Introduction to Data Science with Python
In November 2023, a three-day workshop was held by Simone Gerle (edv-coaching) to introducing doctoral students and post-docs to the use of the Python programming language for analyzing their experimental data. The workshop was focused on practical implementation, presenting the Moduls required to implement data processing and gave an insight into the possibilities of visualizing this data in a meaningful way.

Introduction to Design of Experiments
Efficient testing of hypotheses through experiments is a major challenge and forms a bottleneck in data collection. A statistical experimental design can efficiently allocate the available capacities and thus enable a broader variable space. As an introduction to the Design Expert program, a two-day workshop was held on 13 and 14 April 2023 by Simone Gerle (Statcon). The focus was on planning the minimum necessary experimental effort and the statistical methods that help to assess the statistical certainty of the received results.

Boost your reading skills
On 24 and 25 November 2022 the trainer Martha Boeglin offered a two-day workshop that focused on increasing your own reading efficiency. Reading scientific papers can be time-consuming due to the often high density of information contained in them. In the workshop, doctoral students and post-docs learned various techniques so that they can understand challenging scientific texts more quickly, retain more content and prepare more efficiently for subsequent writing projects.

Next level - E-Poster Design
An essential part of scientific work is sharing one's own results at conferences and presentations. Especially with the new focus on online events, the possibilities of digital formats can be extended to classic analog posters. In April 2022, designer Birgit Lukowski presented the most important concepts of designing posters in both media and how good analog posters can be improved by new digital possibilities in a one-day workshop. Participants had the opportunity to apply the principles presented to their own posters and receive professional feedback in a final session.

Time Management
Time management constitutes an omnipresent issue for scientists. This one-day workshop on 24 November 2021 by Dr Roman Briker provided hands-on and evidence-based time management tools for the PHD students. Focusing on proactively organizing ones time to establish a more productive and happy (work)life.

Agile Project Management
In this one day online workshop in January 2021 the trainer Lima-Alissa Gawor presented the methodical basics for different project management theories, with the focus being on agile project management. The PhD students learned the concepts by applying examples in the scientific context and gained insights into different approaches in the industry.

Latex
Being able to use Latex is essential when it is time to publish scientific articles, dissertations and similiar documents. For all other document classes Latex is at least an alternative to the common office distributions. This one day workshop in February 2020 was aimed at beginners and included the most basic concepts, thereby building a stepping stone for the participants to dive into self-learning the nuances to a well-rounded document.

Design Thinking
Design Thinking is very popular in the industry. It represents an approach that first tries to identify the exact problem, which then leads to new products and ideas. During the whole process, Design Thinking focuses on the potential users and their wishes and needs. In a one-day workshop in October 2018 the participants exercised the six-step process under guidance from trainer Moritz Avenarius and even tried to apply it to typical science issues.

Design of Experiments
To promote the competence of the doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in statistical planning of experiments, workshops on „Design of Experiments“ were offered in January 2018 in cooperation with ZHM Graduate School of Materials Science. The workshops were organized by the freelance statistician Dr. Theo Wember, who is distinguished by his many years of experience as an organiser of workshops in companies within the fields of engineering and the natural sciences. The two-day workshops presented statistical procedures, which allow to plan experiments in a way that keeps expanses as low as possible and ensure statistical significance of the results.

Theory and Practice of Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a primary role in SFB 986. To increase the Ph.D. candidates’ awareness of the accompanying challenges the workshop „Theory and Practice of Interdisciplinarity“ was conducted in March 2017. Dr. Michael Liegl discussed aspects like interdisciplinary communication as well as do’s and dont’s in cross-disciplinary cooperations with the participants.

Job Application Training
On 6 and 7 October 2016, a practical and application-focused workshop was offered to the Ph.D. candidates of the SFB 986 to enhance their competences in the  job application process. The objective of the workshop was to develop individual and tailored applications for the job market. With the aid of the trainer Anna-Kristina Beißner (Liquify, Hannover) the participants optimized their self-presentation skills. Anna-Kristina Beißner also shared her experience with job interviews to prepare the Ph.D. candidates perfectly for the entire application process.

Public Relations
In April 2014, a workshop on public relations was offered in the context of the Integrated Research Training Group to foster knowledge and skills in this field. The workshop was held by Daniel Münter, a freelance scientific journalist with a physics background. The workshop was open to Ph. D. candidates, Post-Docs and project leaders within the collaborative research center. 

Scientific Writing
During the Summer School 2013, the workshop "Optimized Writing Strategies to Get Research Published in English" given by Prof. Dr. Monique Dorang had proved very helpful for the Ph.D. candidates and Post-Docs. Due to this success, the participants requested a follow-up workshop. The follow-up workshop had the title "Optimized Writing Strategies to Get Research Funded in English, Part: 2: Writing with Target Texts" and was held by Prof. Dr. Monique Dorang in December 2013. 

Management Workshops
As a part of Monthly Meetings, several workshops relating to the management field were held by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Huber (Board of Directors and project leader). On this occasion, the Ph.D. candidates and Post-Docs dealt with time management, self-management and the organization of research associations. 

Quality standards in Ph.D. education
To involve the opinions of the Ph.D. candidates and the Post-Docs in the design of the continuation proposal of the Integrated Research Training Group, and to discuss quality standards in Ph.D. education, a workshop was organized by the MGK team in January 2015. Views were exchanged on the enhancement of technical and non-technical competencies, and on Ph.D. supervision.