PhD training

Training especially selected for PhD's

1. ACADEMIC INSIGHT AND THINKING

• Critical thinking and argumentation
  Training to debate, speak and write in a clear, convincing and effective way.
• Ethics and Animal Sciences (online (January) or in-person (all other editions)
  This 2-days course aims at PhD candidates interested in ethics and animal sciences.
• Ethics for Designers: Concepts and Tools
  In this 2 day course, we provide concepts and tools for reflection for the goal of creating ethically responsive designs.
• Ethics in Plant and Environmental Sciences (Note: one edition per year in person; one online)
  This one day online course focuses on ethical issues that are encountered when doing research in plant and environmental sciences.
• Ethics for Social Sciences Research (in-person training)
  One-day seminar on dealing with ethical issues in human subjects research
• Philosophy and Ethics of Food Science and Technology (in person)
  Series of six discussion sessions including hands-on dealings with ethical, philosophical, and societal issues surrounding science
• Introduction to Scientific Integrity (in-person training)
  This 1 day-course conveys how the principles of research integrity, at core, are an invaluable resource for doing good science.
• Reviewing a Scientific Manuscript
  This half-day workshop gives insight in how to review a scientific manuscript and what possible issues may occur. Besides two lectures we will be having interactive sessions where challenges and examples of review will be discussed.
• Scientific Publishing
  This one-day workshop provides insight and awareness in the developments, process, rules and ethical aspects of scientific writing and publishing. And tips on how to get your work published.
• Writing propositions for your PhD
  Workshop on propositions of the PhD thesis, including a lecture on propositions and possibility to submit your own (draft) proposition.
• Last Stretch of the PhD Programme
  Issues and questions: what must you do first, who is responsible, printing your thesis, booking doctoral defence ceremony dates, do's and don'ts.

2. ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

• Scientific Artwork & Infographics (online)
  This course will help you create beautiful and functional scientific graphics.
• Scientific publications & layout (online)
  This course in InDesign will help you create beautiful but also functional print and web layouts.
• Creating and Pitching Virtual Posters
  How to design an appealing virtual poster and enticingly pitch your research to an online audience.
• Posters and Pitching
  Want to learn how to sell your ideas and yourself in a poster presentation? Want to know how to design an appealing poster and to enticingly pitch your poster to an audience?
• Presenting with Impact
  To improve and practice oral presentations of your own work
• The Essentials of Scientific Writing and Presenting
  Presents an overview of how to effectively write and present scientific information
• Efficient Writing Strategies
  Putting your thoughts on paper
• Scientific Writing
  Assisting you if you are currently writing an article or a dissertation
• Searching and Organising Literature for PhD candidates
  A systematic literature search provides an optimal foundation for your research. In this course, you’ll develop a systematic literature search for your topic and learn to manage your references in EndNote.
• Inclusive Leadership in International Settings
  To secure inclusivity in international settings requires much alertness and practice from all participating to prevent bias and misunderstanding. In this course, participants learn to recognize, reflect and to act upon as leaders and how they in various positions can promote inclusion in international settings they engage. These can be in a WUR unit or international project but also in other international settings like in international commercial, (non)-governmental, academic, research and educational organizations.
• Project and Time Management
  This course helps you take back control, how to break down your project into manageable steps, prioritise your work, align with supervisors, and build habits that support real focus and steady progress. Trying to follow someone else’s system rarely works. This course helps you create one that actually fits you.
• Research Data Management
  This course is offered by Wageningen Graduate Schools and organised by WUR Library. It consists of lectures and practical assignments that cover various aspects of managing research data (see program below) throughout the research cycle. The course follows the order of data management topics in the WUR data management plan template (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7233369 https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.7233369), allowing participants to fill in or update their data management plan during the course. Note: you have to participate in all three parts of the course in order to receive the certificate.

