LAPolMeth & EGAP LatAm PhD Lab

Organized by LAPolMeth and the Latin America Regional Hub of the global Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) network, headquartered in Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.

November 20 & 21, 2026

Bogota, Colombia

LAPolMeth & EGAP LatAm PhD Lab

The tenth Latin American PolMeth (LAPolMeth) meeting will take place on-site in Bogotá, Colombia, on November 20–21, 2026, hosted by Universidad de los Andes. In an exciting new partnership, LAPolMeth and the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) Latin America Regional Hub are co-hosting a PhD Lab integrated into this year’s conference activities. This lab is tailored for doctoral students seeking high-quality, constructive feedback on a dissertation chapter or a paper that forms part of their doctoral thesis. Selected PhD students will be invited to participate in the main conference and will benefit from a dedicated feedback session designed to sharpen their research.

About the PhD Lab

The PhD Lab provides a focused working space where participants receive targeted feedback through a structured, one-hour session with peers and distinguished, world-class mentors from both the LAPolMeth and EGAP Global networks.  

• Priority will be given to projects that offer a rigorous analysis of key themes related to governance and politics in Latin America and incorporate experimental methods (RCTs or closely related research designs).

• There will be no formal presentations during the Lab. Instead, materials will be pre-circulated approximately one month in advance, allowing discussants, peers, and mentors to prepare thoroughly. This format is specifically intended to help students sharpen their research questions, strengthen research designs and identification strategies, improve academic communication, and accelerate overall dissertation progress under the guidance of top-tier academic mentorship.

Travel Support

Travel support will be provided to cover the costs of either round-trip airfare or accommodation for up to four nights (assigned upon request) for attendees traveling from outside Bogotá. This support is applicable to one person per selected project. Selected participants must arrive in Bogotá prior to the start of the program and are required to attend the full agenda.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be an active PhD student at a university in Latin America.
2. Have an advanced dissertation project, preferably at the analysis or writing stage.
3. Submit a working paper, draft dissertation chapter, or extended outline including the structural elements listed below:

Required Document Structure

Paper submissions must include:

• Title & Abstract: Clear title and a summary of maximum 300 words.
• Introduction & Literature Review: Context, research problem, relevance, and current gaps in the literature.
• Theoretical Framework & Methodology: Detail the research design. Projects should include a strong experimental component (RCTs or closely related designs) or clearly motivate an experimental approach.
• Current Progress & Expected Impact: Current status of the draft and potential academic/policy implications.
• Bibliography: Formatted in a standard academic style (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA).

Technical Committee

The evaluation and technical monitoring of the proposals submitted to the LAPolMeth PhD Lab Call for Applications will be conducted by the Technical Committee, composed of Natalia Garbiras-Díaz (Harvard Business School), Leopoldo Fergusson (Universidad de los Andes & EGAP Latin America Regional Hub Director), and Santiago Olivella (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

How to Apply?

To apply for the LAPolMeth & EGAP LatAm  PhD Lab, please complete this online form.

Your application will only be considered complete if your working paper/chapter and CV are attached.

Deadline: August 31, 2026

For any questions, please contact egap_latam@uniandes.edu.co.