Society for Engineering & Management Systems (SEMS) Best Student Paper Competition

The SEMS Student Paper Competition recognizes the academic work of students that demonstrates or describes the use of techniques that improve productivity and quality through effective and economical managerial techniques and philosophies. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit papers.

Student winners must present their papers in the Best Paper Engineering Management Track at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 20-23, 2023. Lead authors of first, second and third winning papers will receive a certificate.

We believe that participating in the SEMS Student Paper Competition is a wonderful way to kick off the professional or academic careers of students!

Eligibility Criteria

  • The applicant must be a full-time student at the time of submission. All authors should be students.
  • The paper must present original research results.
  • The research must have been conducted while the applicant was a student.
  • The paper must not have won or been considered for an award in another competition.
  • At least one author must be an IISE member and present the paper at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo May 20-23 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Winning papers will appear on the SEMS website.
  • The main author will be asked to sign an ethics statement stating that all authors are full-time students and that the research and writing is their own work.
  • Advising by a non-student is allowed, such as an academic or industry advisor. However, only students can be authors or co-authors and there cannot be a major contribution from advisors.

Abstract submission: Nov. 15
Notification of decision on abstract: Dec. 14
Six-page paper submission (optional): Jan. 24, 2023
Notification of decision on six-page paper: Feb. 28, 2023
Final revised submission of six-page paper: March 30, 2023

Submission Form and Ethics Statement 

Please submit the paper in the IISE submission site and send a separate email with your ethics statement to the committee chair Henry Lester. Papers will be blind-reviewed. To this end, do not include any author information in the draft paper submission. Papers must follow the guidelines of the IISE Conference & Expo.

The winning papers will be published in the proceedings. Up to three awards may be given upon recommendation of the SEMS selection committee. As this is a student competition, papers co-authored by professors are excluded from the competition, but your professor's assistance is welcome.

The first-place winner only will be officially announced before the Tuesday morning keynote address and be included in the IISE Honors & Awards Program.

For more information, contact Brian Charles.

Past Winners

SEMS website

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