Here you find a collection of statements of former participants.
Incredibly good
I took part in Matthias' two-day online workshop "Leadership Skills" and was completely thrilled and inspired. Matthias offered a bouquet of practical impulses, relevant theories and valuable experiences. The course was incredibly good in terms of methodology and didactics. Input, methods and reflection alternated in an entertaining way. Matthias's style is precise, approachable, and he inspires the subject with depth. Thanks to all the well-prepared documents and further information. The course also stimulates reflection afterwards. What does good leadership mean, what does leadership have to do with self-leadership, how can I motivate others? I can highly recommend the two-day workshop.
 | Stefanie |
I unequivocally recommend this workshop
Attending the Conflict Management Workshop was an extraordinarily enriching experience. Dr. Mayer s expertise was evident, and his ability to elucidate complex concepts with clarity and enthusiasm made the sessions both captivating and highly constructive. Dr. Mayer brought a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for the subject.
A standout aspect of the workshop was the inclusion of various practical exercises and role-playing scenarios rooted in real-life situations. These immersive activities offered a constructive environment to practice and refine our conflict resolution skills, providing immediate and insightful feedback.
Through these interactive sessions, I developed a comprehensive understanding of diverse conflict styles and effective resolution strategies. The knowledge and skills I acquired have significantly strengthened my confidence in navigating challenging conversations and fostering a collaborative atmosphere in both professional and personal contexts.
This workshop has profoundly equipped me with the empathy and assertiveness required to manage conflicts adeptly. I unequivocally recommend this workshop to anyone seeking to enhance their conflict management capabilities, and I would like to once again thank Dr. Mayer for his genuine efforts and contribution.
Thanks a lot!
 | Shreya Agrawal |
It was motivating to see benefits [...] in a short period of time
The Time Management seminar helped me identifying distractions and counterproductive behaviors, as well as becoming conscious of my own natural focus cycles. I learned several techniques and tools for self organization, many of which I successfully applied right after the seminar, such as the detailed weekly planning and the end-of-day closing routine. It was motivating to see benefits from them in a short period of time.
 | Leandro Lanzieri |
Evaluated which leadership style is right for me
The Leadership Skills workshop by Matthias gave the the opportunity to further evolve my skillset not only in my leadership skills, but also in my communication skills and conflict management.
The workshop enabled me to identify the leadership skills applied by my superior and react appropriately to that.
Using the information provided I evaluated which leadership style is right for me in different situation to lead my students during their thesis.
I now start to understand the leadership style of people I adore and use them as a good example. I can highly recommend this workshop to everyone who wants to understand how good leadership works and evolve their own leadership style.
 | Lea Miriam Strigl |
A real game-changer!
A real game-changer!
Participating in the scientific talks skills course for PhD students was a transformative experience for us. Matthias and his team understood our unique challenges in presenting complex research, and their personalized approach made a real difference. Learning to communicate our work with clarity and simplicity has been a game-changer.
Specifically, the course was highly valuable because many of us were struggling with stage fright, but our style improved dramatically after the training in a demo presentation. We wholeheartedly recommend this course it's not just about delivering talks; it's about finding your voice and making a genuine connection with your audience.
 | Marina Simunovic and Joaquim Frigola Casals |
A truly transformative experience
I recently participated in Dr. Matthias Mayer's Leadership Skills workshop, and it was a truly transformative experience. In a world where the distinction between great and poor leaders is clear, this workshop provided profound insights into the factors that set them apart. Dr. Mayer covered various aspects of leadership, including styles, conflict communication, decision-making, and situational leadership. Each topic was expertly presented, shedding light on the dynamics that contribute to effective leadership. Implementing these principles has not only fostered personal growth in my leadership role but has also deepened my understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, and those of my project students.
I highly recommend this course to anyone aspiring to be a great leader or looking to refine their leadership skills. Dr. Matthias Mayer's workshop offers practical tools to nurture good leadership practices and foster a positive working environment. It's a valuable investment for those committed to cultivating excellence in leadership.
 | Ananthakrishnan Vijayakumar Maya |
A lot more confidence and peace of mind
Even though I am still a second-year PhD student, I decided to attend Dr. Matthias Mayer s Career Planning and Job Application Seminar and was pleasantly surprised.
