May 23, 2022

Toronto, Canada

The Interpersonal Communication Division of the International Communication Association invites early career scholars to a Research Escalator taking place in the Annual International Communication Association Conference in Toronto (May 2023). The Research Escalator is a great mentorship opportunity for doctoral students and post-docs. You will receive feedback on the paper you submit from senior Interpersonal Communication faculty, who will provide their feedback on a project in development. This feedback can help develop and shape its direction toward a full conference paper or publication. In this way, the Interpersonal Communication Division wants to enhance participation in ICA and warmly encourages early career researchers to submit to the Research Escalator session. This is a low-threshold opportunity for young scholars to attend the ICA conference.

The process has two stages: First, submit your 500-word proposal by email to both Early Career Representative, Dr. Elizabeth Hintz (elizabeth.hintz@uconn.edu) and International Liaison, Dr. Leena Mikkola (leena.mikkola@tuni.fi) by 1 November at 12:00 ICA headquarter time (EDT). Please mention your name, affiliation, and your career stage. Your proposal can focus on one of three options:

• an article manuscript you are currently working on
  
• an extended abstract of your doctoral dissertation
  
• a detailed research plan/dissertation proposal.
  

In the proposal, present the purpose of the paper, main theoretical framework and/or assumptions, and, if applicable, research methods and (preliminary) results.

The submitted proposals will be reviewed by one of the following mentors – to be matched to junior scholars by expertise:

Kathryn Greene – Rutgers University, US 

Jeffrey Hall – University of Kansas, US

Amanda Holmstrom – Michigan State University, US

Pekka Isotalus – Tampere University, Finland

Steven Wilson – University of South Florida, US

Stephen Yoshimura – University of Montana, US

If the proposal is selected for mentorship, the journal scholar submits the most recent version of their paper by 5 April 2023 to the assigned mentor so that they have sufficient time to review the manuscript.

The Research Escalator meeting is a round-table discussion, in which participants and mentors will discuss the papers submitted by the participants, as well as methodological and theoretical issues in communication research. You will also get written personal feedback from your mentor. Your participation will include submitting a paper, giving a short, 2-3 minutes presentation of your work (no slides), and actively engaging in the workshop discussions. You will receive detailed instructions once accepted.

For further information, please contact Elizabeth Hintz (elizabeth.hintz@uconn.edu) or Leena Mikkola (leena.mikkola@tuni.fi).