Doctoral Supervisor Training
Doctoral Supervisor Training – Become the next SUPERvisor!
The Doctoral Supervisor Training offers support for the supervision of doctoral candidates on an academic and personal level. In cooperation with qualified trainers, various aspects of supervision, such as my role as a supervisor, leadership through communication, mental health, etc., are examined with best-practice examples in individual sessions. The training will provide you with a holistic overview of how you can best support your doctoral researchers from recruiting to career development.
Through the cooperation with scientists from different fields and institutions, the offer also provides a platform for professional exchange.
The jointly developed training is aimed specifically at professors, directors, research group leaders, IMPRS faculty members and postdocs (with supervision responsibilities) at the two Max Planck Institutes of Biochemistry and for Biological Intelligence, Helmholtz Munich and TUM.
The structured program consists of eight modules taking place between February and April 2026. The kick-off, as well as the conclusion of the training, are designed as in-person events, while the other six content modules take place online via Zoom. The modules are linked by an exchange of experiences and practical applications.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DOCTORAL SUPERVISOR TRAINING 2026!
Please note that for the online modules in 2026 we will have 2 groups running in parallel. The first group will have the online sessions on Wednesdays, the second group on Thursdays.
The next training will take place from February to April 2026. Registration is now open, apply below!
If you have any questions, please contact us at supervisor-training@gast.gwdg.de
Register now to become the next SUPERvisor!
Program outline
| Trainer / Topic | Content / Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
|
Module 1
Groups 1 & 2: Feb. 26th, 2026, 1 pm - 6 pm in person at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry |
Monika Beer
Neele Meyer Camila Hernández Frederick Vera Kaulbarsch Kick-Off: Essentials of Supervision |
- Understanding my role as a supervisor - Team building & Get together |
|
Module 2
Group 1: March 4th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 2: March 5th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Ulrike Schneeberg
Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence & Non-violent Communication |
- Introduction to the basics of Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
- Understand and know how to manage own emotions in the workplace - Increase awareness of other people’s emotions and needs - Know how to integrate both their own and others’ needs and interests when communicating with others - Apply concepts of emotional intelligence to improve their communication skills, especially when giving feedback, resolving conflicts and or motivating a team - Use the tools of NVC to lead your team with empathy and make clear requests - Implement NVC principles in different case situations |
|
Module 3
Group 1: March 11th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 2: March 12th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Martin Fladerer
Clarissa Zwarg Basics Leadership: Giving and receiving Feedback, Clarification of Expectations |
- Regular constructive feedback as an integral part of the supervisory role
- The importance of clarifying mutual expectations - Identifying potential changes in the way of giving feedback, using concepts shown to improve communication skills |
|
Module 4
Group 1: March 18th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 2: March 19th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Martin Fladerer
Clarissa Zwarg Recruitment & Onboarding |
- Introduction to the scientific basis of a structured recruitment process and the benefits of such a process
- Understand cognitive biases and strategies to reduce these biases within the recruitment and selection process - Importance of effective onboarding and integration into the team Know the process of organizational socialization (i.e., integration on three levels: professional, social, value-based) |
|
Module 5
Group 1: March 25th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 2: March 26th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Ulrike Schneeberg
Intercultural Communication |
- Learn about and get familiar with culture-specific dimensions of communication (Erin Meyer) to increase their awareness of cultural dynamics to foster successful and productive relationships with their supervised Doctoral Researchers
- Reflect on and discuss their own, other participants’ and/or exemplary critical incidents in the context of cross-cultural work experience to evaluate the effectiveness of the employed behaviours in these specific situations. - Learn to identify and focus on underlying interests and not on positions. Understand the concept of principled negotiation and its benefit in the supervision of DRs |
|
Module 6
Group 1: April 15th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 2: April 16th, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Judith Bergner
Mental Health |
- Being a role model for staying mentally strong in a challenging work-environment
- Healthy self-motivation strategies Self-calming strategies in stressful times - Knowing warning indicators for mental exhaustion - Establish routines to keep strain and regeneration in balance - Supporting doctoral researchers in dealing with different stressors - Create a safe work environment in which people can flourish |
|
Module 7
Group 1: April 22nd, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online Group 1: April 23rd, 2026, 9 am - 1 pm, online |
Ulrike Schneeberg
Leading Difficult Conversations | Focus on Negotiations |
- In the weeks before this module, participants will conduct a role play via Zoom with a professional actor, based on a specific scenario of their choice. Participants will get individual feedback from the actor in this module
- Focus on negotiation as a type of "difficult conversation", with insights from the Harvard Negotiation Model and Nonviolent Communication - Practice negotiation strategies in role plays and get feedback for improvement |
|
Module 8
Groups 1 & 2: April 30th, 2026, 2 pm - 6 pm, in person at the TUM Graduate School Garching |
Monika Beer
Neele Meyer Camila Hernández Frederick Vera Kaulbarsch Amudha Brugger Rolf Holle Looking back & future vision as a supervisor |
- Reflection: My role as a supervisor after the training, definition of milestones & implementation strategy to put theory into practice
- Impulse lecture with a supervisory role model and panel discussion
- Networking Event & Award of Certificates |
Trainers
Ulrike Schneeberg, PhD is a Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and systemic business trainer with a focus on caring and honest communication to improve (self-)leadership in research systems. Website | LinkedIn
Judith Bergner is a licensed psychologist and holds an Executive Master´s degree in business engineering. She founded skillfactors in 2000. Her focus is currently on mental health of employees and the correlation with working conditions and superior interactions. Website | LinkedIn
Dr. Martin Fladerer is a Postdoctoral Research Group Leader at the Chair of Research and Science Management at the TUM School of Management. He is also the Academic Director of the “Perspektivenlabor” at the House of Competence at KIT. Website
Clarissa Zwarg is a research associate and doctoral candidate at the Chair of Research and Science Management at the TUM School of Management. Website
Prof. Dr. Rolf Holle is Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice at Helmholtz Munich. After his formal retirement, he is still involved in teaching and research in the field of public health and health economics at the Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE) at LMU Munich. Website
Dr. Amudha Brugger is Head of the HELENA Graduate School Office at Helmholtz Munich. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience, is a certified research integrity trainer, and facilitates workshops on Good Scientific Practice for doctoral researchers. She has several years of experience in science management and doctoral training. Website | LinkedIn
Organisers & Facilitators
Dr. Monika Beer is Head of Scientific Talent and Career Development, Strategy, Programs, Resources and Director of the Helmholtz Graduate School Environmental Health (HELENA) at Helmholtz Munich.
Dr. Camila Hernández Frederick is Head of Career Services & International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life (IMPRS-ML) at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich.
Dr. Vera Kaulbarsch is Project Manager Qualification Program at the TUM Graduate School.
Dr. Neele Meyer is Postdoc Coordinator as part of the Scientific Training and Career Development Team at Helmholtz Munich.