Workshop

Recognising the diversity of PhD talents: embedding Open Science into PhD trajectories

Date

Friday 25 September 2026

Time

09:45 - 18:45 hour

Address

PLNT
Langegracht 70
2312NV Leiden

Considering that 66% of PhD graduates that earn their degree from Dutch institutions work outside academia, a more flexible PhD trajectory that recognizes the full scope of doctoral work and equip candidates with skills that are valued both inside and outside academia should be developed. Local instantiations show that awareness of this issue is increasing: a blogpost on Leiden Madtrics proposed formally crediting diverse PhD activities, LUMC introduced a framework supporting preprints, and Utrecht University launched its vision Room for every PhD talent. This momentum creates an opportunity to initiate a conversation with PhD candidates in the Netherlands that puts the voices of PhD candidates at the centre in determining priorities relevant to their trajectories.

Objectives of the workshop

This interactive workshop takes the approach of ‘for and by PhD candidates’ and aims to be a space to share and co-create practical, actionable strategies. It is guided by one main question: how do we build more flexible doctoral trajectories that formally acknowledge Open Science practices and the various outputs and activities that PhD candidates engage with?
Together, we will explore critical topics such as which activities or outputs should be formally recognized in a PhD dissertation and also identify support needed for a more flexible trajectory. Outcomes will be packaged into a policy brief addressed to Dutch universities. Participants may list their names as contributors if they wish.

Programme

09:45-10:00	Arrival and Registration
10:00-10:30	Welcome and Introduction
10:30-11:00	Opening Talk: PhD Trajectories through the decades Confirmed Speakers: Christine Teelken, Professor of Organizational Change at the VU Universiteit Amsterdam, Inge van der Weijden, Senior researcher and PhD coordinator at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University.
11:00-11:40	Interactive session: Open Science, setting the scene Confirmed Speakers: Bogdana Huma, Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Communication, VU Amsterdam Jon Verriet, Senior Science Advisor, UNESCO Martijn van der Meer, Chair of the Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN)
11:40-11:50	Coffee break
11:50-12:20	Reshaping PhD trajectories: Examples of efforts at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Utrecht University Confirmed Speakers: Esther Fousert, PhD Candidate at LUMC Philine Link, PhD Candidate at Utrecht University
12:20-13:05	Lunch
13:05-13:20	Explanation of Break-out Sessions
13:20-14:35	Group activity – Part 1
14:35-14:45	Coffee Break
14:45-16:00	Group Activity – Part 2
16:00-17:00	Presenting results of group activity Co-creating the first draft of the policy brief
17:00-17:15	Wrapping up
17:15-18:45	Borrel

Participation

Thanks to Open Science Netherlands sponsoring this workshop, there is no cost for attendance. However, participation is limited to 50 PhD Candidates. Please note that because of the interactive nature of this workshop there will be no hybrid attendance options. For more information please contact: [e-mail] or [e-mail]. 

To sign up to the workshop, please use this form.