Forum for Doctoral Students
The project Forum for Doctoral Students provides additional support for PhD students in the human sciences. The purpose is to provide additional guidance so that more PhD students finish on time and feel good a long the way.
Objectives
Forum for Doctoral Students has three main objectives:
- More PhD students should finish on time
- Decrease negative stress and absence due to sick leave among the PhD students
- Further strengthening Stockholm University’s competitiveness
Forum for Doctoral Students consists of:
- A mentorship program
- Career activities
- Writing labs
Mentorship Program
The purpose of this mentorship program is to support doctoral students in navigating their role as PhD students and their future career. More specifically, you will get paired with a faculty member (lecturer or researcher) from a different faculty at Stockholm University to discuss matters of importance to you. Topics might include, but are not limited to, how to understand and navigate the Swedish academic system, how to retain a good work-life balance, and how to assess career choices during and after the PhD. The idea is to provide an open atmosphere where doctoral students can ask questions about the academic processes, receive guidance, and learn from their mentors' experiences. There are many unwritten rules in the academic world. This implicit knowledge is often well-known to the mentors but not to the mentees. This knowledge is shared with the doctoral students and made explicit. The mentor also develops with the doctoral student by participating in the doctoral student’s progression and academic journey.
This program is modelled on a longstanding mentorship program to support young researchers at Stockholm University as well as last year’s mentorship program for PhD students at Stockholm University. The mentorship program for doctoral students includes three joint meetings over the course of a year. The program also includes three hourly meetings per semester with your individual mentor to discuss topics of specific relevance to you. We meet in a nice location on campus (Aula Magna).
Read the article: Mentorship increases well-being
How to Apply to the Mentorship Program
Write a one-page letter in which you introduce yourself, briefly explain your research topic, and why you would like to work with a mentor. Send the letter in a pdf-file to: forumfd_humvet@su.se.
The letter will be used to select candidates and also to pair the successful candidates with the right mentor. We have 10 spots available. Applications are assessed continuously.
You must be able to make all three joint meetings to apply:
- 31st of January 2025, at 13-15, Aula Magna.
- 25th of April 2025, at 13-15, Aula Magna.
- 21st of November 2025, at 13-15, Aula Magna.
The application period is closed. If you are interested in participating next year, 2026, you can apply in December.
In case of questions, feel free to reach out to Åsa Burman, project manager of Forum for doctoral students including the mentorship program for doctoral students: forumfd_humvet@su.se
Career Activities
The career activities aim to answer the question: What should I do after my PhD? Guest speakers, who represent various career paths, share their journey. Participants are encouraged to expand their network by discussing with other doctoral students at the event. The career seminars are organized three times per semester during lunch. There will be three career seminars during the spring semester.
Read the article, Well-attended career seminar on strategic academic publishing
Writing Labs
The writing labs are a cornerstone of the project. These sessions occur every Tuesday between 9-11 am throughout the semester. In that way, doctoral students regularly set aside time for their research and writing at an excellent location (Gula Villan). The energy during these sessions is dynamic and helpful. For example, we end each session by sharing advice about academic research and writing.
There are writing labs for PhD students every Tuesday 9-11 in Gula Villan. The writing labs will start in the spring semester on January 14 and the last writing lab will take place on June 10. We will meet in Gula Villan, in the conference room Ninox. On three occasions, February 11, March 25, and May 20, the writing labs will still take place in Gula Villan but in the conference room Minerva. During Easter, on April 15, the writing lab will be canceled.
Read the article, Create Structure and Joy in the Research Studies
Åsa Burman, Project Manager
Åsa Burman, Reader (Docent) in practical philosophy at Stockholm University is Project Manager for Forum for Doctoral Students. She listens to the suggestions for activities and support from the PhD students to continuously provide relevant information and individual help, for instance, regarding planning, writing, publishing, and career questions.
