Doctoral Symposium

Chair: Fred Grossman, Pace University, School of Computer Science & Information Systems, doc_symp@oopsla.org

Electronic submission of proposals is required through the OOPSLA submission system. Other submissions will not be accepted.

The goal of the OOPSLA 2005 Doctoral Symposium is to provide usefulguidance for the completion of the dissertation research and initiationof a research career. The Symposium will provide an interactive forumfor doctoral students in one of two phases in their doctoral progress.

Apprentices: Students who are just beginning theirresearch, are not ready to actually make a research proposal, but areinterested in learning about structuring research and getting someresearch ideas.
Proposers: Students who have progressed far enough intheir research to have an Idea Paper and a structured proposal,but will not be defending their dissertation in the next 12 months.This 12-month stipulation is set in place because we would like for thestudents to have sufficient time to incorporate the advice andsuggestions discussed in the symposium.

The symposium consists of a dinner on Sunday night (October 16)followed by a full-day workshop on Monday (October 17).

The Apprentices will be observers during the symposium, canattend the symposium dinner, and will participate in critiquing andproviding feedback to the proposers. Selected apprentices will beawarded a student volunteer position of their choice. To apply to be anapprentice, you must have your advisor send a letter of recommendationto Fred Grossman (doc_symp@oopsla.org)by July 1, 2005. FourApprentices will be selected.

Doctoral students who are at least one year away from dissertationcompletion and have an approved committee and topic are invited toapply as a Proposer. These students should be advanced enoughto have a specific research proposal and some preliminary results withenough time remaining to benefit from the symposium experience.

To apply, please submit a two-three page description of yourdissertation research, mirroring the topics of the presentation definedbelow. Electronic submission of applications is required through theOOPSLA submission system. Additionally, your advisor must send a briefstatement of your dissertation progress to date and a statementof recommendation to Fred Grossman: doc_symp@oopsla.orgby July 1, 2005. Eight Proposers will be selected. Proposers are expected toattend the symposium dinner and to participate in the workshop for theentire day.

In the workshop, Proposer presentations will consists of the following:

a two-minute overview stating the most critical issues of theresearch (the "elevator talk")
a separate, strictly-timed 20-minute description of theirresearch, which must be structured as follows:
- Description of Purpose
  - What exact problem, issue, or question does thisresearch address?
  - What limitations or failings of current understanding,knowledge, methods, or technologies does this research resolve?
  - What is the significance is the problem, issue, orquestion?
- Goal Statement
  - What new understanding, knowledge, methods, ortechnologies will this research generate?
  - How does this address the purpose of the work?
- Approach
  - What experiments, prototypes, or studies will be done toachieve the stated goal?
  - How will achievement of the goal be demonstrated, theresults validated, and the contribution of the work measured?

Each symposium Proposer will have a two-page short paper published inthe Conference Companion proceedings. Proposers are strongly advised tohave aposter at the OOPSLA Poster session and to participate in theACM Student Research Competition. These vehicles provide the studentwith an opportunity for additional feedback and suggestions on theirdissertation work, contacts for further interaction, and experience incommunicating with other professionals.

Student participants will receive conference registration and up to$1000 in travel-related expenses.

Applications must be submitted no later than July 1, 2005, butearlier is strongly recommended.
Notification of acceptance or rejection: August 1, 2005.

For additional information, clarification, or questions, please contactthe Doctoral Symposium Chairman, Fred Grossman, doc_symp@oopsla.org.

Program Committee

Fred Grossman, Pace University
Craig Chambers, University of Washington
Jim Coplien, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University of Manchester
Tim Finin, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Ron Frank, Pace University
Robert Kessler, University of Utah
Ole Madsen, Alexandra Instituttet A/S, Aarhus University