The seminar was based on information and questions we provided over a questionnaire in advance, so it was tailored to meet our requests about the topic and the content ended up being extremely helpful.
We were provided insights on our CVs, CLs, and we received feedback on mock interviews. We were also offered plenty of supplementary material to support us in the long-term. To me, the interview session with the invited speaker was the best part, since we were able to connect theory and practice, and see how well the strategies mentioned in the seminar worked for the speaker to become a successful scientist.
I left the seminar with a time plan of what I need to work on until I am finally at the stage of applying for jobs. This gives me a lot more confidence and peace of mind, because now I know how to prepare myself for what is to come.
 | Débora Carvalho Radicchi |
I was very impressed
In brief, I was very impressed by the well-prepared lecture slides, the lecturer s expertise, and the constructive feedback I immediately received from the lecturer during the instant practice in the seminar. I learned many helpful concepts and guidelines that support me in improving my slide design and how to present my idea more clearly. For example, hourglass structure is especially beneficial because it helps me focus on a good structure for the whole presentation design and know how to present each slide to keep the audience following my idea delivery.
 | Kao Chih-Yuan |
It only "clicked" for me after the workshop
I took part in the workshop " Manage yourself - with success and momentum through your studies". As a science student, it is sometimes a challenge to stay in your energy and respond with a clear "no" to inquiries or distractions. Young women still struggle far too often to stand up for their own needs. I was aware that a little "yes" here and another "yes" there can lead to my own goals falling by the wayside, but it only "clicked" for me after the workshop.
I learned to get clarity about my own goals and how important it is to work your way through from the back (the goal) to the front (elephant carpaccio). In other words, not to put projects on your own list, but small steps that do not overwhelm you and are feasible. I really enjoyed the exchange with other participants and the breaks were great to get into the exchange. I noticed that while participating in the workshop, I asked my questions in a more goal-oriented way and got away from the classic "small talk" and was thus able to learn more about the participants and their path. At the same time, I thought it was great how Matthias responded to us students, even though his student days were a few years ago.
In this workshop, we not only received numerous application examples for implementation, but also went into implementation in a targeted manner. My personal highlight, however, was the example of Matthias with the crossed thumbs. In future, I will always put my hands together and cross my thumbs the other way round when I want to tackle something new and uncomfortable and remember that things always feel a bit unfamiliar at the beginning - just like when my left thumb is on the right - thank you! [translated from German]
 | Bilge Ertugrul |
I finally feel that I have some clear directions to follow
Great workshop! Matthias brought awareness to the many crucial yet often overlook aspects of career planning. We got offered a number of actionable tools, from how to optimize CV and CL to useful lists of online and book resources. We learned about many practices and we were able to directly test them in an encouraging and interactive atmosphere. I particularly appreciated the demo interviews and how Matthias was able to provide personalized tips and inspirations to each participant.
What to do after the PhD? I finally feel that I have some clear directions to follow. Highly recommended, anybody would benefit from this course.
 | Giuseppe Balsamo |
Very engaging and inspiring
I had never imaged communication to be something that could be systematically improved - until the 2-day seminar with Matthias. Through theory and in-seminar practice, Matthias built a solid framework to guide conversations to solve conflicts - instead of creating one. For instance, Matthias demonstrated vividly how a message can carry meanings at different levels, which both the speaker and the listener may not be fully aware of. The framework ranges from broad topics like thinking from the other person's perspective, to small but important details for better phrasing words and sentences, many of these I readily put into practice right after the seminar. The seminar was very engaging and inspiring, definitely an asset that I would carry on into work and life!
 | Zhou Ye |
One of the best I've ever attended
I visited the two-day online conflict management seminar, one of the best I've ever attended. Before, I thought two days were too long for a workshop on this topic. After it, I was satisfied and grateful that it was not just half a day. The two days' time allows the group to discuss deeply and for me to convert the theories into personal use. We have not only learned many valuable tools to deal with conflicts but also had discussions and practices in small groups. Especially interesting for me was one simulation we made, which helped me learn my behavior from a third party's view and helped me understand my counterpart's reaction in real life. After the seminar, I have ideas about how to deal with conflicts in my career and personal life. Moreover, Matthias is super enthusiastic and sincere. Not only the content of the seminar but also his professional way of conducting it inspired me a lot. Many thanks!
