Resource

2027 Designing Field Experiments – An IGL Masterclass Series

2026 syllabus

2027 edition will run between February and April 2027. Syllabus announced soon.

Are you a PhD student or researcher interested in field experiments eager to gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on designing and conducting experimental research?

The Innovation Growth Lab (IGL) and the Conference on Field Experiments in Strategy (CFXS) are launching the third edition of the masterclass series designed to provide insights into how to design field experiments in science, innovation and productivity. Delivered by leading academics in the field, this course is designed to equip participants with concrete tools, real-world examples, and guidance on navigating the full lifecycle of experimental research.

What to Expect

The third edition launches in February 2027 (see key dates below). Each session consists of two 45-minute interactive masterclasses, led by different professors.

Participants are encouraged to engage actively, drawing on their own research questions and experiences.

Each session includes:

2 × 25-minute talks – Learn directly from leading experts in field experimentation.
2 × 15-minute Q&A sessions – Ask questions and discuss challenges from your own work.
Recommended readings – 1–2 key papers to deepen understanding of each topic.

All sessions will be delivered live on Zoom and recorded. Recordings will be made available on Canvas for registered participants.

Course directors

Rembrand Koning

Associate Professor of Business Administration

Harvard Business School
Sharique Hasan

Associate Professor

Fuqua School of Business at Duke University
Hyunjin Kim

Assistant Professor

INSEAD
Silvia Castro

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Brian Jabarian

Howard and Nancy Marks Fellow

University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Manuela Collis

Doctoral Candidate

Rotman School of Management

Topics covered

How to Set Up Your First Field Experiment – Introduction to experimentation and the Experimentation Canvas
Experimentation 101 – Common considerations and pitfalls in experimental research
Applied experimentation – Leveraging AI tools to design and implement field experiments
Experiments in Organisations – Designing and running experiments within teams, organisations, and networks
Experiments in Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Designing and evaluating experiments in startups, new ventures, and innovation ecosystems
AI Field Experiments – Experiments using and studying the deployment and impact of artificial intelligence in real-world settings
The Publishing Challenge – Publishing experiments in top journals and navigating the review process
Learning from failed field experiments – Examples and lessons from when things go wrong
Working with Firms and Policymakers – How to approach collaborators, align incentives, and build successful partnerships

You can review the 2026 syllabus here. 2027 syllabus will be announced soon.

Key dates & schedule

Section 1: Foundations of Field Experiments

Tue, Feb 24 – 8:00 AM–9:30 AM ET
Mon, Mar 2 – 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET

Section 2: Three Types of Experiments

Mon, Mar 9 – 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET
Mon, Mar 16 – 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET
Mon, Mar 23 – 9:00 AM–10:30 AM ET

Section 3: Beyond the Experiment – Publishing, Learning, and Collaborating

Mon, Mar 30 – 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET
Mon, Apr 13 – 9:00 AM–10:30 AM ET
Mon, Apr 20 – 11:00 AM–12:30 PM ET

How to Register

Masterclasses are free and open to PhD students and early-career researchers. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with leading scholars and gain practical insights into designing impactful field experiments.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].