3. CAREER PERSPECTIVES

• 👉SURVEY - Exploring Teaching Outside Academia: orientation and reflection
  Thinking about what comes after your PhD? Would you like to experience teaching outside of academia? WGS is considering to organise the course Exploring Teaching Outside Academia again, but we need to hear from you to know if you're interested. If you are interested to join such a course, please sign up via the 'apply' button on the course page. If there is enough interest within WGS, a new edition of the course will be set up and you will be notified.
• Career Assessment
  The career assessment will help you to translate your competences, knowledge and skills acquired during your PhD to the demands of employers in various sectors, by describing them in tangible results.
• Career Orientation - Reviews previous participants

  "It helped me reflect and build self confidence about I want to do, the skills I already have and what needs to be done. It helps me to understand the different approaches to look for jobs and personal attitude to develop"
  "It helped me to get a clearer picture of what I want and that I can take an active attitude to finding my next job"
  "I was in a moment of great confusion and trying to ‘orientate’, so it was really helpful"
  "It gave me tools to start thinking in a very pragmatic way about job-options, and how to contact the right people to get these jobs"
  "I attended a Career Orientation course given by Hertz in the Fall of 2016. It helped me put the interesting pieces of my personality, motivations, skills, and objectives together to formulate the career of my dream. I enjoyed making a collage of my career path using random pictures. It was to me like making sense out of a puzzle. It was very interactive, informative, and exploratory. I looked forward to each course day with much interest and expectations. Now I know what are of priority in my next job(s). I therefore recommend this course to you."

  Meant for PhD candidates and postdocs who are orienting themselves in what future career to choose, in or outside of science.
• Career Perspectives
  The training Career Perspectives is meant for PhDs in their third or fourth year to prepare them for their next career step.
• Developing my Research Vision (Postdocs and junior Tenure Track staff)
  Having a research vision is crucial, especially for those who want to proceed in science and must demonstrate a clear research vision, an (international) visibility and ambition for a tenure track.
• Entrepreneurship in and outside Science
  Analysis and development of entrepreneurial skills and career opportunities for young scientists in or outside academia to create impact, exploring possibilities for applications of scientific insights: projects, impact propositions and working as or at a startup company as a scientist
• Mobilising your - scientific - network
  Offers you the essential tools to create a network through a variety of introductions, discussions and assignments
• VENI Masterclasses
  This programme aims to provide the skills and competences needed to develop a high quality Veni proposal.
• Writing Grant Proposals
  Teaches you how to write a project proposal for funding
• Writing your narrative CV for your next grant
  Since a few years ago, several funding organizations are transitioning to a new way of evaluating their applicants beyond their publications. The narrative CV has become a central piece in this evaluation when you apply for funding, including grants like Veni, Vidi, and Vici, Marie Curie, or ERC among many others. The problem is that to write a compelling narrative CV that showcases your skills and achievements with confidence is not easy, and many researchers struggle to do so.
• WUR Student Career Services (events & information)
  For tips on how to search for jobs and links to vacancy websites, visit the webpage of the WUR Student Career Services. Most of their information and events are also relevant and accessible for PhD candidates. The individual career advice offered by WUR Student Career Services is not meant for PhD candidates, instead WGS organises the career related activities you can find above.
• WUR Career Day (15 October 2025)
  Join the Career Day on Wednesday 15 October, 13:00-17:00, and meet 80 top employers! This event is your chance to discover internships, job opportunities, and career paths while expanding your professional network.

4. PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

• PhD Competence Assessment - Reviews previous participants

  "The PhD Competence Assessment course is very valuable to give insight into your strengths and pitfalls and to have a moment to reflect on what your personal goals are within the PhD trajectory. It also gives you tips and tricks on how to go about it and how to discuss is it with your supervisors. Very recommendable, especially at the start of your PhD!" "Great assessment! Glad to discover more about myself, learnt how to improve on my negative attributes while maintaining my positive qualities. This will surely improve and build my personality to manage many life tasks including my PhD degree" "Highly recommended in the beginning of the PhD trajectory to tackle possible pitfalls as soon as possible and to help set up proper communication and expectations with your supervisor." "For me the course was like when you clean a dusty, smudgy mirror and finally you can see yourself clearly in it."