 | Shi Di |
It is amazing how in only 2 hours one can learn so many things
Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn from you in this course! I was surprised how many mistakes a lot of people, including myself, make while designing their slides. Matthias was so enthusiastic about teaching us how to improve our presentations that I was really motivated to rework my recent presentations. It is amazing how in only 2 hours one can learn so many things to make a presentation more appealing and working with Powerpoint much easier and more efficient. I am positive that what I have learned during this seminar will stick to me for the rest of my academic career. Thank you!
 | Dilara Hasavci |
Very interactive and entertaining
I enjoyed the seminar with Matthias and I am sure that with the recommendations he gave us, I can convince the scientific audience of my next talk. Through the vivid exchange and the examples Matthias made, I experienced the workshop even if it was online- as very interactive and entertaining. I got inspired on how to get the attention of my audience and how to structure and prepare my next presentation. For me, especially the examples, the direct transfer to my own work and the feedback on my own short talk were very helpful to further improve my own presentation style and slide design.
 | Constanze Riedinger |
Deeply tailored to the participants' questions and needs
Hi PhD colleague or young researcher. I want to share with you my experience in the two days Present your science and yourself workshop. Like you, I had a busy schedule and I thought to skip it. It can wait, it is not urgent. Nevertheless, I want to encourage you to take it based on the great results it had for me.
I present my findings in conferences and talks based on what I have seen and improving self-experiences. And I can tell it is not the best way but it is, unfortunately, the common way of learning in academia. Therefore, when I say the workshop, I expected to experience and gather some graspable tips to improve my presentations. These expectations were fully fulfilled.
I needed some tips on how to speak and stand during my presentation, improving my slides and my storytelling. The workshop is filled with ground-to-earth comments to improve in all those areas. It was very time efficient, we only met two days for eight hours in total but I could already see a difference in my presentation. I didn t need to prepare much, just the material from my past presentations was more than enough to work with. The general information was immensely helpful but on top of that, I also really appreciate and enjoy that we work on our own examples of storytelling, and slides. The workshop was deeply tailored to the participants' questions and needs.
I found out some aspects of my talk that do not help that have to do with my intonation, my speed during the talk, my use of the slides. This was truly helpful and I also received relevant ways of improving. Don t worry, this feedback was handed to me in a very constructive and friendly way, and I also got to find out aspects of my talks that really work and therefore, be aware of them and emphasize them more.
I am positive this workshop gave me tools to prepare and deliver better talks about my research. This is very important for our careers; how to communicate the best way possible what we have to say about our findings, is kind of the whole point. I encourage you to do the workshop and give solid steps towards that purpose.
 | Agustina Marques |
Amazingly good and engaging
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Conflict Management class with Dr. Matthias Mayer, and I am thrilled to provide feedback on this enriching experience. The comprehensive coverage of various aspects related to conflict resolution has undoubtedly enhanced my understanding of conflicts, and has equipped me with valuable skills and tools for my professional and personal life.
The exploration of different personality types was particularly insightful, highlighting the diverse ways individuals approach and navigate conflicts. I believe that the emphasis on how to formulate "I messages" instead of confrontational sentences was a standout feature of the class, and give concrete tools to manage people and also prevent conflicts by solving them at early stage. Learning how to communicate assertively yet respectfully has proven invaluable, offering a constructive way to express feelings and concerns without escalating tensions. Having practical sessions to train and discuss within the workshop was also very helpful to test the strategy without risking a first trial on a real-life situation.
The class additionally delved into the underlying reasons behind conflicts, providing a comprehensive overview of the root causes. In addition, we have discussed how active listening can help to empathize with people and make them feel better understood, so that one can limit conflict. One of the other highlights of the workshop was the systematic approach to conflict resolution preparation. This made me understood that some important conflicts need to be resolved after a careful preparation time to analyze the best strategy to deal with them. Learning how to identify the core issues and develop effective communication were important tools provided in the workshop. The step-by-step guidance on this matter provided a structured framework that I can readily apply in real-world situations.
The speaker was amazingly good and engaging. He took real care to personalize the workshop to the needs of the group, address all our questions and provided us with feedback to make his points as clear as possible on examples from our own experience. This was extremely appreciated! I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in this class and I look forward to incorporating all these valuable lessons into my everyday life. Thank you Matthias!
 | Jun.-Prof. Dr. Priscilla Briquez |
Extremely grateful for the invaluable insights
Grateful for the Time Management Workshop Experience :
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Time Management workshop during the first year of my Ph.D., and I am extremely grateful for the invaluable insights and skills I gained from the course.
