colloquium is open to doctoral candidates who are pursuing dissertation research within the broad field of business history, from any relevant discipline (e.g., from economic sociology, political science, cultural anthropology, or management, as well as history).  Most participants are in year 3 or 4 or their degree program, though in some instances applicants at a later stage make a compelling case that their thesis research had evolved in ways that led them to see the advantages of an intensive engagement with business history.

We welcome proposals from students working within any thematic area of business history.  Topics (see link for past examples) may range from the early modern era to the present, and explore societies across the globe.  Participants work intensively with a distinguished group of BHC-affiliated scholars (including the incoming BHC president), discussing dissertation proposals, relevant literatures and research strategies, and career trajectories. 

Applications are due by 15 January 2021 via email to amy.feistel@duke.edu and should include: a statement of interest; CV; preliminary or final dissertation prospectus (10-15 pages); and a letter of support from your dissertation supervisor (or prospective supervisor), sent separately. Typically, all participants receive a stipend that partially defrays travel costs to the annual meeting.  Since the 2021 annual meeting will also be remote this year, participants in the 2021 colloquium will receive a similar stipend if they register for and attend the 2022 annual meeting.

Applicants will receive notification of the selection committee’s decisions by the end of February, 2021. Colloquium participants have a choice of pre-circulating one of the following:

·       a 15-page dissertation prospectus or updated overview of the dissertation research plan; or

·       a draft dissertation chapter, along with a one-page dissertation outline/description. 

Participants should choose the option that they feel will most assist them at this stage in their research and writing.  We will need either your prospectus/overview or your chapter draft and outline by May 25^th.  Those will then be posted on a Colloquium webpage on the BHC website and shared with all participants to read them in advance.

The director of the Colloquium is Edward Balleisen, Professor of History and Public Policy, Duke University.  Interested students may direct inquiries to him at eballeis@duke.edu.