Writing Sprint: Three Days for Thesis and PublicationIn-Person Event

Nov 4, 2025, 9:15 AM → Nov 6, 2025, 5:00 PM Europe/Berlin

This three-day event is designed to help doctoral researchers make significant progress on their dissertations and scientific publications. The focus is on advancing specific sections of their theses or papers or manuscripts. Participants will have the opportunity to step away from the lab, leave behind their office desks, and eliminate distractions such as phone calls and meetings, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in the writing sprint.

Date: November 4-6, 2025 

Language: English

Group size: max. 8

Who is eligible? This writing sprint is open to doctoral researchers at various stages of their doctoral journey - whether they are currently drafting a paper, approaching the final phase of their dissertation, or preparing a 3-5 page annual summary report for an upcoming Thesis Advisory Committee meeting. The event is designed to support those with specific writing projects and clear objectives. It is not suitable for doctoral researchers who are still in the early stages of defining their topic or have not yet generated results that can be developed into a written contribution.

• Participants must have a clear project idea.
• Participant must have discussed their participation with their supervisor, and be available for the full three days of the retreat. Partial attendance is not possible.

Registration deadline: October 6, 2025

Changes to the program may occur.

Tue, November 4

9:15 AM → 10:00 AM Welcome and Check-in

10:00 AM → 11:30 AM Writing session #1

11:30 AM → 12:00 PM How to...? Peer2Peer-Feedback

12:00 PM → 12:45 PM Lunch & Stretch

on self-pay basis

12:45 PM → 2:15 PM Writing session #2

2:15 PM → 2:30 PM Break & Stretch

2:30 PM → 3:30 PM What I wish I had known – Writing a thesis that wins awards by Dr. Stephan Hilpmann (FWOA)

Get insights and hands-on tips from former doctoral researcher Dr. Stephan Hilpmann, winner of the 2024 Helmholtz Doctoral Award in the field of Energy, who will share his experience writing a dissertation (on the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste) - feel free to ask him your questions about doing a doctorate.

3:30 PM → 4:45 PM Writing session #3

4:45 PM → 5:00 PM Closing & Check-out

Wed, November 5

9:15 AM → 9:45 AM Check-in and get started

9:45 AM → 11:15 AM Writing session #4

11:15 AM → 12:15 PM Impulse on AI

12:15 PM → 1:15 PM Lunch & Stretch

on self-pay basis

1:15 PM → 2:45 PM Writing session #5

2:45 PM → 3:00 PM Break & Stretch

3:00 PM → 4:30 PM Writing session #6

4:30 PM → 4:45 PM Preparation Peer2Peer-Feedback

4:45 PM → 5:00 PM Closing & Check-out

5:00 PM → 5:45 PM Sports

Thu, November 6

8:15 AM → 9:00 AM Start your day right with Pilates/Yoga

9:15 AM → 9:45 AM Check-in and get started

9:45 AM → 10:15 AM Your turn: Give feedback to your peer

10:15 AM → 11:45 AM Writing session #7

11:45 AM → 12:30 PM Lunch & Stretch

on self-pay basis

12:30 PM → 2:00 PM Writing session #8

2:00 PM → 2:15 PM Break & Stretch

2:15 PM → 3:45 PM Writing session #9

3:45 PM → 4:15 PM Closing & Check-out

4:15 PM → 5:00 PM Feedback