The 26th annual Robert Mittelstaedt Doctoral Symposium attracted graduate students and faculty from 23 universities to Lincoln, Nebraska, March 30-April 1. The symposium, hosted by the Department of Marketing at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration, allows Ph.D. students the opportunity to present their research to peers and mentors in a setting which encourages positive critiques to help students improve research methods and findings.

Dr. Meike Eilert, assistant professor of marketing, served as co-conference coordinator along with Dr. Jamie Hyodo, assistant professor of marketing. Eilert credited the supportive atmosphere of the conference as key to drawing in students from across the country.

“The Mittelstaedt Symposium gives students experience presenting research in an environment without as much pressure as an academic conference,” said Eilert. “In some cases it might be the first time they’ve presented research. It also lets them hear a wide range of marketing subjects they might not be exposed to in their home institutions.”

Eilert believes the diversity of research at the Mittelstaedt Symposium is a key component to sustaining its impact for 26 years. She explained the symposium provides connections students would otherwise not get.

“It’s often easier for students to talk to one another, ask for feedback and discuss ideas than it is talking to a professor. You can see where you stand compared to fellow students, and learn from others how their research progressed and evolved. That motivates students in their own research,” said Eilert.

Matt Hall, a second year marketing Ph.D. student at CBA from Sabetha, Kansas, presented his research, “Is My Failure Your Problem? Examining Carryover Effects of Prior Consumer Failure on Customer Satisfaction.”Hall began his research after being confronted with problems that occurred from personal difficulties accomplishing home improvement projects. The research examines how Do-It-Yourself (DIY) consumer failures, prior to getting professional help, influence perceptions about subsequent firm actions completing the failed task.

“I see phenomenon in the world and then try to explain it with theory, which is how this research project developed,” said Hall. “I’ll definitely take it forward from the feedback I received at the symposium. The goal is always to get research published, and hopefully I can add some things to it and submit it to a journal over the summer. It could be used as a springboard to a future project.”

CBA Interim Dean Kathy Farrell welcomed participants to the conference. She endorsed the student collaboration through their research presentations and discussion sessions led by students.

“The Mittelstaedt Symposium is a great opportunity for everyone to create larger networks for graduate students, as well as many faculty attending from throughout the country,” said Farrell. “This symposium shows our commitment to graduate education, and we’re very proud of our alums, including many of them attending the symposium this year.”  

To learn more about the Robert Mittelstaedt Symposium, visit: http://cba.unl.edu/academic-programs/departments/marketing/about/robert-mittelstaedt-doctoral-symposium/ 

Universities attending the Mittelstaedt Symposium in 2017 included:
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
Creighton University
Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Indiana University
Indiana State University
University of Iowa
Iowa State University
University of Kansas
University of Maryland
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Missouri-Columbia
Missouri State University
SUNY at New Paltz
The Ohio State University
Oklahoma State University
University of Oregon
University of St. Thomas
Texas A&M University
Washington State University
West Virginia University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wyoming Published: April 11, 2017