EDONA - Escuela de Doctorado de Navarra

Main tutor: Dr. Sara Manzano

Why you should enroll?

The aim of this program is to provide strategical planning methodologies and highly specialized career development tools for Early-Stage Researchers (ESR) to support the candidates in the acquisition of transversal skills for the design and progression of their professional careers in both, academia and R&D-related industry. Each pathway will be tailored to fit the doctoral candidate´s goals, strengths and potential. The Doctoral GPS is a theoretical-practical program based on a 4-weeks tutored process where the critical phases typically experienced thorough a doctorate will be presented. The ESR will be guided through the limitations and opportunities for personal and career development in each stage of the doctorate to finally discuss about the different tools and strategies to support them and maximize the outputs of their research.

Contents

Module 1. Building your doctoral strategy
In the first module a self-assessment will be performed by the ESR, where each candidate will gather information about himself to make an informed career decision. The self-assessment will include an analysis of each ESR skills, objectives, interests and personality. With this information, the doctoral candidate will elaborate a detailed career development plan and a subsequent action plan. The purpose of such planning is to ensure that the ESR’s work is clearly focused on achieving their research and professional goals.

Module 2. Set of tools to assist the esr in their doctorate
In the second module, a set of tools specifically designed to assist ESR will be presented. This includes, but is not limited to, the state-ofthe art practical methodologies for personal and team research, project and resource management skills. With this “toolkit” the ESR will be ready to address the goals previously identified in the personal 3-year doctoral strategy.

Module 3. Presentation of the doctoral results
In this session, the ESR will be guided on how to efficiently analyze and elaborate a presentation of the data obtained during the PhD program. This module will be completed with a collection of good practices for exploitation and usage of the publications, conferences, workshops, courses, and /or seminar presentations and patents achieved by the ESR.

Module 4. Preparing for job hunting : the how, which, and wheres
In the last module, the ESR will first dive into alternative career paths available after the doctorate process and how to decide the route to follow. Subsequently, scientific job-hunting strategies and resources either for academia or industry will be presented and discussed with the trainee. This includes i.e., useful tips on how approach a potential employer/group leader, preparing one-to-one interview and persuasive writing of CVs.

Career inspiration session. Professional journey inspiring masterclass by a distinguished speaker

At the culmination of the online course, the ESR will have the opportunity to attend an in- person masterclass by a distinguished speaker. They will share their remarkable career journey, providing invaluable insights and inspiration to propel your own professional aspirations. In one year, the speaker will be closely connected to the industry, sharing insights and experiences from the corporate world. In the following year, the focus shifts towards the realm of pure scientific research, fostering a deeper understanding of the academic pursuit. Students in their first year will have the exceptional opportunity to attend both sessions, benefiting from a comprehensive learning experience that bridges the gap between industry and pure research.

Dates: Start on May 20.

Timeline:

• May 20: Module 1. 1 hour theory + 2 hours own work (career development plan). Personalized revision of the career development plan by the tutor (video summary with recommendations and suggestions).
• May 27: Module 2. 1 hour theory + 2 hours own work (career development plan). Personalized revision of thedescribed tools applied to each ESR case (video summary with recommendations and suggestions).
• June 3: Module 3. 1 hour theory + 2 hours own work (career development plan). Personalized revision of the scheme elaborated by each ESR (video summary with recommendations and suggestions).
• June 10: Module 4. 1 hour theory + 2 hours own work (career development plan). Personalized revision of the proposed exercises (video summary with recommendations and suggestions).
• June 17-28: Career inspiration session. Professional journey inspiring masterclass by a distinguished speaker. This session will take place at the training

Location: 4 modules online. The last session will take place at the EDONA training room (El Sario Building)

Number of students: max. 15

EHT: Up to 4 EHTs (equivalent hours of training)