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 the PhD? What success means to you - and how to get there?

You think it´s too early in your PhD journey to think about that?

Imagine Columbus. A one-degree shift at the start of a journey can lead to a completely different destination. As you begin your research career, small choices now may shape big outcomes later.

This 3-hour workshop will help you:

– Define what success means to you in research and beyond

– Explore career paths in and outside academia

– Identify your transferable skills and how to use them

– Understand what you can influence during your PhD - and how

– Learn practical tools like the Career Development Plan and the Vitae Framework

– Create your own personalised career roadmap

– Build the confidence to talk about your career goals

The session is interactive, hands-on, and designed to help you ask the right questions - and find your own answers.

Ing. Radka Pittnerová, Ph.D. 

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

will be added soon

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

will be added soon

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

Lecturers: Elena Hofer, Ph:D.