Resources to build professional skills, for PhDs and others

Developing transferable skills is vital for scientists at all career stages, but most particularly for PhDs and early-career researchers, to maximise their options inside and outside of academia. A team from across FLEET started the following list of resources, which are available for scientists to improve their skills…

Thanks to Gol Akhgar and Semonti Bhattacharyya (Monash) Matthias Wurdack (ANU) and Peggy (Qi) Zhang, Matthew O’Brien and Matthew Rendell (UNSW) for kicking off this comprehensive list…

(suggested additions to this list are very welcome! Please email education@fleet.org.au)

• Resources, blogs, tools, tips, advice and links to support networks – many of these are free with content focused on academic writing, project management and stress management advice for PhD students
  • Thinkwell – https://www.ithinkwell.com.au/resources/PhDToolkit
  • Thesis Whisperer – https://thesiswhisperer.com/useful-resources-for-students-and-supervisors
  • PhD Proofreaders – https://www.thephdproofreaders.com/the-knowledge-base
  • Savvy scientist – https://www.thesavvyscientist.com
  • PhD Academy – https://phd.academy
• Professional development courses in a scientific context (e.g., scientific writing, presentation, public speaking, …), uncertified (free) or certified (paid):
  • coursera.org
  • edx.org
  • udemy.com
  • Thinkwell resources for PhD project planning.
  • The thesis whisperer (based at ANU) provides services and training for PhD students.
  • The PhD knowledge base
  • Research Impact: mini-course on creating a research vision and mission
• Professional development courses in a more general context (e.g. effective people and communication skills, resilience and stress management, time management, ….):
  • https://www.odysseytraining.com.au
• Scientific writing workshops:
  • https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=604388& (395 AUD)
  • https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/discovering-science-science-writing (109 AUD)
  • https://www.profwritingacademy.com/writing-for-academic-publication
• Presentation skills workshop:
  • https://cce.sydney.edu.au/course/PDMP (537 AUD)
• Grant application workshop:
  • https://mindyourway.mykajabi.com/offers/Dm8MMq3o/checkout (385 AUD)
• Literature Review:
  • https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-writing (89 AUD)
• Creative writing:
  • https://workshops.killyourdarlings.com.au/p/so-you-want-to-write (149 AUD)

• Scientific writing webinar:
  • https://www.ithinkwell.com.au/online-coaching/online-coaching-turbocharge-your-writing (50 AUD)
• Free workshops:
  • https://online.stanford.edu/courses/som-y0010-writing-sciences
  • https://alison.com/course/what-great-leaders-do
• Learn the lingo: key manufacturing terminology you need to know
• SPIE workshops (membership PHD: $20/yr, ECRs: $55/yr)
  • https://spie.org/education/courses/coursedetail/WS908?f=Online&SSO=1 (free for members)
  • https://spie.org/education/courses/coursedetail/WS897?f=Online (free for members)
  • https://spie.org/education/courses/coursedetail/SC1208?f=Online (discounted for members)