What I appreciated most about the workshop was that it delivered exactly what I was seeking. The instructor provided practical and actionable insights that I could immediately apply to my daily life.
Initially, adapting to the systematic approach presented in the workshop posed a challenge, but as I gradually implemented the strategies, I noticed a significant improvement in both my efficiency and overall quality of life.
One of the highlights of the workshop for me was when the instructor introduced the concept of "Slicing the Elephant and Kissing the Frog."
This metaphorical approach not only made the learning goal-oriented but also provided a memorable framework for approaching tasks and priorities.
Reflecting on the workshop, I can confidently say that attending it was a pivotal decision. The skills acquired through time management enhanced my abilities positively in various aspects of my academic and personal life. I believe that without the insights gained from this workshop, I would have missed out on a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the instructor, Dr. Matthias Mayer for delivering a workshop that exceeded my expectations and proved to be an invaluable asset during this crucial phase of my academic journey.
 | Vishnupriyaa Pulickel-Sajeevu |
Took away a lot of important points
Thank you very much for the great seminar!
First of all, I would like to say that the entire event has remained a friendly, professional and fun memory for me. What I found very great was the group work and that we were able to work with personal examples.
I also took away a lot of important points. For example, how to behave in a conflict situation and what to look out for. I have even tried to apply what I have learned a few times.
It has also become clear to me that you have to pay more attention to the thoughts, feelings and ideas of others before you react. This is more challenging than I thought.
In all cases, I am convinced that these experiences will help me in my life. I can only recommend the seminar! [translated from German]
 | Viktoriia Lebedynska |
How much more effective my days are
The time management workshop, which was carried out very professionally and interactively, gave me an understanding of practical techniques that help me to structure my working days. Since then, I have actively incorporated the "Kiss the Frog" technique into my daily planning, always keeping the Eisenhower principle in mind to prioritize and carry out tasks. I'm already noticing how much more effective my days are becoming and I reserve more time for important research tasks. A clear recommendation to all people who are burdened with responsibilities for a wide variety of daily activities and who want to create a better overview of their work.
 | Tim Puhlfürß |
It would be a pity if you had the chance and you let it pass.
Matthias Mayer is one of the most dedicated, passionate and enthusiastic instructors I have encountered in any subject in a really long time. I had the opportunity to attend his 2-day online workshop on scientific presentation. It is easy to see that he not only has an enormous knowledge base in his domain of expertise but also puts his 200% into both producing and delivering the distilled content that he wishes to serve his attendees in the most efficient and effective way possible. His workshops cover a lot of ground thematically for the allotted time. Nevertheless, despite the intensive nature of his workshops, he manages to give focussed, pointed and transformative feedback to each of the individual participants on all aspects of their presentation, many times, over the course of a single workshop. This I found extremely helpful in transforming my presentation from good to wow! I also found the external resources he provides his attendees in the form of handouts and videos to be especially thorough and beneficial for future learning. It is also worth mentioning that despite the fact that our workshop was held entirely over Zoom, the distance was imperceptible. If I get another chance, I would definitely attend another workshop with Matthias Mayer. It would be a pity if you had the chance and you let it pass.
 | Manasa M. |
A life changing experience, incredibly helpful
A life changing experience, incredibly helpful workshop with a step by step approach and Q&A to an expert in the field. Who does that? I am so glad I could get a slot. The workshop was done in three days and every second was worth attending.
Before the seminar itself, participants were given the chance to reflect on their goals and expectations. Before writing those I knew what I wanted, and writing showed me that what I have been thinking was nothing around what I actually wrote, which was much deeper and clearer with the steps to get there. This pre-workshop exercise was also a great way to clear my mind and get me ready to receive new information as I realized that I had questions I could not answer.
The daily sessions were packed with meaningful information with shorter and longer breaks including activation exercises. For long lasting conferences it is easy to be seated for over 5 hours. These exercises not only relaxed my muscles but also increased my circulation which kept my attention high. I could figure out that Matthias is very good with groups. He did a wonderful job with us all. I personally found it very empowering as nothing was between me and my dreamed career, but active planning. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone and especially fellows hesitating between academia or industry as a career path and those who need to be encouraged.
