Overview
Join the Institute for Humane Studies for a two-day Job Market Papers Workshop held in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 1–2, 2026, before the American Political Science Association (APSA) annual conference. This workshop offers advanced PhD students preparing to enter the job market the opportunity to present their job market paper or a strong prospective draft to faculty discussants and fellow participants, and to receive focused, substantive feedback at a critical stage of their careers.
In addition to paper sessions, each participant will take part in a mock job market interview with one of our faculty discussants, providing targeted, one-on-one feedback on interview performance. Participants will leave better prepared to present their research and themselves on the academic job market.
IHS will provide all participants with a $200 honorarium, a travel stipend to offset the cost of airfare and lodging, and all meals during the workshop. Participants who have already booked flights to attend APSA are welcome—IHS will cover reasonable costs associated with changing flights to accommodate the workshop.
Schedule
Tuesday, September 1
11:00 AM | Participant Arrival
Early Afternoon | Paper Sessions Begin
Evening | Networking Dinner
Wednesday, September 2
Morning | Breakfast and Paper Sessions Resume
Throughout | Mock Job Market Interview Sessions
Early Afternoon | Workshop Concludes
Session Format
Each paper session is one hour: 30 minutes for the presentation followed by 30 minutes for discussion and feedback. Each participant will also have a one-on-one mock job market interview session with a faculty discussant.
Please Note
- IHS does not cover the APSA conference registration fee or hotel accommodations during the conference itself (with the exception of participants who may receive separate IHS funding to attend APSA).
- If you would like to apply for separate funding to attend APSA, you are welcome to do so through the Humane Studies Fellowship (TheIHS.org/HSF).