A PhD is not something that simply happens to you. It is a project you actively shape. Yet at the very beginning, expectations (your own and those of others) often remain unclear, unspoken, or mismatched. This uncertainty can quietly undermine confidence and motivation. This workshop empowers you to step into your PhD with clarity and agency. You will work on the questions that define your role and your direction:

• Why am I doing a PhD and what does it mean to me?
• What do I expect from this project and what do I expect from myself?
• Which assumptions influence my decisions and behavior?
• What expectations surround me, from colleagues, peers, and my environment?
• What do my supervisors expect, and how can I actively clarify this?

You will gain practical information to make expectations visible, communicate them clearly, and negotiate them confidently. By reflecting on your understanding and expressing it with intention, you strengthen your position as an active partner in your PhD and not just as a passive participant.

This workshop helps you to build a solid foundation for your PhD that is based on clarity, responsibility, and choice. Anyone wishing to participate in the workshop should register with hubertus.muench@clutterunibas.ch by 12 April at the latest.