This course will definitely fit as a must take seminar for PhD students. It dissipates uncertainty, giving you the tools to successfully choose your career path. What I also very much liked is that if you have a plan, it is completely okay to take time for yourself after your PhD, this is in no way a falling plan.
Dr. Babette Guimbang |
The perfect start to the application phase
For me, the "Career Planning & Job Application Seminar" with Dr. Matthias Mayer was the perfect start to the job application phase after my doctorate. In the seminar we went into the most important points of a successful application in an interactive way, with a special focus on CV and CL as well as the job interview. Matthias took a lot of time for each participant and always gave detailed and constructive feedback. Personally, I particularly liked the very good atmosphere and helpful comments from Matthias and the other participants. I now know what to expect when applying for a job and I feel very well prepared. I also find the links and book suggestions that Matthias gave us to be helpful and tailored to our needs. The interview organized by Matthias with the COO of the Max Planck Institute in Florida gave us participants an insight into the career path of a scientist that you cannot get anywhere else without contacts. I can warmly recommend Matthias' seminar to every PhD student in Life Science as preparation for applying for a job. [Translated from German]
Stefan Schön |
Der perfekte Start in die Bewerbungsphase
Das Career Planning & Job Application Seminar bei Dr. Matthias Mayer war f r mich der perfekte Start in die Bewerbungsphase f r meinen Job nach der Promotion. Im Seminar sind wir auf interaktive Art und Weise auf die wichtigsten Punkte einer erfolgreichen Bewerbung eingegangen, mit besonderem Fokus auf CV und CL sowie das Jobinterview. Matthias hat sich f r jeden Teilnehmer viel Zeit genommen und hat immer detailliert und konstruktiv Feedback gegeben. Mir pers nlich haben die sehr gute Atmosph re und die hilfreichen Kommentare von Matthias aber auch den anderen Teilnehmenden besonders gefallen und geholfen. Ich wei nun was bei der Jobbewerbung auf mich zukommt und f hle mich sehr gut vorbereitet. Auch die weiterf hrenden Links und Buchvorschl ge, die Matthias uns gegeben hat, empfinde ich als hilfreich und gut auf uns zugeschnitten. Das von Matthias organisierte Interview mit dem COO des Max-Planck-Instituts in Florida hat uns Teilnehmenden einen Einblick in den Karriereweg eines Wissenschaftlers geliefert, den man ohne Kontakte sonst nirgends bekommt. Ich kann jedem PhD-Studenten in Life-Science als Vorbereitung f r die Jobbewerbung das Seminar von Matthias w rmstens empfehlen.
Stefan Schön |
Be ready to fail!
Leadership workshop with Matthias Mayer
Two intense days with basic information combined with group work and time to think about your colleagues and yourself. Matthias gave a full picture about the tasks of a leader and advices how to be a good one.
It was very important for me to understand my own personality, which leadership skills I already bring with me and where I need to work harder. I really liked the discussions and input we got about how to give constructive criticism and how to manage conflicts. My personal main statements I take from the workshop are:
*Leadership is hard work, therefore never stop reflecting yourself, give and receive feedback and keep learning. Motivate your co-workers in an individual and personalized way. And most importantly, be ready to fail!*
Thank you very much Matthias for your helpful and clear guidance to become a good leader.
I am looking forward to improve my skills and to come back to my workshop notes when I am struggling.
 | Dr. Sandra Ammann |
Have a deeper impact
I took Matthias two days online workshop on Presenting Science . I had high expectations as I heard good comments about it in previous years; however, I was a bit afraid and not very comfortable with the idea of recording myself and analyze my presentation skills in front of other people. The truth is that during the workshop, I didn t even think about that. Being a small group, the attention is personalized, the atmosphere is friendly and cozy, giving the opportunity to be helped but also to help others. I can tell that the course is well prepared and structured and that Matthias has a lot of experience in the subject. This workshop is not a one-way talk where the presenter gives tips and the attendees listen, it is a place where opinions, feedbacks, advice and comments go in all directions including among participants. I liked it, I enjoyed it and I found the information useful. I would definitely recommend it to those who wish to have a deeper impact on their scientific presentations.
 | Mónica Peña Luna |
One of my best experiences
Thank you for the amazing course. It was indeed one of my best experiences.
