Course content:
The PhD Success Lab (PSL) addresses all new PhD candidates at AWI, and PhD candidates at any stage who have gotten stuck with their research project and want guidance in getting back on track can equally apply.
This digital program teaches you all the skills necessary to complete your PhD project successfully and without unnecessary stress and struggle. During PSL, you work systematically on the four most critical PhD areas:
- Flexible planning of your project and monitoring its progress,
- Adapting efficient working habits and time-planning strategies,
- Dissertation writing, and
- Interaction and communication with supervisors.
The PhD Success Lab can be followed from anywhere, parallel to your daily research work. You get the chance to apply instructions directly to your PhD work. This results in a lasting improvement and real progress with your PhD project. Throughout the 12 weeks of the digital Lab, you will be in close contact with the instructor, Dr. Bärbel Tress, and meet with the other participants during five live sessions. You will be part of a group of AWI participants, joining a larger group from all over Germany and possibly even abroad, giving you the chance for extra networking outside the AWI bubble.
In detail, you will learn how to
- plan your PhD project and monitor its progress,
- adapt efficient working habits and time-planning strategies,
- implement efficient dissertation writing, and
- communicate professionally with your supervisors.
A detailed course description with further information and feedback from former participants is available HERE.
Course structure:
The PhD Success Lab is a 12-week digital mentoring program that will run between xx xxx and xx xxx 2026. In case you are on a short leave (conference participation, holidays) during this period, it is not a problem to work through the modules after your return.
Target group:
The course is intended for all PhD candidates at any stage. However, PhD candidates in their first year are strongly encouraged to join.
Pre-requisites:
Willingness to work on weekly tasks, a basic commitment to self-discipline, and motivation to take and maintain individual responsibility for your PhD.
What previous participants said about PSL:
"I started PSL without much confidence in my own work, feeling lost by having still two years ahead, and several unforeseen delays in my project. With the course, I started to structure my weekly and daily plan with a clear mind, because it started to be the first thing I do when I come to work. I learned that using this time, when we are mostly free from other meetings or not so tired from the day, is key for success in planning my work ahead."
"PSL is practice-oriented – you can implement what you learned immediately with the worksheets. Thus, PSL helps to build your own organizational structure. Moreover, it is great to have someone to talk to. I appreciate the coordinator’s great commitment, that she actively asks people if they need help, provides tips, and makes sure that she’s catching up on them."
"I’ve enjoyed the PSL program, I think it was exactly what I needed for just starting a PhD, a nice general overview of all the tasks and challenges you should focus on in a PhD, with tools and strategies to tackle them. The task manager is probably the most helpful tool, and I am glad you just suggested one straight away, as I am the kind of person who would spend way too long searching for the best one! Thanks for all your help getting me more comfortable with the PhD. It was very daunting at first, but you’ve made it seem much more manageable."
Please note: Our courses are generally free of charge for all participants. However, they do have a price and can cost PROCEED / the AWI as much as 150 € per day per student. Please take this into account when cancelling your place at the last minute. Please, always send cancellations to sea.courses@awi.de
