Workshops for PhD students and researchers

Below are examples of some of the workshops I offer, and I am happy to tailor additional workshops for PhD students, postdocs, and other staff groups.

With a background in cancer research and several years of experience in the private sector, Bodil now works full-time as a workshop facilitator, coach, and stress management specialist, with a particular passion for supporting young researchers. Bodil earned her PhD in virology from the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University and has firsthand experience with the challenges of academic life, including what it means to be a PhD student.

Tame your imposter phenomenon and stay in charge of your life

Duration: 3 hours 

Language: Danish or English

Target group: PhD students, postdocs and researchers/lecturers at all academic levels – everyone that secretly thinks “it is just a matter of time before they find out that I am not as smart as they believe I am”

Topics

The impostor phenomenon is the feeling of intellectual fraudulence. It is prevalent across various work settings, particularly in academia, affecting individuals at every level—from undergraduate students to professors.

 

Despite your achievements, degrees, or recognition from peers and authorities, you may find yourself feeling undeserving of your success, constantly fearing the moment when others will “discover” that you’re not as competent as they believed.

 

This workshop focuses on practical strategies to enhance your mental well-being by reducing self-doubt and becoming more aware of how you perceive both yourself and others.

 

Self-doubt is a challenge that many experience but few discuss openly. As a researcher, you are surrounded by highly talented individuals while constantly treading on new ground and learning new skills. In such an environment, self-doubt can easily creep in.

 

Since self-doubt and a lack of confidence can contribute to stress and prevent you from seizing opportunities that foster growth and advance your academic career, we will explore the impostor phenomenon in depth.

Learning objectives

After completing this workshop, you will:

  1. Have a clear understanding of what imposter phenomenon is
  2. Know the five different imposter phenomenon competence types and which of them you potentially identify with
  3. Be aware of when your potential imposter feelings kick in and what your typical reaction patterns are
  4. Be able to see what is holding you back and understand why imposter feelings also have a negative impact on your future career
  5. Have new insights and practical tools that can help you start taming your imposter feelings and become a more confident and balanced version of yourself

Format

The workshop has an interactive format shifting between presentation of theory, exercises and group discussions.

In a safe room you will be able to share the challenges you are facing when it comes to self-doubt. You will get sparring and inspiration from your fellow PhD candidates and realize that you are not alone – imposter phenomenon is very common in academia.

Avoiding stress and finding balance in academic life

Duration: 2-3 hours 

Language: Danish or English

Target group: PhD students and researchers/lecturers at all academic levels

Topics

This workshop offers insights and practical tools to help you manage stress, prioritize effectively, and stay energized.

 

Being a researcher often feels like more than just a job—it’s a lifestyle. The excitement of discovery, the sometimes-overwhelming workload, and the pressure to publish to secure funding or your next academic position can lead to long hours and overlooked recovery. Over time, this can impact well-being and lead to stress.

 

In this session, you’ll gain strategies for building a healthier work-life balance, recognizing early signs of stress, and positively influencing your work environment. With practical tools and techniques, you’ll learn to take control of your work life, maintain balance, and thrive in the demanding academic landscape.

 

Keywords (challenges) that are addressed in this talk

Work-life balance, Motivation, Prioritization of tasks, Temporary employments in academia, Pressure to publish, Impostor phenomenon, Loneliness – working alone on a project.

Learning objectives

After completing this workshop, you will:

  1. Gain insight into your personal stressors and self-perception
  2. Be able to identify common signs of stress in yourself and others
  3. Have tools to help you reduce and prevent stress
  4. Understand research-backed insights on human thriving
  5. Learn proactive strategies to enhance well-being and align expectations

Format

The workshop has an interactive format shifting between presentation of theory, exercises and group discussions.

In a safe room you will be able to share the challenges you are facing and get sparring and inspiration from the other workshop participants.

 

Mastering feedback and criticism for PhD success

– about the art of transforming feedback and criticism into a gift

Duration: 2 hours 

Language: Danish or English

Target group: PhD students

Topics

This workshop is about proactive management of the quality and quantity of feedback you receive as a PhD student. This workshop is also about realizing and accepting that you as a PhD student is still in a learning phase and that it is normal to ask for help and feedback.

 

We will focus on the challenges that often are associated with receiving criticism and feedback and will discuss why receiving feedback can significantly improve your performance and PhD thesis.

 

As fear of negative feedback and imposter phenomenon can go hand in hand, we will also briefly discuss the imposter phenomenon and what you can do to start taming it.