With a simple, vivid as well as professional way you managed to cover all the important topics how to successfully present scientific talks. There are some secrets of success that I was not aware.
Definitely, after your guidance I know how to give an excellent talk and my audience go back home happy for deeply understanding the take home message of my presentation.
 | Dimitra Vlachokosta |
Exactly the push [ ] I needed
The Time Management Seminar with Matthias was exactly the push in the right direction I needed. Equipped now with concrete, practical strategies, I am already empowered to make the changes in my self-management and organisation on the road towards my goal of completing my PhD successfully.
Matthias struck the perfect balance between introducing us to effective strategies for learning and working (such as the quiet hour or the Pomodoro technique) and methods for maintaining inner calm. Often, such courses simply rattle off the ways in which one should go about improving oneself. Using visual examples and participative tasks, Matthias managed to coax the answers out of us and allow the penny to drop for us first, before laying out the theory behind a concept. His delivery was accompanied by the conviction that these tools can help to achieve both professional and personal goals. His holistic approach with meditation and keeping physically active during work-breaks was persuasive and applicable.
The highly interactive nature of the seminar encouraged me to apply Matthias tips to my own life and to consider and discuss these with the other seminar participants. The individual attention and encouragement Matthias was able to give to each participant (even in the online setting!) was very impressive. For anyone who is lost in the mists of their projects or frustrated by a sense of inertia, this seminar helped me to hone my vision. Already having tried out the quiet hour, and Matthias time-boxing , I have noticed an increase in productivity and in turn, satisfaction with my work. With a well-stocked toolkit of time-management strategies, I feel better equipped to face important projects in the future!
Margaret Haverty |
The most interactive online course I have ever attended
When I told people that I would take a class on time management, most of them asked if I was the lecturer. I guess I come across as someone that is well organized and must have great time management due to my many hobbies and calendars. However, I was not satisfied because too many things still would not work out as planned, my to-do lists would never get shorter and sometimes it would be hard to reach my goals in time.
During the class I realized that I was using many of the methods and techniques we learned already and why I had the issues I had despite using them. In order to reach goals quickly, I would fill in my calendar with as many tasks as possible to finish within that week, which left me exhausted and by the end of the week I would skip tasks due to that and feel bad about it. This turned into a vicious circle of trying to do even more the following week to make up for not being productive enough the week before and squeezing in these tasks in an already far to full schedule.
I learnt to set just 3-5 specific goals for the week to finish and leave the remaining work hours as buffer for unexpected things which happen quite often in labs, sometimes more so than the stuff you planned. I am finally able to cross things off my to-do lists since I do not work that much in parallel anymore. I feel like I profited a lot from the class and I feel a lot more confident in finishing my thesis within the next 12 months.
Additionally to the great content, the course provided a great atmosphere created by Matthias. We learnt so much in so little time, yet I never felt tired or overwhelmed. The course was very interactive, probably the most interactive online course I have ever attended. Matthias was very positive and inspirational, had an answer to each question people asked (which none of us was afraid to ask due to the great atmosphere) and made us all feel welcome at any time. I would always recommend this course to anyone, no matter at which level of time management you consider yourself. You will take home a lot, not only on the topic but also personally due to his inspiring spirit!
Johanna Krüger |
I could raise my presentation skills from good to excellent [...] Strongly recommended!
The two-day online course on scientific presentation was really useful for me. I personally felt that it introduced me to another level of presentation where I could raise my presentation skills from good to excellent. I could imagine that the course is even more amazing in person but it worked really well online. We did feel as if we were sitting together in one space and we interacted very effectively that is because Matthias was very engaging and the course was very interactive. The technology worked well, the camera and white board created a classroom environment. I found especially cool how the camera s focus was changing when Matthias was in the center and speaking to us versus when he used the whiteboard and flip chart. Forming smaller groups and working together with other participants was also fun. We felt that we got to know the other course participants pretty well and having to pay attention and think about the other participants' presentations and slides was also useful for self-reflection. What I found most special about this course is the very individualized feedback that each of us received on multiple aspects of presentation. Recording a video of us while presenting and then watching it and discussing it individually with Matthias was a very unique and useful experience which one rarely ever has when presenting in real life. Matthias was very professional, enthusiastic, and patient and he gave us the feeling that he was interested in helping each one of us to develop their skills in the directions we needed. I personally learned important things about how to structure a talk and how to make it specific to one s audience. I am really looking forward to my next talk, I am curious about how the skills I recently gained in this course will translate in reality. Strongly recommended!
 | Wala Jaser |
You will never regret this decision!