Initiators
The pilot project, Forum for Doctoral Students, began in the fall 2022 and continuosly evaluated. The project continues during 2024. The initiators of this project are:
- The Board of Human Science
- The Human Resources Office
- The Deans of the Faculties of Humanities, Law and Social Sciences
- Åsa Burman, Reader (Docent), Practical Philosophy at Stockholm University
Forum for Doctoral Students
Course for All Doctoral Students
Finish on time on time and feel good along the way
Many doctoral students feel that a duality characterizes their PhD studies; on the one hand, an incredible amount of freedom and time to work with the subject one is passionately interested in, on the other hand, that freedom leads to frameworks that are too loose. This course provides solid techniques and new strategies to finish on time and feel good along the way. The course leader is Åsa Burman, docent in practical philosophy and author of the course book The Doctoral Student Handbook: Master Effectiveness, Reduce Stress and Finish On Time. The course is open to all doctoral students at Stockholm University, and the course book is included. The course is given in English. Location: Aula Magna, Mimer (including coffee and sandwiches).
Register by sending an email to: forumfd_humvet@su.se. Please mark the subject line of the email: Doctoral student course (limited number of seats available). The same email address can be used for questions about the course. Welcome!
”For me, it has had an enormous impact on my everyday life. I get more done in my
working hours and no longer have to work evenings or weekends.” - Course participant
If you have questions or would like to register, reach out to: forumfd_humvet@su.se
Group 1: New PhD students who have reached less than halfway
Workshop 1 – Academic productivity
From efficiency to effectiveness: How do I use the 80/20 principle in my thesis work?
Date: January 27, at 13-16, Aula Magna, Mimer.
Workshop 2 – Academic productivity
From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I set realistic goals?
Date: February 17, at 13-16, Aula Magna, Mimer.
Workshop 3 – Sustainable working methods
The demand-control-support model
Date: March 17, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.
Workshop 4 – Academic writing
From perfectionism and procrastination to flow
Date: April 7, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.
Individual sessions – Academic productivity
From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I follow up on my goals and continue to
work with the new strategies?
Date: Individual session with the course leader (we find a date and time that works
together).
Group 2: PhD students who have reached halfway or further
Workshop 1 – Academic productivity
From efficiency to effectiveness: How do I use the 80/20 principle in my thesis work?
Date: January 28, at 13-16.
Workshop 2 – Academic productivity
From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I set realistic goals?
Date: February 18, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.
Workshop 3 – Academic writing
The demand-control-support model
Date: March 18, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.
Workshop 4 – Sustainable working methods
From perfectionism and procrastination to flow
Date: April 8, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.
Individual sessions – Academic productivity
From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I follow up on my goals and continue to
work with the new strategies?
Date: Individual session with the course leader (we find a date and time that works
together).
Spring 2025
There are writing labs for PhD students every Tuesday 9-11 Gula Villan. There will be three career seminars during the spring.
What Should I Do After the PhD?
Career Seminar
Forum for doctoral students invites you to three career seminars. Free lunch included! To sign up email: forumfd_humvet@su.se (Limited spots available.)
Shifting from academia to another state agency (Riksrevisionen)
Viktor Elm-Schulin will share experiences and sound advice on transitioning from academia to another public agency, the Swedish National Audit Office (Riksrevisionen). Viktor has a PhD in political science from Stockholm University, and soon after he defended his dissertation, he interviewed and got a job offer from this agency. He will share advice on how to apply for a non-academic job, how the job differs from life in academia and what skills from Stockholm University he now uses on a daily basis. He will also give some hands-on advice to doctoral students who are curious about a career outside of academia.
Shifting from academia to another state agency (Riksrevisionen)
March, 11 at 12-13, Gula Villan: Ninox
Research funding: From PhD to Postdoc
Viviana Stechina is a Research Officer at the Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services (REIS). One of her main responsibilities is to give support regarding postdoctoral external funding. In this career seminar, she will give an overview of available research grants and scholarships to apply for after your PhD. She will also provide guidance on how to search for research funding opportunities as well as some tips on writing an application.
Research funding: From PhD to Postdoc
March 25, at 12-13, Gula Villan: Minerva
Innovation: From PhD to your own business
Ivo Todorov and Martin Arvidsson will share the insights from their own journeys from PhD studies in Psychology to commercialization of science. With extensive experience from the private sector, start-up support, and innovation funding; they will guide you through challenges and strategies to make a successful shift from science to business. We will also give an overview of the types of support we give to SU faculty, which includes doctoral students and postdocs.
Innovation: From PhD to your own business
April 29, at 12-13, Gula Villan: Ninox
Contact
You are welcome to contact the Forum for Doctoral Students:
Last updated: February 20, 2025
Source: Offices of Human Science and Science