You are among the first doctoral students to successfully complete several of the new Micro Credentials and receive the corresponding certificates. What motivated you to take part in these workshops and apply for the Micro Credentials?
During my years in academia, I noticed that some well-intentioned and interesting projects fell short of their full potential or failed to gain wider visibility. This often happened because we, as researchers, struggled to strike a sustainable balance between our expectations for the project's outcome and the complex logistics and team dynamics involved in bringing them to fruition. Realizing this, I began looking for opportunities to expand and update my understanding of project management. I didn’t just want to be aware of potential limitations; I wanted to be properly equipped to contribute effectively to future individual or group projects.
Initially, I signed up for standalone workshops focused on project management. However, once I realized that these courses could be combined with complementary subjects and certified as a complete area of competence through Micro Credentials, I became curious about other offerings. For instance, I looked into the leadership courses and realized that, even though I am not currently in a management position, their content could help me better understand team dynamics and improve my communication. The process was similar for the other Micro Credentials: I identified a workshop on a topic I found useful for my career, and then explored other courses categorized within that same area of expertise. Sooner than expected, I had attended enough workshops to apply for three different certificates.
Your doctoral research focuses on the “Characterization of Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor prototypes with a column-drain read-out architecture for high-energy collider experiments”. Could you briefly introduce your research project and explain whether there are connections between your research and the Micro Credentials you completed?
In my doctoral research, I characterized and provided feedback on how to improve novel silicon-based detectors designed by members of our team for use in modern high-energy particle collider experiments. In these devices, the complex analog and digital circuitry of a fast signal-processing chip is integrated into the very same piece of silicon used to generate the signal when particles traverse it. While this is a common approach in standard imaging sensor – like those in everyday digital cameras – it still requires significant modifications to meet and maintain performance specifications during long-term operation inside a particle physics experiment. To put these demands into perspective: these devices must reliably identify single particles with a precision of tens of millionths of a second, and do so over several years within one of the most demanding radiation environments on Earth.
All of the three Micro Credentials I completed included skills that can add value to research work like mine. First of all, this kind of work is carried out by diverse teams of technicians, engineers, and physicists spread across multiple research groups who must efficiently agree on both technical and logistical matters. Navigating such an environment can benefit substantially from clear communication regarding project goals, risks, and responsibilities, alongside actions that keep all stakeholders engaged. Another aspect is that most of this work is publicly funded. From my perspective – and that of our funding agencies – this merits a responsible approach to how research data is collected, stored, and made available to the public. Last but not least, some of the features characterized in devices like the ones I work with could be useful for future developments in other areas where electronics face high radiation levels, such as monitoring radiation‑based cancer therapy or protecting spacecraft electronics and crews. With those kind of applications in mind, learning about communication strategies and the possible challenges of transferring this knowledge to other fields is a valuable skill.
You selected Micro Credentials in specific thematic areas. What influenced your choice of workshops, and which experiences or skills have been particularly valuable for you so far?
My initial interest was in workshops related to the management and efficient execution of scientific projects (e.g., “Scientific Project Management,” “Prioritization Strategies,” and “Research Data Management”). Thanks to the seamless registration process and positive experience with both in-person and online formats, I was able to focus afterward on the syllabus of each workshop and see how it could complement the skills I was initially looking for. As a result, I also ended up learning about conflict resolution, agile project management, open science, entrepreneurial concepts, and even game design. All of these topics were delivered in an engaging mix of interactive exercises and theoretical presentations by external certified trainers or experts within the staff of the university. In addition to the course content, attending these events offered an enriching opportunity to get a glimpse into multiple facets of the scientific process from different perspectives. I shared experiences and collaborated on practical work with researchers from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, all at different stages of their careers. I also unexpectedly ended up regularly meeting peers who wanted to develop the same skill sets as I did.
I am currently in the final stretch of my PhD, so I am focusing on integrating elements of agile project management and prioritization strategies into my monograph writing process. Looking back, I have also reflected on how much the earlier stages of my doctorate would have benefited had I learned these skills sooner, and I am convinced that they will be valuable in my next professional ventures.
How did you first become aware of the Micro Credential opportunities for doctoral students, and what made the format appealing to you?
I first came across the “Doctorate plus” program in the section of the university website dedicated to early-career researchers. While looking into the individual workshops offered by that program, I noticed that several of them also counted toward the Micro Credentials. The main appeal of the format was that it grouped complementary workshops capable of strengthening specific transferable skills, applicable both within academia and beyond. Additionally, I wasn't entirely sure if my other obligations would allow me the time necessary to complete a full qualification track in the Doctorate plus program. Therefore, the flexibility of earning a university certificate after attending just four workshops was highly appealing to me.
Looking ahead, where do you currently see your professional future – within academia or beyond the university sector – and how do you think the Micro Credentials may support your further career development?
I am currently exploring the possibility of taking on future roles at the intersection of technical expertise and organizational work. This includes positions such as a Scientific Manager within an academic environment, or industry roles well-suited for career changers, such as a Business Analyst. Ideally, I would like to step into one of these roles within the framework of projects related to medical applications of radiation detectors. However, devices like the ones I studied during my PhD have gained significant traction for their large-scale implementation in future particle collider experiments, so I remain open to the possibility of contributing my experience to research efforts in that area.
All of these career paths require solid technical proficiency, but they also place high value on a comprehensive set of modern project management skills, an ethical and informed approach to research, a creative mindset, and the capability to communicate requirements and concepts between technical and non-technical stakeholders. I feel much more confident in my interest and my ability to step into any of those positions now that I can certify my preparation beyond my scientific work.
Thank you for the interview. We wish you all the best and every success for the future!