Learning objectives

After completing this workshop, you will:

  1. Understand what makes feedback effective and why focusing on it is essential for growth
  2. Know how to proactively seek and obtain the feedback you need
  3. Be able to apply strategies to make the most of the feedback you receive
  4. Have practical tools to improve your ability to accept feedback constructively
  5. Understand why receiving feedback can be challenging and how to manage it
  6. Recognize the value of openness and asking for help to maximize feedback benefits
  7. Feel confident in setting expectations for your supervisor or feedback providers

Format

The workshop has an interactive format shifting between presentation of theory, exercises and group discussions that will help you recognize the importance of actively seeking and receiving feedback throughout your PhD journey. In a safe room you will be able to share the challenges you are facing when it comes to receiving feedback. You will get sparring and inspiration from your fellow PhD candidates and realize that you are not alone when it comes to finding reception of criticism and feedback challenging.


How to manage your PhD supervisor

Duration: 2 hours 

Language: Danish or English

Target group: PhD students

The heart of a successful PhD process is the quality of the supervision, and you have the power to proactively navigate the supervisory process and get the supervision you need.

A big Nature Survey on PhD student well-being from 2019 shows that one of the top concerns for PhD-students in Europe is the impact of poor supervisor relationship. Other top concerns include maintaining a work-life balance, concern about mental health, and imposter phenomenon.

Your relationship to your PhD supervisor is not only key for your well-being but also for your learning, writing productivity, and timely completion. In this workshop, you will gain insight into how to constructively get the support you need to confidently guide your PhD journey, ensuring productive meetings and valuable feedback from your supervisor.

 

Topics

  • What characterizes a good PhD supervisor
  • The asymmetrical relationship
  • Why proactive behavior beats reactive behavior – also when it comes to PhD supervision
  • How you can schedule frequent meetings with an agenda that improves the meeting quality
  • The importance of aligning expectations on a regular basis
  • How to deal with problems in a constructive way

Learning objectives

After completing this workshop, you will:

  1. Have greater insight into what characterizes a good supervisor
  2. Have practical tools for proactively managing your PhD supervisors
  3. Be aware of the importance of regularly aligning expectations
  4. Be able to improve the quality of your meetings with your PhD supervisor
  5. Know how to get the feedback you need
  6. Feel empowered to take control over your PhD process

Format

The workshop has an interactive format shifting between presentation of theory, exercises and group discussions.

In a safe room you will be able to share your own experiences and challenges. You will get sparring and inspiration from your fellow PhD candidates and realize that there is a lot you can do yourself to get the supervision you need.
 
 

Knowing your character strengths matter

- and can improve your well-being, work performance and collaboration with others

Duration: 2 hours 

Language: Danish or English

Target group: PhD students, researchers/lecturers at all academic levels and all other employees

Character strengths are a set of positive traits that influence how you feel, think, and behave. Unlike your other personal strengths—such as specific skills, talents, interests, and resources—character strengths reflect your core identity and who you truly are.

 

According to research, we all possess 24 distinct character strengths, all of which we have the potential to express. Some of these strengths are more prominent than others, forming a unique character strengths profile for every individual. The four to seven most dominant strengths are known as signature strengths, and when you apply them, you tend to feel more authentic and engaged.

 

By identifying and applying your signature strengths, you can enhance your daily life and well-being, leading to increased confidence, improved work performance, reduced stress, and greater success in achieving your goals.

Topics

In this workshop we will look at:

  • Your personal character strengths profile
  • What the literature says about using your strengths and thriving at work
  • How well-being and performance is closely linked to a balanced use of your personal character strengths
  • Why knowing and developing your strengths has a positive influence on your self-esteem and confidence
  • Why knowing your colleagues’ strengths profile positively impacts your relationship and collaboration

Learning objectives

After completing this workshop, you will:

  1. Be familiar with the 24 character strengths and know which ones are most prominent in you (your signature strengths)
  2. Understand which of your signature strengths you already use in your daily work and which ones you’d like to activate more
  3. Be aware of whether any of your strengths are overused or underused
  4. Know how you can use your character strengths to growth and develop and get more direction and meaning in your working life
  5. Have tools to leverage strengths outside your top four or seven to create better balance
  6. Know why intercollegial strengths recognition positively affects collaboration and thriving
  7. Have insight in the scientific support for personal strengths used at work

Format

The workshop has an interactive format shifting between presentation of theory, exercises and group discussions.

Practical information

Before the workshop you are encouraged to take a free Values in Action (VIA) survey to identify your character strengths profile (details will follow when you sign up for the workshop).