Online Webinar: Writing Conceptual Papers

Date: 16 January 2026
Time: 15:00 CET
Format: Online
Audience: Early career researchers & PhD students

Are you looking to strengthen your ability to develop and write high-quality conceptual and theoretical papers? Join us for a focused and practical webinar designed to demystify the process and support your scholarly development.

This session is particularly aimed at early career researchers and doctoral students who wish to gain clarity, confidence, and practical tools for conceptual writing.

What will the webinar cover?

• Why conceptual and theoretical papers matter
• Common misconceptions about conceptual work
• Different forms of conceptual and theoretical papers
• Practical exercises to help you begin developing your own conceptual manuscript

Who should attend?

This webinar is ideal for early career researchers and PhD students interested in strengthening their conceptual thinking and academic writing skills.

Registration (free, but required)

Please register in advance so we can plan for participant numbers:
https://form.jotform.com/253634079813058

About the organisers

Jessica E. Sowa
Professor at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Perspectives on Public Management and Governance. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Review of Public Personnel Administration (2018–2023) and was named a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow in 2024. Since 2023, she has co-chaired the New Researchers Panel at the IRSPM Conference.

Barbara Zyzak
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Since 2023, she has served as New Researchers Coordinator and New Researchers Panel Chair at the IRSPM Conference. She is also an Associate Editor for International Journal of Public Administration, Information Polity, and Complexity, Governance & Networks.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact:

• Jessica E. Sowa: jesowa@udel.edu
• Barbara Zyzak: barbara.k.zyzak@ntnu.no