Universität Wien

520032 VU Kicking off your PhD - Skills for a strong start (2026S)

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 52 - Doktoratsstudium Physik
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle
Do 23.04. 09:00-12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 15 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Donnerstag 05.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 19.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 26.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 30.04. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 07.05. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 21.05. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 18.06. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Donnerstag 25.06. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

This course provides early-stage PhD students with the essential "toolkit" of scientific communication and professional strategy required to survive and thrive in the doctoral environment. Unlike traditional courses that focus solely on research methods, this course bridges the gap between doing science and communicating it effectively to peers, supervisors, and the wider community.

The curriculum is structured to build confidence in the three pillars of academic interaction: writing, speaking, and visualizing. Crucially, the course also grounds these soft skills in essential project management competencies. We cover the "backbone" of modern research—including literature management, version control, data management plans (DMP), and open science principles—ensuring that students’ research workflows are as professional and reproducible as their final presentations.

The course is organized into 9 half-day sessions (09:00–12:30). Each session follows a "Learn-Break-Do" structure:
1) Interactive lecture covering core concepts.
2) Coffee Break & Informal Networking.
3) Hands-on Workshop where students immediately apply concepts to their own research (e.g., rewriting abstracts, auditing seminars, sketching posters).

The 9 sessions will cover the following topics: The course opens with a welcome and orientation designed to demystify the PhD trajectory, immediately followed by a module on "Research Strategy" where we integrate project management essentials—such as literature handling, data management, and open science—with communication planning. We then move into the "human factor" of research, exploring applied rhetoric and audience analysis, alongside core writing skills that prioritize clarity. The middle sessions focus on visual and oral impact, teaching the fundamental rules of design and typography before applying them to the creation of conference posters. As the course concludes, students will practice presentation basics to manage stage fright, learn to use narrative structures, and finally, master the art of the elevator pitch to build professional relationships effectively.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

The course follows a continuous assessment model (Prüfungsimmanent). There is no final written exam. Instead, students build a portfolio of work throughout the semester.

ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS
1) Attendance & active participation (30%): Engagement in lectures, peer feedback sessions, and in class-activities
2) Final output (70%): A "PhD Kick-off Portfolio" submitted at various stages during and after the course, containing:

- A revised abstract.
- A draft poster layout.
- A 3-minute video pitch of the research project.

Permitted materials: Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops and any existing research data/drafts to work on during the hands-on sessions.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

To successfully complete the course, students must:
- Attend at least 80% of the sessions (7 out of 9 meetings).
- Actively participate in the hands-on workshops and peer review circles.
- Submit the assignments composing the Final Output portfolio by the respective deadlines.

Prüfungsstoff

There is no formal written exam. However, to successfully complete the course, students are expected to demonstrate competency in the following areas through in-class activities and the final portfolio:
• Research & Data Management: Understanding of efficient literature search strategies, version control basics, data management plans (DMP), and the principles of Open Science.
• Strategic communication: Ability to identify and fix communication breakdowns in scientific contexts.
• Audience adaptation: Proficiency in adjusting scientific content for different target groups (peers, funders, public)
• Scientific writing: Application of basic principles to improve the clarity of abstracts and emails.
• Visual design: Demonstration of fundamental design rules in the creation of scientific posters and slides.
• Oral presentation: Ability to structure a short scientific talk using narrative arcs and deliver it with effective body language and stage presence.
• Professional networking: Development of a concise "Elevator Pitch" and understanding of professional etiquette in academic settings.

Literatur

The primary textbook for this course is: Bergman, O., Park, S., & Bagniewska, J. (2025). The Communicating Scientist: A Practical Handbook. Springer.
Reference to additional reading materials and resources will be provided throughout the course.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Doktorat Physik

Letzte Änderung: Mo 02.03.2026 14:28