Annual Conference

Annual Conference

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The PGR-ECA workshop, which will be the first event of the HOTCUS 2026 Annual Conference, will provide a supportive space for PhD students and early career scholars to present and receive feedback on chapters, articles, or detailed research proposals.

Up to 4 participants will be selected to share a piece of writing of up to 8,000 words for intensive discussion and feedback from Professor Bailey and other workshop participants. This piece of work can be a dissertation chapter or an article. This year we are particularly looking for more article submissions to have a range of types of work represented in the workshop. As well as discussing their own work, which will be pre-circulated to all attendees, selected participants must commit to reading and participating in discussion of other participants’ work. Though participants do not need to register for the full HOTCUS conference, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Attendees of the HOTCUS conference will have the opportunity to apply for modest travel and/or childcare bursaries, subject to funds secured, with priority given to those without access to departmental funds from their home institutions.

The Workshop:

• Applications for the workshop must be received by midnight UK time on Monday 22 April 2026 (see detailed instructions below).
• Those selected to participate will be notified in early May 2026. Work for pre-circulation will be due by Monday 8 June 2026.

The workshop will take place in-person, on campus at the University of Manchester. Following the confirmation of the workshop presenters, registration for the workshop will also be open to participants who do not submit papers but commit to reading all the submitted work in advance.

Eligibility:

The workshop is open to PhD students and ECRs in relevant fields from any university. Priority may be given to those presenting at or planning to attend the HOTCUS conference. Our definition of ECR encompasses all without permanent academic employment OR within five years of their PhD award.

Deadline for proposal submissions:

Midnight (UK), 22 April 2026

Instructions for applicants:

To apply, please email events.hotcus@gmail.com by midnight on 22 April 2026 using the subject line ‘Workshop with Beth Bailey’ and including the following information:

• Your Name:

• Your email address:
• Title of your proposed workshop submission:
• Abstract of your proposed submission (max 200 words):
• Statement of support (200 words): How will this workshop help you and your research?
• University at which you are studying/studied or currently working
• Year of PhD study or date of PhD submission:
• If not selected to present your work, would you still like to participate in the workshop? Y/N
• Are you planning to attend the main HOTCUS conference? Y/N

Please direct any questions about the workshop or the applications process to the HOTCUS Conference Secretary, Dr Bevan Sewell: events.hotcus@gmail.com