Resilient Researcher: Building Stress Competence during your Doctorate

A Doctorate plus^BIGS workshop offered by the Bonn Graduate Center

Academic tasks and administration, tutoring and teaching, partner projects… and family first of all! You can feel the stress building up even while reading this. As a resilient researcher, you are better equipped to cope with stress, maintain your well-being, and recover more quickly from demanding or stressful situations. This workshop introduces cognitive models of stress to help participants understand how stress arises and how it can be effectively reduced or prevented.

In-person Workshop

Thursday, January 28, 2027
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please register your interest in this workshop by September 13, 2026.

Registration closed

Trainer

Dr. Jan Stamm

Language

English

Location

Alte Sternwarte
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47*

^{*The premises have limited accessibility. Please contact
us if you need assistance.}

Target Group

Doctoral students from the Bonn International Graduate Schools (BIGS)

Track(s)

Research, Research Management, Business and Organizations

Certificate

8 units are applicable within the Doctorate plus certificate

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.

Description

Resilience is an essential skill for navigating the challenges and pressures of academic life. As a resilient researcher, you are better equipped to cope with stress, maintain your well-being, and recover more quickly from demanding or stressful situations.

This workshop introduces cognitive models of stress to help participants understand how stress arises and how it can be effectively reduced or prevented. Particular attention is given to developing the mental skills needed to identify and challenge patterns of thinking and underlying beliefs that contribute to stress, such as perfectionism and unrealistic expectations.

In addition, the workshop explores strategies for strengthening regenerative competence by maintaining healthy energy levels and preventing chronic tension. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss and practise a range of evidence-based relaxation techniques that can be integrated into their daily academic lives.

Content

Stressors in academia
Mechanisms of stress emergence and consequences of stress
3 Pillars of stress competence:
Instrumental stress competence, Mental stress competence and Regenerative stress competence
Personal resources
Impulses for my personal stress management

Childcare

If you need childcare during the event, please contact the Family Office of the University of Bonn at least two weeks in advance.

Creditable for the Micro Certificate 'Resilience & Well-Being'

Micro Certificates for doctoral students offer the opportunity to systematically add key future skills to your professional expertise. You can apply for a Micro Certificate if you successfully complete at least four workshops from one area of expertise.

Learn More