You are here :

Education, Employability, and Development of PhD candidates

"SEEDS for Tomorrow: Supporting Education, Employability, and Development of PhD candidateS" aims to transform the academic landscape by bridging education and the professional world. Our community is dedicated to enhancing the PhD journey through a comprehensive blend of innovative pedagogy, well-being strategies, and career preparation. By leveraging an inclusive online platform, we facilitate global networking and collaboration, ensuring that every PhD candidate, regardless of location, can engage in meaningful international experiences. Our initiatives include interactive workshops, career mapping tools, and cutting-edge sessions on AI's role in academia. By integrating these resources into a vibrant, connected network, we aim to empower future leaders, foster sustainable research careers, and cultivate a culture of shared knowledge and innovation. Join us as we shape the future of academia and support our PhD candidates in achieving excellence and successful career transitions.

The NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) aims to bridge academia and the job market, elevate PhD candidates experience, stimulate scientific excellence and
knowledge transfer, and ultimately “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being” (SDG3) in academia and beyond.
The Pedagogical and Student Support Group of NOVA FCT is committed to fostering Pedagogical Innovation and Well-Being, focusing its efforts on the scientific, professional, and personal development of the community.

This project builds upon an interdisciplinary network within NOVA University, bringing together three key schools — NOVA FCT (School of Science and Technology), NOVA Medical School (NOVA NMS), and NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE). By fostering collaboration between these distinct academic units, the initiative creates synergies that enhance the doctoral experience, ensuring a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to PhD professional development and well-being.
The integration of these three schools allows for a unique intersection of expertise:

• NOVA FCT contributes its strong research focus, particularly in STEM fields, where PhD candidates often face significant challenges in transitioning to academic
and non-academic careers. The faculty provides insights into the technical and scientific aspects of doctoral training, ensuring that the project is well-grounded in research methodologies and scientific career trajectories.

• NOVA Medical School brings a strong research focus on health sciences and expertise in areas related to mental health and well-being. Given the increasing recognition of mental health challenges in doctoral education, this partnership is crucial in developing evidence-based interventions that support PhD candidates’ psychological resilience and work-life balance.

• NOVA SBE offers critical knowledge in entrepreneurship, management, and career development, ensuring that PhD candidates are equipped with the necessary skills to
navigate both academic and industry job markets. The school’s experience in leadership training and innovation management also contributes to the pedagogical aspects
of the project, enhancing supervision practices and preparing researchers for diverse career paths.

This collaboration originated from a pilot project supported by the FEEF Program (From Educators to Entrepreneurial Educators) of NOVA’s Rectorate, which initially explored how to improve entrepreneurial skills and career transitions. The success of this pilot underscored the need for a broader, institutionalized initiative that could be scaled across different disciplines.

To further enrich this initiative, we will work closely with international partners who are experts in PhD professional development and pedagogical innovation:

• The University of Warwick is a leader in professional development for PhD candidates and early-career researchers. Their expertise will help identify gaps in doctoral training and career preparedness, providing valuable insights into best practices for mentoring, employability skills, and non-academic career transitions.

• The University of Ljubljana brings deep expertise in pedagogical innovation, particularly in doctoral education. Their experience in co-creation methodologies and innovative learning environments will guide the project in designing effective, research-based training for PhD candidates and supervisors.

Additionally, the NOVA Human Development Office plays a crucial role in integrating existing initiatives related to well-being and pedagogical development. By aligning this project with ongoing institutional efforts, we ensure that its outcomes are not only sustainable but also contribute to enhancing and expanding current best practices at NOVA.

By leveraging the strengths of these diverse academic units and international partners, this project creates an integrated and sustainable model for PhD professional development, wellbeing, and supervision excellence, with long-term benefits for doctoral candidates, supervisors, and the broader research ecosystem.
This initiative aligns with Action 4 of the ERA policy by promoting attractive and sustainable research careers, balanced talent circulation, and international, transdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility.

Coming up

Activities for PhDs

PhD career crafting

Description
Interactive workshop where PhD candidates map career transition challenges and cocreate solutions.

Output
Workshop participation data; documented career challenges and solutions.

Outcome
PhDs gain clarity on career options and strategies for transition; promote networking among PhDs for scientific collaborations.

The PhD Career Map

The PhD Career Map

Description
Interactive tool allowing PhDs to explore various career paths with testimonials and guides.

Output
Testimonials from participants from the 3 universities; it can be extended to other EUTOPIA partners after the project ends

Outcome
PhDs make informed career decisions based on structured career pathways.

Future of Academic Careers “Taking the most out of AI”: Innovation in Teaching & Supervision

Description
Session on innovative teaching and supervision methods for Researchers, Faculty and  PhDs.

