Managing your PhD
Managing your PhD
12 October, 9, 17 & 30 November 2026, 13h - 17h
General context
A PhD is both a scientific and personal journey. Managing it effectively is key to success. Beyond your research, you need to set clear goals, plan realistically, stay motivated, and navigate complex academic environments.
This course focuses on the three pillars of PhD success: your project, yourself, and your environment. Through practical tools and peer discussions, you will learn how to plan and prioritize, manage your time and energy, and build productive relationships with supervisors and collaborators.
After this course, you will:
- Define the scope and goals of your PhD and create a realistic project plan with milestones.
- Adapt plans and priorities when circumstances change, while keeping long-term objectives in view.
- Improve time management, focus, and motivation through practical self-leadership strategies.
- Build resilience and confidence in handling setbacks and challenges.
- Map your academic environment and develop strategies to work effectively with supervisors and other stakeholders.
The training consists of 4 (half-day) sessions. These 4 sessions are likely spread out over multiple weeks, as the participants need to apply what they have learned during the training to their own PhD.
PhD students working in VIB Centers.
This course is part of the learning path Basic research essentials.
The training learned me a lot on how I react in discussions and that had me reflect on how I behave in my work environment.
Participant edition autumn 2024
It was very inspiring and now I feel more confident in my PhD, because I know what are the problems to expect and ways to tackle them.
Participant edition spring 2023
Very useful content, a lot of practical exercises, a lot of interaction, very well prepared trainer, friendly, open and safe atmosphere, good training planning, appropriate number of participants. The training exceeded my expectations.
Participant edition autumn 2022
Trainers
Naomi Vanderstockt
“Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.” George Eliot
“Everyone is digging deeper into their own trench and rarely standing up to look in the next trench over, even though the solution to their problem happens to reside there.” David Epstein
As a Master Mariner (Captain) with a decade and a half of experience at sea, I firmly believe in the importance of cross disciplinary sharing of knowledge and of honing your mind to listen to unlikely connections. With 12 years of working as a leader in the cruise industry, on vessels with up to 8880 persons onboard, I have had the pleasure to engage worldwide in a truly multicultural environment and to carry the responsibility to teach and coach people from all backgrounds in carrying out critical tasks in a larger system. How different players within a decision making group interact is key, and if you consider any major maritime incident, you can almost guarantee human error and communication were involved. How to create barriers to avoid specific outcomes and how to create connections to enable others, has always fascinated me and is a cause I keep delving deeper into especially in the context of coastal protection, ports and other critical operations.
Throughout my years as instructor I have taught managers, operational staff of all levels, government officials, captains, pilots and more in matters ranging from communication, leadership, resource management to highly technical subjects such as maneuvers ( full-mission bridge simulator exercises), safety, and maritime regulations ( COLREGS). The diversity of both my public and subject matters has honed my creative and goal-orientated approach. I keep in mind what needs to be achieved and strategize on how a specific audience can best reach that outcome. I believe in (inter)active exercises, critical thinking and going beyond mere knowledge transfer: to the installing of deep-rooted understanding that lasts a lifetime.
Modern work, and in particular leadership, demands the ability to apply knowledge to new situations and different domains. This is one of the values that I see reflected in True Colours, and makes me very grateful to be part of this organization.
Program
Session 1
- Project Management instead of routine or improvisation
- Different types of projects
- Project management in a research project
- Contracting between project leader and client
- Bermuda triangle (goals, resources, timing)
- Project charter
Session 2
- Project charter (continued)
- Milestones planning
- Kick-off, follow-up and closing of projects
- Getting things done
- Prioritize things
Session 3
- Milestone plan
- Stakeholder management
- Influencing people
- Determining your own style
Session 4
- Stakeholder analysis and communication plan
- Integration of learned lessons and how to project management has influence on it
Practical info
12 October 2026 - 30 November 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Belgium
12 October 2026 - 30 November 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven train station is approximately 4 km from the campus Gasthuisberg. Buses depart very regularly to the Gasthuisberg Campus from Leuven train station.
For tickets and up to date schedules visit website De Lijn or use the De Lijn App.
Exit at the very last bus stop ‘Gasthuisberg Campus) make sure not to exit at ‘Gasthuisberg Kliniek =
hospital)
Once you get off the bus, go to your right and go up the street until you see stairs to your left. Climb the stairs all the way up between two buildings. Look for the signs containing blue circles and white numbers and follow them all the way from 2 up to number 12. You will cross several buildings and the walk will take max. 10 minutes. When you reach number 12, you have reached O&N 5, where you can find the reception.
12 October 2026 - 30 November 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
The Gasthuisberg campus is west of the Leuven ring. Our buildings are situated behind the hospital (see black arrow near ‘RING NOORD’ on the map). If you come from the city center, you will arrive on campus from the east side (taking Mgr. Van Waeyenberglaan and roundabout Het Teken). If you come from Heverlee or Campus Arenberg, you will arrive from the west side (taking the Celestijnenlaan and Taborweg). When you arrive uphill at the intersection with the Rega Institute and the Red Cross building, you need to take the road down to the bicycle parking at Rega Institute (see map) where you can park. Next, follow the ‘Onderwijs & Navorsing blue route’ description below (start point is #9).
12 October 2026 - 30 November 2026
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
You arrive via the E314 highway – EXIT 16
After 200 m, keep left to drive underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
You arrive via the Leuven ring road
At the roundabout, take the exit towards ‘Spoed / Ziekenhuis’.
Follow the ring around Campus Gasthuisberg and pass the entrance of SPOED.
Continue right until you arrive at a second roundabout.
Follow the directions for E314.
Near the Fire Brigade Station, make a U-turn and follow the directions for ‘Ziekenhuis’.
Keep left and drive downhill, underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
Next, leave the parking at level +1 using the big stairs near the vending machines.
Follow the red carpet and arrows to 'Onco Dagcentrum' to get to the O&N buildings. Take the stairs on your left after exiting Parking West. You are now in front of the O&N4 building; on the left you will find O&N5.