Thesis from A to Z

Starting an ambitious project like a PhD requires planning, time management, work discipline and a clear mind around goals, expectations, and respective roles between the PhD candidate and the supervisor.

In this half-day workshop, we cover the following topics through short presentations and discussion:

• The key stages of a doctorate at UNIL and the Code of Practice for the Doctorate.
• The rights and obligations of doctoral candidates and their supervisors, and the ways in which we can establish effective and adapted communication.
• The challenges doctoral candidates can encounter, and how to deal with them.
• Methods for time and task management.
• Professional paths and futures for doctoral holders (careers within and beyond academia).

Target group: PhD candidates (first or second semester) from all faculties

Facilitator: Benjamin Rudaz, Graduate Campus

⇒ Registration

Research in general, and a doctorate in particular, can be a lonely activity, and a source of stress, self-doubt and mental blocks. Isolation is an ideal environment for these feelings to thrive, and puts a strain on morale and analytical capacities. The restrictions of lockdown have taken this risk to a new level, by putting pressure on relationships and forcing everybody into home-office.

The Graduate Campus invites you to take the time for a short online session (max. 6 persons) to share between peers the challenges, questions, and potential  solutions to this weird period. The discussion will be facilitated by a member of the Graduate Campus, and the core of our time together will be devoted to peer-to-peer exchange. 

If individual situations require it, a separate discussion with a member of the Graduate Campus can be scheduled after the session, to allow for a more in-depth discussion.

Facilitator: Mélanie Bosson or Benjamin Rudaz

Register now!

In order to built a good relation with your supervisor, you can contact the Graduate Campus to discuss topics as:

• The doctoral supervision process
• Your role and the role of your supervisor in this relationship
• Tools to analyse your needs and express them to your supervisor

Contact: Benjamin Rudaz, graduatecampus@unil.ch

Goals of the Workshop

• Distinguish the context of the jury examination from that of the public presentation
• How best to prepare the public presentation
• How to communicate effectively
• How to respond to the Jury

You will be asked to bring a 5 minute presentation of your PhD research.

Target public: doctoral candidates (2 to 6 months before the jury examination or public presentation) from all faculties

Facilitator: Dr Mélanie Bosson, Graduate Campus