Managing your Research Project with Ease

In this training you will be offered tools that support you in planning and managing your Research project in a way that lets you move forward consistently with ease, instead of struggle – especially in times of low motivation and when time delays occur. You will reflect on your visions and objectives regarding your research topics and translate long-term goals and plans into short-term actionable steps. Furthermore, you will learn how to deal with the immanent uncertainty in research projects and get resilience tools to inevitable setbacks during your research process. An introduction into Design Thinking methods will help to identify when plans need to be adjusted and how “failure” can be turned into ultimate scientific success. The training inputs will be supplemented by a group coaching session to identify stumbling blocks in implementing the learned tools.

Furthermore, there will be an indiviual follow-up session on the 20 May 2025.

Methods

• Background information and tools around:

• Project management method: “Pomodoro method” and elements of agile project management applicable in scientific projects.

• Brain research and neuro-scientific background to understand own behavior and to overcome obstacles.

• (Aspects of) Design Thinking to integrate elements of agile project management into the PhD process.

• Individual and group work: planning your own PhD process.

• Group reflections with high interactivity on obstacles and stumbling blocks.

• Practical exercises

• Group coaching on day 2 to identify and overcome obstacles to applying what has been learned.

• Individual coaching for individual support in planning and implementation

Date(s) & Time(s):

The course will take place on 29 April 2025, from 09:00 to 17:00.

There will also be an individual follow-up session on the 20 May 2025.

Please note that this course is GIGA internal only.

About the lecturer

DR. Insa Flachsbarth is a business economist by training; she holds a PhD in agricultural economics and has over 10 years of experience as a researcher and scientific project manager in several European and American research institutions and universities. She is also an ICF-accredited professional coach for scientists at different career levels and conducted additional training for female empowerment in the US. Her coaching and trainings focus on female leadership in science as well as inter- and transdisciplinary group processes. Her workshops are designed to create long-lasting transformative experiences leaving the participants with confidence to create authentic and joyful (work) lives.