Forum for Doctoral Students

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.

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. There will be two career seminars during the autumn 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 for the fall have already started and you are welcome to join one, a few or all sessions! We will meet in Gula Villan. Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can start at 9 am sharp. You enter at the side of the building and go to the second floor. These writing labs are all Tuesdays for the whole semester (with an exception for the höstlov on week 44). Welcome! 

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.

Website, Åsa Burman

Initiators

The pilot project, Forum for Doctoral Students, began in the fall 2022 and continuously 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 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. During the fall of 2025, the course is given in English. Location: Aula Magna, Mimer for all workshops. All participants get coffee and sandwiches during the first and last workshop.

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

Autumn 2025

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: September 8, at 13-16, Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 2 – Academic productivity

From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I set realistic goals?
Date: September 29, at 13-16, Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 3 – Academic writing

From perfectionism and procrastination to flow
Date: October 20, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 4 – Sustainable working methods

The demand-control-support model
Date: November 10, 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: September 2, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 2 – Academic productivity

From vague visions to concrete goals: How do I set realistic goals?
Date: September 22, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 3 – Academic writing

From perfectionism and procrastination to flow
Date: October 14, at 13-16 Aula Magna, Mimer.

Workshop 4 – Sustainable working methods

The demand-control-support model
Date: November 11, 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). 

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 two career seminars during autumn. To sign up email: forumfd_humvet@su.se (Limited spots available.) 

Enhancing Your Seminar Skills

As part of the academic journey, providing feedback on others' work and engaging in discussions related to your own research is essential. As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to present your dissertation chapters or articles during your Department's seminar series, both at the midway point and at the final seminar, and of course your dissertation defense.

It's not uncommon to think of eloquent responses only after the moment has passed. In this seminar, we will explore and practice various strategies for effectively responding to feedback. We aim to equip you with tools to give constructive and clear feedback to others, thereby enhancing your seminar skills and increasing the likelihood of formulating your own responses during discussions.

4th of November, kl. 13-15

Place: Gula Villan, Ninox

Seminar leader: Åsa Burman & guest

The Academic Toolbox

Knowing when to persevere and when to quit is a precondition of academic success. However, the world is uncertain, so how do you make these decisions? This two-hour seminar covers strategies and tools for making informed decisions about continuing or quitting. When should you, for instance, persevere in a collaboration, such as a co-authorship, working on a funding application, or even pulling back an article from a journal submission? The goal is to have both grit and quit in your toolbox, knowing when to choose one over the other. We will also explore a few reasons why quitting is often difficult, and then develop strategies for making better decisions about quitting or continuing. 

December 1st, kl. 13-15

Place: Gula Villan, Minerva

Seminar leader: Åsa Burman

Contact

You are welcome to contact the Forum for Doctoral Students:

forumfd_humvet@su.se