   

  Gives insight in the degree that you have the competences and skills required to do a PhD in an effective manner and, when lacking, how these can be developed. The assessment is for PhD candidates at the beginning of their PhD assignment at Wageningen University and Research BEFORE the go/no go decision is made.
• Effective behaviour in your professional surroundings
  Effective behaviour means getting the best out of yourself. This is achieved by understanding your own strengths and weaknesses and continually striving to improve and grow, both professionally and personally. In this interactive course you develop personal and professional leadership skills to successfully work on your PhD project and beyond.
• Effective and efficient communication in academia and beyond - Reviews previous participants

  "This is a highly recommended course from my point of view. During the course, we got tested and knew more about our own communication styles, like assertive and passive, and we also had a lot of chances to share and discuss our own communication problems, and many effective and tailored methods were raised from the teachers or other participants.", Penghui Shen, Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods, Wageningen University

  Supply insight, understanding and a set of tools in verbal communication that allow participants to communicate in an effective and efficient manner and prevent miscommunication
• The Choice: Un-box your PhD process & take charge of your performance - Reviews previous participants

  This is a very wonderful course that combines boxing and thinking. How to view, break down and solve problems will be well answered. Always remember that you have a choice. ''This course has been a very big eye-opener for me in terms of recognizing and identifying my own pitfalls. We've been given useful tools and techniques to help cope with our personal struggles and got personalized advice too. I am very happy that I signed up to this course and very grateful to the teachers! Thank you!'' ''This course provides a place for PhD students to find their inner peace during their intensive work as well as gives you useful tips. 10/10 recommended!'' ''The course is made of very insightful sessions with original methods to share and reflect about our thought process and behaviour at work.'' ''At the least expected moments I came to, not only, understand but also feel insights about myself that will help me deal with myself and the PhD in the coming years'' ''Participating in the boxing and balancing exercises with a co-participant was fun. It made me maintain balance, which I relate to my research and personal life.''

   

  The Choice is an experiential personal leadership course designed to help you take greater control of your professional and personal life. You will (re)discover what truly matters to you and be motivated to take actions that positively shape your PhD journey. ~Includes physical exercises and box coaching~
• Introduction to Scientific Integrity (in-person training)
  This 1 day-course conveys how the principles of research integrity, at core, are an invaluable resource for doing good science.
• Mindful Productivity for scientists -Online
  Mindful Productivity for Scientists is one of the signature courses of “I focus and write”. By the end of this course, the students will have a full strategy of productivity that starts with themselves at the center and builds up around the needs of each individual. For more information please have a look at the website.
• Mindful Productivity for scientists - Reviews previous participants

  “After the course, I managed to submit a PhD thesis on time, so I'm very happy that I joined! I would have finished it regardless, but definitely with a more troubled mentality. I'm currently in the post-submission stage, happily going through a "void" period and not feeling guilty about it!  I'm super happy I signed up!“ Daniela Requena Suarez, PhD researcher at Wageningen University

  “Before I joined this course, I was feeling negative about my work. Especially due to the lack of motivation, not having clear priorities and being drained by difficult tasks. Now I feel less stressed because I am aware that many of my blocks (such as procrastination) come from emotions, but I can understand them and put them into place with the tools I got. Also, having good planning and overview has helped me feel more positive about myself and my work.” Ana Shein, PhD researcher, NIOO-KNAW

  “When I joined this course, I had just started a tenure track position and I felt utterly overwhelmed. I was just working like crazy, but not having time for my own research. I felt that I couldn't enjoy any time off because I hadn't achieved enough for my work. The course really helped me get clear on what my values are and what I should give priority. Even if this means that I have to say no to others.”, Katja Hoedjes, Assistant Professor, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

  In “I focus and write” I help scientists to have a more creative, productive, and happier academic life. To do that, I use a mindful approach (that is not spiritual) to overcome common mental and especially emotional struggles that scientists have, while they are getting things done.