Output
Practical guidelines and case studies on AI integration in teaching and supervision

Outcome
Improved teaching methodologies and supervision practices in academia.

Panel: Transition Stories from PhD to Industry & Academia

Description
Roundtable discussion with former PhDs from academia, industry, and entrepreneurship sharing career strategies.

Output
Recorded panel session; engagement statistics.

Outcome
Enhanced awareness of diverse career paths; stronger professional networks.

Negotiation & Leadership for PhDs

Description
Training in negotiation and leadership skills for team management in academic and business settings.

Output
Number of participants trained; self-assessment reports on leadership growth.

Outcome
PhDs develop leadership capabilities crucial for career advancement.

Building a Research Portfolio for Impact

Description
Workshop on structuring a research portfolio to maximize opportunities in academia and industry.

Output
Research portfolio templates; examples of successful applications.

Outcome
Stronger academic profiles; better career positioning.

Mentorship Circles

Description
Mentoring program connecting PhDs with experts in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.

Output
Number of mentor-mentee matches; meeting logs.

Outcome
Strengthened connections between PhDs and experts, fostering career development.

Peer Networking Sessions

Description
Virtual meetups for PhDs from different universities to share experiences and challenges.

Output
Attendance records; discussion summaries.

Outcome
Greater peer support network; shared problem-solving for PhD challenges.

Past activities

Content soon

Activities for SEEDS organising team

Funding Strategies for Sustainable Impact

Description

Bringing together colleagues from each university to outline funding proposals in pedagogical innovation, building on the results of this project and the experience gained

Output

List of potential funding calls identified. Draft versions of funding applications developed.

Outcome

Increased chances of securing financial support to sustain and expand project initiatives; Strengthened grant-writing skills among organizers, enhancing the long-term impact of the Connected Community.

From Research to Publication: Sharing Our Findings

Description

Session on structuring research findings into publications, targeting journals, policy briefs,

and practical guides for broad dissemination, including open-access and stakeholder knowledge transfer.

Output

Drafted research papers and policy briefs based on project findings. Dissemination strategy for maximizing the visibility of results.

Outcome

Enhanced visibility and impact of project findings in academic and professional communities; Stronger collaboration between partner institutions through co-authored publications and shared research outputs.

How to get involved?

Contact the Connected Community Lead Teresa Santos-Silva (tsss@fct.unl.pt) or the Local Facilitator Carolina Pereira (carolina.pereira@unl.pt).

Teresa Santos-Silva (NOVA) tsss@fct.unl.pt

- Associate Dean for Pedagogical Innovation Affairs and Well-Being
- Organizer of the Community of Practice in Pedagogical Innovation (CoPP) at NOVA FCT
- Organizer of the Annual Pedagogical Innovation Conference at NOVA FCT (JIPES)
- Organizer of the Annual PhD Day at NOVA FCT
- Organizer of career development workshops for researchers and PhD students, namely the pilot project for PhD students: “From academia to the World” aiming to foster entrepreneurial skills and facilitate transition to the job market.
- Developer and Teacher of communication workshop – public speaking (EUTOPIA, NOVA)
- Biochemistry teacher to BCh, MSc and PhDs

Letizia Gramaglia (UW) Letizia.gramaglia@warwick.ac.uk

Letizia Gramaglia is Head of Academic Development, University of Warwick

Ksenija Vidmar Horvat (UL) Ksenija.vidmarhorvat@uni-lj.si

Ksenija Vidmar Horvat is Vice-rector for study and Student Affairs

Iztok Humar (UL) iztok.humar@fe.uni-lj.si

Iztok Humar is Vice-dean for Financial Affairs

Janez Vogrinc (UL) Janez.vogrinc@pef.uni-lj.si

Faculty of Education, Head of Research Institute

José António Belo (NOVA) jose.belo@nms.unl.pt

José António Belo is a Full Professor, Cellular and Molecular Biology. Director of the PhD Program in Disease Mechanisms and Regenerative Medicine (ProRegeM).

Gabriela Silva (NOVA) gabriela.silva@nms.unl.pt

Gabriela Silva is an Associate Professor, Biomedicine. Head of the Digital Assessment Office; Institutional Ethics Committee member.

Maria João Braga (NOVA) maria.braga@novasbe.pt

Maria João Braga is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Assistants Coordinator

João Correia de Freitas (NOVA) jcf@fct.unl.pt

João Correia de Freitas is an Assistant professor, Head of Lab.eLearning

Rita Branquinho (NOVA) ritasba@fct.unl.pt

Rita Branquinho is a Senior researcher at CICS (Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences) - integrated member

Maria Edite de Oliveira (NOVA) edite.oliveira@unl.pt

Maria Edite de Oliveira is the Coordinator of Human Development Office