The purpose of the MIF Student Poster Competition is to highlight and promote the research of underrepresented students and their advisors. While the MIF poster session has been in place since 2004, the poster competition began in 2012. Since then, MIF has sponsored the travel of underrepresented minority graduate students who participate in the poster session and need financial support.
In 2016, MIF launched the MIF Early Career Award. The purpose of the MIF Early Career Award is to recognize outstanding contributions to the theory or practice of OR/MS and service made by active members of MIF. The award recognizes exceptional researchers who have shown promise at the beginning of their academic or industrial career.
The purpose of the paper competition is to promote and bring visibility to recent contributions of MIF members in the field of operations research, management science, or information systems. The paper competition has been in place since 2016. Submissions must have been accepted or published within the past 2 years of the of the award year and are judged on the basis of the originality of the research, technical rigor, relevance and impact to future theory or applications.
The first place winner receives a monetary award. The first place winner and finalists present their work in a dedicated session at the annual conference.
An award of the Minority Issues Forum
The competition is open to students MIF members enrolled in a PhD program.