PhD Days

How do you build a scientific career strategically?  

What should you focus on at different stages of your career, and how is research performance evaluated?  

This interactive workshop will help early-career researchers understand both the formal and informal aspects of developing a scientific career and plan their professional development with greater confidence. 

Through case studies and discussion, you will explore common career dilemmas, consider what to prioritise at different stages, and reflect on how to approach career development strategically while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

The workshop will be led by Mgr. Kateřina Cidlinská, Ph.D., a sociologist and researcher specialising in academic careers, working conditions in academia, and the professional development of early-career researchers. She has long been involved in supporting doctoral and early-career researchers and was one of the founding figures and former chair of the Czech Association of Doctoral Candidates (ČAD). She also has extensive experience designing and delivering workshops on research careers and career development. 

Are you approaching the end of your PhD or postdoctoral position and wondering what comes next? Whether you are considering a career in academia, exploring opportunities beyond research, or simply trying to understand your options in the Czech labour market, planning your next steps can feel overwhelming.

This interactive workshop is designed for international PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers who want to explore career opportunities in the Czech Republic and make informed decisions about their future. The session will provide an overview of the Czech labour market, employment opportunities for researchers, and key legal considerations related to residence and work after graduation or the end of a research appointment.

Alongside practical information, participants will be invited to reflect on their skills, interests, and career aspirations through guided interactive activities. The workshop will conclude with a discussion and Q&A session, offering space to address individual questions and challenges.

Lecturer: Zuzana Maršálková

Zuzana works with international PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and scientists at various stages of their careers. In her daily work, she regularly encounters questions that many early-career researchers face: What opportunities are available after completing a PhD? Is an academic career the right path? What options exist outside academia? And how can researchers plan their next professional steps?

Working closely with researchers from around the world, she has observed that career planning is often one of the most challenging aspects of a research career. Many researchers are unaware of the opportunities available to them or find it difficult to identify the path that best matches their skills and aspirations. Motivated by these challenges, she has developed a strong interest in career development for early-career researchers and is currently expanding her knowledge in this field. She combines this growing expertise with years of practical experience supporting researchers throughout key stages of their academic and professional journeys.

Join a panel discussion exploring the challenges and achievements of women in scientific careers. Experienced female researchers will share their personal stories, offering practical insights on navigating academia, building professional networks, and balancing career with personal life. 

This session provides a valuable opportunity to learn from role models, ask questions, and gain perspectives that can support your own career development in research. 

Have you ever wondered what your life will look like after your PhD? What success means to you — and how to get there?

As you begin your research career, small choices now shape major outcomes later.

This 3-hour interactive workshop uses the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship framework as a practical blueprint for your career design. Grounded in career data and insights into how we make decisions, the session helps you ask the right questions and translate your vision into a clear, competitive strategy.

The session will help you:

o    Define personal success in research and beyond

o    Explore career options using MSCA outcome data

o    Map transferable skills via Vitae and Career Development Plans

o    Focus on what you can influence during your PhD

o    Decode MSCA sections to draft credible career goals

o    Create a personalized career roadmap

o    Build confidence in discussing your career vision

Lektorka:

Radka Pittnerová

Radka is a strategic consultant, lecturer, and career coach with over twenty years of experience in the international research ecosystem, consulting on EU projects since FP5. Specializing in HR in research since 2008 - including work on the HRS4R Award - she leads initiatives in training, career development, and international collaboration. Drawing on her PhD, mentoring background, and coaching practice, she has supported over 5,000 researchers through targeted training, project consulting, and strategic guidance.

Supervision is not only about guiding research. How can supervisors support doctoral candidates in developing their careers while helping them become independent researchers? This interactive panel discussion will explore the role of the supervisor as a mentor and career guide. 

You will gain practical insights into how to talk with PhD candidates about their career ambitions, balance research project goals with their professional development, and support the development of independence and transferable skills. The discussion will also explore how supervisors can use their own professional networks to open opportunities for their PhD candidates. 

The session will combine short contributions from 2–4 experienced and early-career supervisors with international experience, a networking break, and a moderated panel discussion with the audience. The panel will be moderated by Czexpats in Science, drawing on its experience of building an international scientific community and delivering career-development workshops for doctoral candidates, postdocs, and supervisors. 

How can you finish your PhD well and prepare for what comes next? This interactive panel discussion will help you think ahead about completing your doctorate and making informed decisions about your next career step. 

You will get practical insights into planning and writing your dissertation, when to start thinking about your next move, choosing a postdoc or international opportunity, and exploring career options beyond academia. Speakers will also share what they wish they had known during their own PhD and what skills from doctoral training can be valuable in different career paths. 

The session will combine short contributions from 2–4 PhD graduates with different career paths, a networking break, and a moderated panel discussion with the audience. The panel will be moderated by Czexpats in Science, drawing on the experience of its international community of researchers and its long-standing work in career development for PhD candidates and postdocs.

This interactive workshop introduces PhD students to the basic principles of competitive grant writing. Participants will gain an understanding of the typical structure, logic, and key components of a research proposal. Through practical examples, you will learn how to formulate clear project objectives, communicate your research effectively and persuasively and craft a coherent, compelling abstract. You will leave with practical tips and a clearer understanding of how to begin developing a strong, competitive grant proposal. 

Lektor: Mgr. Veronika Mikitová, Ph.D

How can research create value beyond academia? Interactive workshop introduces an entrepreneurial mindset and a customer-centric approach to research planning. It will help you explore how scientific discoveries can address real-world needs and create societal and economic impact.

You will learn how to identify relevant problems, understand the needs of potential users and customers, and connect research outcomes with practical applications. The workshop will outline the journey from problem identification to the commercialisation of research results, highlighting key considerations and opportunities along the way.

Finally, you will receive a practical roadmap with resources available at Masaryk University and beyond, helping you navigate the next steps towards translating your research into real-world impact.

Think beyond scientific excellence and recognise the market potential of your research!

Lektor: Ing. Bc. Alena Šafrová Drášilová, Ph.D.

The workshop, organised by the MU Career Centre, is intended for Master’s students considering their next career steps. It offers support in exploring options after graduation, whether they are considering doctoral studies or other career paths.

Lektor: Veronika Hůlová

In today’s research environment, science communication is an essential skill for every researcher. Being able to present your work clearly, promote your results, and build your professional identity are key steps toward a successful research career and new collaborations. 

In this workshop, colleagues from the Centre for Research Culture, Evaluation and Doctoral Studies (CREED) will guide you through practical ways to enhance your research visibility and impact of your research. You’ll learn why author identifiers matter, how they work, and what they can do for you. 

You’ll also explore useful tools and strategies to make your scientific achievements easier to find, follow, and cite - helping your research reach the audience it deserves. 

Lecturers: Ing. Monika Kuchlei Sieberová and Mgr. Eva Nagyová

Most PhD researchers have a LinkedIn profile. Few use it to open doors. In this interactive workshop, Elena Hoffer, PhD, co-founder of Alma.Me, shows you how to turn LinkedIn into a real tool for your career after the PhD.

Get Found: Build a profile recruiters can find, from your headline and About section to turning academic experience into impact language
Get Noticed: Grow your network through thoughtful comments, simple posts and outreach that feels natural
Get Hired: Use smart job alerts and the “warm path” strategy to find your way into companies

Through short hands-on exercises and peer feedback, you will leave with a clear roadmap and practical handouts to keep working on your profile afterward.

Lecturers: Elena Hofer, Ph:D.