1. Overview

The Ph.D. Colloquium at the 2007 WSC solicits applications for the I-Sim/ACM-SIGSIM Best Student Paper awards.  There will be two winners:  best computer science-focused paper, and best OR/MS-focused paper.  Each award will be for $200.  In order to be qualified for the awards, they must participate in the Ph.D. colloquium (if chosen as finalists) and present their work.  Because of the limited number of sole-author student papers, co-authorship is allowed, but the student must be the primary co-author (first author). Colloquium presentations will allow judges to ensure that the students are the primary co-authors.  In addition, the students academic advisors are to send a mail to the Ph.D. Colloquium Chair proving that the student is the primary co-author to be considered for the best paper awards.  For those who are interested, send the application package including the following information via e-mail to 2007 WSC Ph.D. Colloquium co-Chair Victor Chan at chanw@rpi.edu by September 17, 2007:
1) Your name and contact information (e-mail, telephone), department and university
2) Paper information (Paper ID, Title, List of Authors)
3) Advisor's letter (scanned copy or letter with electronic signature) proving that you are the primary co-author of the paper.

2. Eligibility of Candidates and Judging Criteria

Candidate papers will come from those submitted and accepted through the regular submission process.  In order to be qualified for the best student paper awards, they must participate in the Ph.D. colloquium (if chosen as finalists) and present their work.  The candidates will be judged on the quality of the papers, as well as the Colloquium presentations.  Because of the limited number of sole-author student papers, co-authorship is allowed, but the student must be the primary co-author (first author).  Colloquium presentations will allow judges to ensure that the students are the primary co-authors.  In addition, the students’ academic advisors are to send a letter to the Ph.D. Colloquium Chair proving that the student is the primary co-author to be considered for the best paper awards.  Part of the Colloquium presentation "points" will be based on adhering to the presentation time limit, which will be clarified to the all the candidates.

Only those who will be students as of the WSC conference dates are qualified for the best student papers.  For example, those who will graduate in December 2007 will be still qualified for the WSC 2006, but not for those who will graduate in May 2007.

3. Judging

The judges of the awards will be the I-Sim and ACM-SIGSIM Ph.D. Colloquium committees, and possibly others as determined by these committees.  The judges will evaluate the candidate papers and identify a set of finalists.  The finalists will be notified by September 26 and be requested to participate in the Ph.D. Colloquium.  Those not qualifying as finalists will also be notified, and reminded that they are still invited to participate in the Ph.D. Colloquium.  The judges will attend the Ph.D. Colloquium and rank the finalists based on their papers and presentations.  They will jointly determine the two winners shortly after the conclusion of the Ph.D. Colloquium, and make appropriate notifications, including to the WSC General and/or Program Chairs.

4. Award Announcement
The announcement of the winners of the awards will be made at the WSC plenary session on Monday.

Other Notes
• Students may well elect to not participate in the competition if they do not want.
• It is possible for flagged papers to not participate in the competition (if not selected as finalists).
• It is also possible for students to participate in the Colloquium, but not the competition.

5. Sunday PhD Colloquium Luncheon

A complimentary Sunday Colloquium luncheon will be provided to the all the Ph.D. Colloquium participants with the support of SIGSIM.  This would provide a networking opportunity.  Also, the Colloquium keynote will be presented during the luncheon, which will free up a little more time for the students during the Colloquium.

6. Questions

If you have any questions, please contact WSC 2007 Ph.D. Colloquium co-Chair Victor Chan at chanw@rpi.edu, Simon Taylor at Simon.Taylor@brunel.ac.uk, or Young-Jun Son at son@sie.arizona.edu.