Universität Wien

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

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 52 - Doktoratsstudium Physik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Th 21.05. 09:00-12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 05.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 19.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 26.03. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 23.04. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 30.04. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 07.05. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 18.06. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Thursday 25.06. 09:00 - 12:30 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

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.

Assessment and permitted materials

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.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

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.

Examination topics

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.

Reading list

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.

Association in the course directory

Doktorat Physik

Last modified: Mo 02.03.2026 14:28