Do you want to improve specific skills?
Do you want to facilitate efficient research at your institution?
Customised training can help!
I provide trainings tailored to your needs. My trainings focus on skills that are crucial for scientists in academia (learn more about my academic background and CV).
Possible training formats include
- In person trainings and virtual trainings
- Half-day / one-day / two-day workshops for groups
- Workshop series (several shorter sessions) for groups
- 1:1 trainings
Topics include
Effective
communication
- How to effectively communicate with colleagues and across disciplines
- Moderating meetings
- The philosophy of nonviolent communication
- Negotiation
Leadership and supervision
- Forming productive teams
- Supervision and mentoring of students
- Giving feedback
- Dealing with conflicts in the team
- Mental health in academia
Good scientific practice
- Becoming aware of common traps in academia
- Dealing with external pressure
- Identifying and dealing with internal conflicts
- Making your research sustainable
Science
communication
- Making effective scientific presentations
- Effective scientific writing
- Strategies for grant writing
- Giving engaging presentations
Workshop examples:
Why training?
Excellent science does not only rely on domain-specific knowledge and technical skills. In particular, self-management and communication skills are crucial for conducting research efficiently. Good scientific writing and engaging presentations are highly important for maximising the impact of your research. If you want to succeed as a scientists, there will be times where you need to present your research clearly and with self-confidence, negotiate, face internal conflicts and deal with difficult interpersonal situations. Training will equip you with the resources to master all aspects of academic life.
What to expect
My trainings are a result of the skills I gained during my academic career, my teaching experience, and my expertise in communication. In my workshops, participants are provided with tools and strategies and have the opportunity to try them out in a safe environment as well as reflect on the application to their own individual situations. My background as trained mediator and a keen improvisation theatre actress allows me to flexibly and individually react to the participants' needs and input. Being a researcher myself, I will present any theoretical content with as much scientific evidence as possible and with a critical mindset. I design my trainings as evidence-informed as possible. This means that I keep myself informed on the latest research on learning and training design and regularly exchange expertise with my trainer network.
When is training not the right tool?
The purpose of training is to help you acquire skills that you can apply to your particular situation, but it is not the right tool, if you want input and support with your particular challenges or conflicts. If this is the case, you could consider Coaching or Mediation.
My trainings are highly interactive and rely on active participation and reflection of the participants. If you are looking for somebody to lecture on theoretical content, then my trainings are not the right tool for you.
What next?
Get in touch and we will discuss setting, format and cost of your customised training. Trainings can take place either virtually or in person.
Participant voices
"The workshop was diverse, entertaining and practice-oriented.”
"The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Everyone involved took part. I liked the playful elements. I particularly liked Ilona's offer of help in case we would get upset by anything."
"It was a good mix of sitting and moving around the room. We had a visible outline as a roadmap and were encouraged to take care of our basic needs at all times."
"The communication within the workshop was great: very constructive, mindful, respectful. It was helpful to define and discuss the ground rules beforehand. Topics were explained briefly and concisely and then we went into the practical exercises. I took away many different ideas and ways of thinking."