The submission system is open for the 2026 Virtual Research Meeting workshop participant applications! The application deadline is Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
Research Group Workshops are the central feature of the APSA Virtual Research Meeting, designed to bring scholars together over two days of collaborative engagement, interactive discussion, and joint research development. Each Research Group will meet for eight 90-minute sessions across both days.
Due to limited capacity and overlapping schedules, participants may only apply to one Research Group. To apply, candidates must submit a Statement of Interest tailored to their selected workshop by the deadline and are encouraged to review the workshop descriptions and the Research Group Applicant Overview carefully before applying.
‣The Ongoing State of the Field of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Political Science
Workshop Organizers: Amanda M. Rosen (Naval War College); Tavishi Bhasin (Kennesaw State University)
This Research Group continues the collaborative work launched during the 2025 APSA Virtual Research Meeting examining the development of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) as a distinct subfield within political science. Building on ongoing collaboration among participants since the 2025 workshop, this group focuses on establishing foundational components of political science education research, including identifying a canon of core scholarship, developing graduate and undergraduate curriculum models for political science pedagogy, and outlining a comprehensive research agenda for the field. The workshop welcomes both returning participants and new contributors interested in advancing research, pedagogy, and professional collaboration in political science education. Apply here »
‣ Horizontal Party Linkages and Democratic Resilience
Workshop Organizers: Kateryna Odarchenko (Institute for Democracy and Development “Polita”)
This Research Group explores how political parties contribute to democratic resilience during periods of crisis, conflict, and institutional instability. Moving beyond traditional research focused on electoral competition and vertical accountability, the workshop examines horizontal party linkages—cooperation and coordination among political parties, civil society organizations, local governments, and informal political networks. The workshop uses Ukraine as a central empirical reference point, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, while maintaining a broader comparative perspective that includes cases from Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and other democracies facing institutional fragility or political conflict. Participants will examine how horizontal political networks can sustain governance capacity, legitimacy, and democratic practices under extreme pressure. Apply here »
‣“Feeling” Norms: Emotional Resonance and the Resilience of International Norms in Times of Crisis
Workshop Organizers: Carlotta Maria Minnella (European University Institute); Melissa E. Tornari (European University Institute)
This Research Group examines the resilience of international norms by exploring how emotional resonance shapes belief in and adherence to norms during periods of geopolitical crisis. The workshop builds on emerging scholarship that challenges traditional theories of norm internalization in International Relations by focusing on how norms generate affective responses among foreign policy elites and the public. Participants will explore how emotional reactions influence the perceived legitimacy, strength, and durability of international norms across issue areas such as climate governance, human rights protection, nuclear non-proliferation, refugee protection, and global political polarization. Apply here »
‣ Dual Enrollment: Creating and Curating Resources for Teaching Faculty
Workshop Organizers: Helen Chang (CUNY–Hostos Community College); Dale Mineshima-Lowe (Parami University, Myanmar)
This Research Group focuses on dual enrollment in political science, a rapidly expanding instructional model that connects high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions. As dual enrollment programs grow and diversify in structure, teaching faculty increasingly work with high school students of varying preparation levels, interests, and motivations. Organized in association with APSA’s Status Committee on Community Colleges in the Profession, this workshop provides a collaborative space for faculty to share experiences, identify best practices, and address common challenges related to teaching college-level political science courses through dual enrollment. The workshop is particularly designed to support teaching-focused faculty, including those at two-year institutions, who may have limited access to national professional development opportunities. Apply here »
‣ APSA Working Group on American Civics Undergraduate Course Mandates
Workshop Organizers: Howard Bartlett Sanborn (Oklahoma State University); William Dean Schreckhise (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville)
The APSA Working Group on American Civics Undergraduate Course Mandates examines the growing number of state, university system, and institutional requirements that require undergraduate students to complete American government or civics coursework. Originally launched through APSA’s Departmental Services Program in fall 2025, the working group brings together political science faculty from public and private institutions across the United States to support departments navigating these externally mandated undergraduate credit requirements. The group’s work focuses on four core areas: developing curriculum and learning outcomes, examining variation across mandate structures, identifying departmental strategies for managing increased undergraduate enrollment, and supporting departmental advocacy for resources to meet new instructional demands. Apply here »
‣ Aligning Computational Tools for the Political Science Research Lifecycle
Workshop Organizers: Javier Osorio (University of Arizona); Latifur Khan (University of Texas at Dallas); Patrick Brandt (University of Texas at Dallas); Vito D’Orazio (West Virginia University)
Building on a successful 2025 APSA Virtual Research Meeting workshop, this Research Group focuses on advancing the adoption, adaptation, and application of large language models (LLMs), machine learning, and related computational social science tools in political science research. The workshop will provide a collaborative space for scholars to share research, discuss best practices, and examine challenges associated with integrating AI-driven methods across the full political science research lifecycle. Discussions will be organized around key stages of computational research, including data gathering and corpus development, ontology design and task development, annotation and validation, LLM applications in political science, and model evaluation and reporting standards. By integrating recent advances in AI into the research pipeline, the workshop aims to expand methodological rigor, strengthen empirical analysis, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and support the development of policy-relevant research. Apply here »
‣ Deal-Making under Trump 2.0: Hegemonic Transactionalism and the World Trade Order
Workshop Organizers: Min Shu (Waseda University); Min Ye (Boston University); Takashi Terada (Doshisha University)
This Research Group examines international trade negotiations during the second Trump presidency through the lens of “hegemonic transactionalism,” a theoretical framework that explores how the United States leverages its hegemonic position in negotiating trade agreements. The workshop will focus on understanding the global responses to Trump 2.0 trade diplomacy and assessing its implications for the international trade order. Participants will engage with comparative case studies analyzing U.S. trade negotiations with major deficit-generating economies, including Japan, China, India, Indonesia, and the European Union, while also exploring broader theoretical and empirical perspectives on geopolitical and geoeconomic competition. Apply here »
The American Political Science Association’s 2026 Virtual Research Meeting, held on April 15 & 16, 2026, is an annual two-day online event provides a forum for scholars worldwide interested in sharing their research, receiving in-depth feedback, and creating partnerships and networks for future collaboration. Stay tuned for registration! Visit the website to learn more.