FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has awarded the 2011 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Award to Michael V. Sciaroni, a doctoral candidate in the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Sciaroni is the 12th recipient of the center's Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Award. “This award, which includes a $5,000 grant, recognizes hard work and dedication,” said Jim Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center. “The purpose of the award is to encourage and reward individuals who are pursuing a doctoral degree in supply chain management.”

The Logistics and Supply Chain Management doctoral program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis began admitting students in August 2007 and currently has 14 full and part-time students. Sciaroni is the first Ph.D. student there to advance to candidacy. His dissertation, “The Impacts of Oil Prices on Supply Chain Network Design,” addresses which industry developments and parameters influence how supply chains respond to rising oil prices. 

Fifteen to 20 faculty reviewers from 12 universities evaluate the dissertation proposals. The evaluation includes looking at the work’s contribution to supply chain management, likelihood of completing the dissertation, theoretical basis for research and appropriateness of research design. Past recipients include doctoral candidates from the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tennessee, the Ohio State University and the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany.

Sciaroni receives the $5,000 grant in two equal installments. The first installment was provided when the award announcement was made in Philadelphia on Oct. 2 at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Conference. The second installment will be made when Scaironi’s completed dissertation is approved by his dissertation committee.

“Receiving this award represents the degree to which leading supply chain management academics felt Michael’s dissertation was going to contribute to supply chain management,” Crowell said.

The Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Walton College, established in 1996, is a direct link between the private sector and the University of Arkansas supply chain resources. It sponsors activities that promote both the academic and general body of knowledge encompassing supply chain management. The center also supports the college’s Department of Supply Chain Management established in July 2011.

Current members of the center's business board include ABF Freight System Inc., BNSF Logistics/BNSF Railway, Braiform, Campbell Soup Co., Caterpillar Logistics, CHAINalytics, CHEP, Chiquita/Fresh Express, Clorox Co., Coty Beauty LLC, Colgate-Palmolive, ConAgra Foods Inc., Dean Foods, FedEx Freight, GENCO, General Mills, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., JDA Software Group Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg Co., Kimberly-Clark, Kraft Foods, Nestlé, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Procter & Gamble, Sam's Club, SC Johnson & Son Inc., Transplace, Tyson Foods Inc., Unilever and Walmart Stores Inc.