My name is Nan and I have taken the 2 days online seminar on conducting scientific talks which is extremely worthy of visit. There are 2 main reasons why I enjoyed a lot. Firstly, during this seminar, I could gain a very good understanding of what makes scientific presentations convincing. Matthias addressed the content with a very clear sequence and rhythm. Secondly, I had an opportunity to give a presentation during the seminar and then got quite valuable both positive feedback and what I still could improve. Moreover, I had another opportunity to give the talk again on the second day based on strategies I learned at the seminar, which was obviously improved right away. The seminar worked quite well and I felt like I was sitting at the real classroom even though it`s online because of good organization. Firstly, Matthias had a clear camera which could show himself and his handwriting on the board quite well. Secondly, we could discuss questions in Zoom and we also were separated into small rooms to talk about specific questions. What`s more, we could give talks while standing, showing our body languages quite clearly, which also made me feel like in the real classroom. I liked the way Matthias delivering the content and guiding through the seminar, with logical language skills, handwriting as well as several vivid videos. I benefited a lot during this seminar. After this seminar, I have more knowledge of giving convincing scientific presentations, specifically in three essential areas: create clear content, design proper media, be convincing on stage. What s more, I received a lot of valuable feedbacks about giving talks on stage. I would strongly recommend you to attend this seminar. You will never regret this decision!
 | Nan Zhang |
Very enjoyable, and extremely informative
How not to be a procrastinator: getting things done in optimal time
As a doctoral candidate, as well as any full-time researcher, it is required from us to be able to run our project, plan experiments, constantly read related and non-related papers, attend to a number of seminars, take part in tutorships, write papers, develop soft skills, among other duties. Along with those, we also like to be a functional person, with hobbies, physical activities and time for our loved ones. Therefore, learning how to manage our own time is extremely important to cope with all these activities. Besides that, a good planning of the time in advance can save time and lots of stress, when trying to squeeze in one or more activities in a day.
For me, the seminar was eye-opening for the way I take my activities in general. Usually, I plan my experiments for instance in the very same day I need to perform then. It honestly takes me an entire morning thinking and scheduling something that, if organized before, could have been done in half of the time. Some of the messages delivered during the seminar goes along with our common sense and seem simply to acknowledge. However, as I never devoted time to take a proper look into the matter of planning and time organization, I haven t realized these messages and how we can apply them in our daily life. Moreover, we not only discussed behavior, but actual and practical techniques to put us on track. In my case, the Pomodoro technique, as well as the OKRs method, were very interesting because they give you tools and guidelines to start and evaluate the progress of a given project.
I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, giving the restraints of the online environment. However, the organization of Dr. Matthias Mayer, with colorful flowcharts and memorable slides, alongside with a great narrative, made the course very enjoyable, and extremely informative. By encouraging the group to work together and collaborate, he created a relaxed environment, where we could share our points of view and also hear our peers ones. And of course, the course was perfectly prepared and timed with the sections we should cover together. For that, Dr. Mayer was very thoughtful and asked us in advance what were our expectations and needs for the course. With that, he prepared a great tailored content that pleased all of the participants.
In conclusion, I could not recommend more the attendance to the course. For any type of professional, or person that want to profit from time better, the course gives practical tools for us to do what is expected from us, as well as things that we want to do, without carrying frustrating or guilty in the end of the day for not being able to accomplish some planned activities. I am currently trying to apply those techniques, with a week-calendar for planning, and setting small milestones to be conquered each day in a progressive way that allows me to get feedback and evaluation of my tasks.