5. VALUE FOR SOCIETY

• Making Impact: Increasing the relevance of research through science-society interaction (in person)
  During this course, Dr. Harro Maat, Prof. Cees Leewis and Prof. Phil Macnaghten of the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation team will provide you with the scientific insights on how to make an impact. In addition, you can learn from them, and a panel of researchers on the different approaches they take to turn this into practical approaches. Note: this course will take place on campus as an in person training
• Outreach & Effective Science Communication
  This course helps researchers become effective science communicators by practicing how to clearly and enthusiastically share their findings with the public, using concise language, relatable examples, and minimal jargon.
• Science Journalism
  Enhance your popular science writing and communication skills, increase your visibility and learn how to disseminate academic knowledge to a larger audience.

6. DIDACTIC SKILLS

• 👉SURVEY - Exploring Teaching Outside Academia: orientation and reflection
  Thinking about what comes after your PhD? Would you like to experience teaching outside of academia? WGS is considering to organise the course Exploring Teaching Outside Academia again, but we need to hear from you to know if you're interested. If you are interested to join such a course, please sign up via the 'apply' button on the course page. If there is enough interest within WGS, a new edition of the course will be set up and you will be notified.
• All Courses on supervision and teaching, organised by the Teaching and Learning Centre
  All Courses on supervision and teaching, organised by the Teaching and Learning Centre . If you are interested to obtain the UTQ during your PhD and your supervisors support that idea, you can reach out to info.utq@wur.nl to explore the possibilities.
• Start to Supervise Group Work
  In this 2,5 hour workshop you will be provided with some general information about supervising groups of students at Wageningen University and discuss good practices, expectations, basic skills. Furthermore there will be room for questions.
• Start to Teach: Preparing Learning
  This course introduces you to some basic teaching and learning principles, which include topics such as constructive alignment, writing learning outcomes, activating students prior knowledge, and understanding the importance of assessment.
• Start to teach at university
  This course is meant for PhD candidates who want to explore the art of teaching within university settings and will introduce you to some basic teaching and learning principles.
• Teaching lab practicals
  This three day course is intended for people who want to improve the design, assessment, and teaching of their lab parcticals and elements of their practical class. The focus is not only on teaching, but on the different elements that make a lab practical more engaging, aligned, and successful.
• Supervising BSc & MSc thesis students (New format)
  This course is intended for PhD candidates, postdocs, and academic staff who are or will be supervising students during their BSc or MSc thesis

7. OTHER COURSES

• Introduction to Git for scientific software development
  Do you write scientific software? Or do you write scripts as part of your research (e.g. Python, R, Matlab, Perl)? This course introduces the git protocol, the command-line and GUI clients available and the concepts that make git such a popular versioning tool.
• Introduction to WUR Library for PhD candidates (online training)
  Introduction to the tools and services of the Library relevant to the first steps of your research
• Courses offered by Sports Centre the Bongerd
  Courses offered by Sports Centre the Bongerd
• SAVE THE DATE: PhD Workshop Carousel (4 March 2026)
  Every year, Wageningen Graduate Schools (WGS) organises a one-day event for PhD candidates (Postdocs are welcome too!) consisting of a carousel of 4 sessions with 6 workshops per session. Workshops are either stand-alone workshops or teasers that give a taste of more elaborate courses and workshops organised by Wageningen Graduate Schools. More information will be available in November/December 2025

9. Links to training organized by individual Graduate Schools & WUR Library

• PE&RC - Production Ecology and Resource Conservation
  Training page of PE&RC
• VLAG - Biobased, Biomolecular, Food and Nutrition Sciences
  Training page of VLAG
• WASS - Wageningen School of Social Sciences
  Training page of WASS
• WIAS - Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences
  Training page of WIAS
• WIMEK - Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research
  Training page of WIMEK
• EPS - Experimental Plant Sciences
  Training page of EPS
• WUR Library
  Courses & modules of WUR Library