Succeed as a Student and Secure a Career in Academia

Overview

The Institute for Humane Studies, in partnership with Arnold Ventures, is offering a unique, multipart workshop series for graduate students focused on criminal justice reform. This program offers participants the opportunity to refine their research with feedback from leading faculty advisors, expand their academic networks, and gain insights into publishing.

Participants will also have the opportunity to convene together at an in-person summit in Arlington, Virginia, on October 9–11, 2025. Applicants need not have attended the online sessions to attend the in-person session. In addition to providing a hotel reservation and stipend to offset travel expenses for the in-person event, IHS will provide a $200 honorarium for full participation.

In-Person Workshop

• Thursday, October 9–Saturday, October 11

Past Online Sessions

• Monday, March 3
• Monday, March 17
• Monday, March 31
• Monday, April 14
• Monday, April 28
• Monday, May 12
• Wednesday, May 28

Overview

Join the Institute for Humane Studies for a two-day, in-person graduate papers workshop on immigration, hosted in partnership with Dr. Tony Payan of Rice University. Held October 17–18, this workshop offers PhD students the opportunity to present works in progress and receive detailed, constructive feedback from peers and faculty.

We welcome research on a wide range of topics related to immigration, including migration patterns, border policy, integration and social inclusion, economic impacts, and the broader political and cultural dimensions of human mobility. Participants will gain feedback to strengthen their research, engage in meaningful discussion, and connect with a community of scholars working at the intersection of immigration and public policy.

In addition to a stipend to offset the cost of travel and lodging, all participants will receive a $200 honorarium for their contributions.

Speaker

• Tony Payan, Rice University

Schedule

*All times are listed in Central Time

Monday, November 11

7:00 PM | Welcome Dinner

Tuesday, November 12

9:00 AM | Breakfast and Opening Remarks
9:15 AM | Job Talk Sessions
12:15 PM | Lunch Break
1:15 PM | Job Talk Sessions / Coffee Breaks
5:00 PM | Closing Remarks
6:00 PM | Closing Dinner

Overview

Join the Institute for Humane Studies for a two-day, in-person graduate papers workshop on polarization and partisanship, hosted in partnership with Dr. Yphtach Lelkes of the University of Pennsylvania. Held October 23–24, this workshop offers PhD students and postdocs the opportunity to present works in progress and receive detailed, constructive feedback from peers and faculty.

We welcome research exploring political polarization, partisan identity, affective polarization, ideological sorting, media and polarization, democratic norms, and other related themes at the intersection of politics, psychology, media, and society. Participants will strengthen their research, engage in thoughtful discussion, and connect with a community of scholars examining the roots and consequences of polarization in liberal democracies.

In addition to a stipend to offset the cost of travel and lodging, all participants will receive a $200 honorarium for their contributions.

Panelists

• Yphtach Lelkes, University of Pennsylvania
• Trent Ollerenshaw, University of Houston

Schedule

*All times are listed in Eastern Time

Thursday, October 23

6:30 PM | Welcome Dinner

Friday, October 24

9:00 AM | Breakfast and Opening Remarks
9:15 AM | Paper Workshop Sessions
12:15 PM | Lunch Break
1:15 PM | Paper Workshop Sessions / Coffee Breaks
5:00 PM | Closing Remarks
6:00 PM | Closing Dinner

Overview

Join the Institute for Humane Studies for a two-day, in-person graduate research workshop designed to support emerging scholars working on research at the intersection of PPE and civics in partnership with the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State University. Held November 7–8, this workshop offers PhD students the opportunity to present works in progress and receive in-depth, constructive feedback from peers and faculty observers.

We welcome PPE research on topics such as liberty and equality, American civic life, and American political thought. This is a unique opportunity to improve your research, engage in meaningful discussion, and build connections with a community of scholars working on civic thought. In addition to providing a stipend to offset travel and lodging expenses, IHS will provide a $200 honorarium for full participation in the event.

Overview

Are you a graduate student or early career scholar conducting research on state-level public policy? Join the Institute for Humane Studies for “Evaluating State Policy: An Online Research Workshop,” a one-day virtual workshop on Saturday, November 8, designed to support scholars working on timely and impactful topics in state and local governance.

We welcome research on issues such as housing affordability, occupational licensing, economic mobility, labor markets, health policy, regulatory reform, education, elections, and criminal justice, as well as related areas with clear implications for state policy. Participants will receive constructive feedback on their research from experienced faculty and fellow scholars, and gain insights into effective policy research and analysis. This is a unique opportunity to sharpen your work and connect with a supportive network of peers and mentors in the policy space. All participants will receive a $200 honorarium for their time and contributions. Selected presenters will be invited to a follow up in person workshop at the University of Southern Florida in February.

Applications are due by October 10.

Overview

Are you preparing to enter the job market soon? The Institute for Humane Studies invites graduate students to attend a job market workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday, November 12. Taking place just before the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Society (PPE) annual meeting, this event is designed to help participants sharpen their job talks and papers before joining the job market.

The program will kick off with a welcome dinner on the evening of Tuesday, November 11, where graduate students and faculty mentors can connect. During the workshop, senior scholars will provide feedback on both the substance of job market papers and the strength of presentations. IHS has reserved space near the PPE conference hotel for easy access, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on the day of the workshop. Participants will also receive a $200 honorarium and a travel stipend to help offset expenses.

Overview

Are you preparing to enter the job market soon? The Institute for Humane Studies invites graduate students to attend a job market workshop in Tampa, Florida, on Friday, November 21. Taking place just before the Southern Economic Association (SEA) annual meeting, this event is designed to help participants sharpen their job talks and papers before joining the job market.

The program will kick off with a welcome dinner on the evening of Thursday, November 20, where graduate students and faculty mentors can connect. During the workshop, senior scholars will provide feedback on both the substance of job market papers and the strength of presentations. IHS has reserved space near the SEA conference hotel for easy access, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on the day of the workshop. Participants will also receive a $200 honorarium and a travel stipend to help offset expenses.

Overview

Present your research online and get feedback from faculty at the IHS December Graduate Conference. This is one of a series of online graduate research conferences where students from across the humanities can present their most recent work to esteemed faculty and peers. The program is free to attend online. IHS offers a $100 honorarium to help students attend the conference. Students will each have 15–20 minutes to present and 10–15 minutes for discussion.