APPAM Career and PhD Program Fair
APPAM is excited to host the fourth annual Career and PhD Program Fair this fall to connect employers and schools to students and seasoned professionals in the fields of public policy, management, and administration. This event is an opportunity for APPAM student members, recent graduates, and professional job seekers to connect with organizations for informational discussions about careers that typically attract public policy graduates, in addition to current and future openings. The fair is also an opportunity for PhD programs to host an informational table to talk about their program offerings with interested students. The fair will be held in conjunction with our Annual Fall Research Conference at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston this November.
November 6, 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Marriott Copley Place | Boston, MA
Explore
When: Friday, November 6, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, US Eastern Time
Where: Marriott Copley Place, Boston, Massachusetts
Participating Employers
Participating PhD Programs
Attendees
The 2026 participating organizations will be added on a rolling basis starting in early summer.
- Entering the job market soon: Meet with potential employers from Boston and all around the country to learn about how to prepare for the job market, what to expect from the interview & hiring process, typical hiring timelines, job opportunities & requirements, and much more.
- Interested in a PhD: Meet with PhD Program representatives to learn about the differences between programs, what being a PhD student is like, what courses a particular program offers, and what kinds of benefits and services are offered to students.
- Undergraduate or Master’s student: Please join us for the Career Connections session immediately following the fair, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM. 2026 details will be available in late summer, but check out the 2025 Seminar in the meantime. This 90-minute session will feature a career panel and table breakout discussions with policy professionals. Additionally, there will be nearly 30 Professional Development and Student Research sessions scheduled throughout the three day conference that you can browse in the APPAM online program this fall.
- Registration & Cost: The APPAM Career & PhD Program Fair is free to attend for conference registrants. RSVP will be requested during registration, but names will not be checked at the door. Conference registration will open in late July.
Career & PhD Program Fair Questions
Yes. But please note that if you choose to have both a Career and a PhD Program table, you must have separate staff for both tables as the tables will not be next to each other.
Any national or local organizations who hire bachelor, masters, or PhD graduates, as well as experienced professionals, in the fields of policy, data science, public affairs, economics, statistical analysis, and other relevant public policy research fields.
APPAM Institutional Members can use the complimentary meeting space for private meetings or interviews. The boardroom space is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the form will be available in the spring.
On-site meeting space is not available to non-member institutions. Learn more about institutional membership benefits, such as discount fair table & sponsorship rates, complimentary meeting & affiliate reception space, and much more, here.
Full conference registration is not required for table staff. APPAM will offer two complimentary fair-only access passes to the Career and PhD Fair tables.
Yes! The APPAM exhibit hall is open all day Thursday and Friday, and Saturday morning. There are daily refreshments, a poster reception, and a poster luncheon, as well as the headshot lounge, inside the hall. Exhibitors receive complimentary fair table space as well!
Additionally, various special event and branding opportunities are available here.
APPAM will host 1,000 student members at our Annual Fall Research Conference, all of whom have the opportunity to participate in the Career and PhD Program Fair. This diverse group of student members are from top undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs around the country studying policy, public management, public affairs, economics, health policy, political science, and data science. Many APPAM student members are on the job market and ready to begin their post-graduate careers. Additionally, the 50 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) travel fellowship recipients will be on hand to meet with potential employers, as well as local students and recent graduates from area schools.
This diverse group of student members are from top undergraduate and master’s programs. Many APPAM student members are looking to pursue their PhD and are on the search for the right program. Additionally, the 50 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) travel fellowship recipients will be on hand to meet with potential graduate schools and PhD programs, as well as local students and recent graduates from area schools.
Employers & PhD programs must complete the forms at the links above. You will be sent an invoice & more details shortly after.
Students and job seekers can sign up during the conference registration process – opening in late July. This is a complimentary conference event.