Lorena Infante Teixeira |
A game-changer for me
I decided to take Matthias class because doing a PhD can be quite overwhelming and draining. In a nutshell, this class encourages you to take an honest look at your work habits, reflect on your goals, and ultimately help you be more efficient (and staying sane). A game-changer for me has been to structure my workday according to my biorhythm. I used to feel guilty for not being as productive in the middle of the day and usually tried to force myself to work, which really wasn t efficient and just led to more feelings of guilt. Matthias reminder that it s natural to have different energy levels throughout the day, but that we should work with them instead against them, made me restructure my day (minus the guilt from before). Matthias is incredibly enthusiastic about his work and also talked about his own experiences and struggles, which, in my opinion, made the experience more personal and relatable. Even though it was an online class, Matthias provided opportunities for interaction, which I really appreciated because hearing about other people s experiences motivated me too. However, don t expect this class to solve all your problems. Although Matthias gives you a range of methods and tools, and lots of encouragement, in the end, it s up to you to use them. For example, I knew about Pomodoro before the class and successfully ignored it for the last year, but now, setting a timer is the first thing I do when I start working. It helps me to be more focused and also helps with my anxiety. The class was super helpful for me, not necessarily because I learned lots of new things I hadn t heard about before, but it was Matthias way of communicating that encouraged me to reflect and then be consistent in using the tools that I found most helpful.
 | Lisa Matthias |
Incredibly good
I took part in Matthias' two-day online workshop "Leadership Skills" and was completely thrilled and inspired. Matthias offered a bouquet of practical impulses, relevant theories and valuable experiences. The course was incredibly good in terms of methodology and didactics. Input, methods and reflection alternated in an entertaining way. Matthias's style is precise, approachable, and he inspires the subject with depth. Thanks to all the well-prepared documents and further information. The course also stimulates reflection afterwards. What does good leadership mean, what does leadership have to do with self-leadership, how can I motivate others? I can highly recommend the two-day workshop.
| Stefanie |
I unequivocally recommend this workshop
Attending the Conflict Management Workshop was an extraordinarily enriching experience. Dr. Mayer s expertise was evident, and his ability to elucidate complex concepts with clarity and enthusiasm made the sessions both captivating and highly constructive. Dr. Mayer brought a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for the subject.
A standout aspect of the workshop was the inclusion of various practical exercises and role-playing scenarios rooted in real-life situations. These immersive activities offered a constructive environment to practice and refine our conflict resolution skills, providing immediate and insightful feedback.
Through these interactive sessions, I developed a comprehensive understanding of diverse conflict styles and effective resolution strategies. The knowledge and skills I acquired have significantly strengthened my confidence in navigating challenging conversations and fostering a collaborative atmosphere in both professional and personal contexts.
This workshop has profoundly equipped me with the empathy and assertiveness required to manage conflicts adeptly. I unequivocally recommend this workshop to anyone seeking to enhance their conflict management capabilities, and I would like to once again thank Dr. Mayer for his genuine efforts and contribution.
Thanks a lot!
| Shreya Agrawal |
It was motivating to see benefits [...] in a short period of time
The Time Management seminar helped me identifying distractions and counterproductive behaviors, as well as becoming conscious of my own natural focus cycles. I learned several techniques and tools for self organization, many of which I successfully applied right after the seminar, such as the detailed weekly planning and the end-of-day closing routine. It was motivating to see benefits from them in a short period of time.
| Leandro Lanzieri |
Evaluated which leadership style is right for me
The Leadership Skills workshop by Matthias gave the the opportunity to further evolve my skillset not only in my leadership skills, but also in my communication skills and conflict management.
The workshop enabled me to identify the leadership skills applied by my superior and react appropriately to that.
Using the information provided I evaluated which leadership style is right for me in different situation to lead my students during their thesis.
I now start to understand the leadership style of people I adore and use them as a good example. I can highly recommend this workshop to everyone who wants to understand how good leadership works and evolve their own leadership style.
| Lea Miriam Strigl |
A real game-changer!
A real game-changer!
Participating in the scientific talks skills course for PhD students was a transformative experience for us. Matthias and his team understood our unique challenges in presenting complex research, and their personalized approach made a real difference. Learning to communicate our work with clarity and simplicity has been a game-changer.
Specifically, the course was highly valuable because many of us were struggling with stage fright, but our style improved dramatically after the training in a demo presentation. We wholeheartedly recommend this course it's not just about delivering talks; it's about finding your voice and making a genuine connection with your audience.
| Marina Simunovic and Joaquim Frigola Casals |
A truly transformative experience
I recently participated in Dr. Matthias Mayer's Leadership Skills workshop, and it was a truly transformative experience. In a world where the distinction between great and poor leaders is clear, this workshop provided profound insights into the factors that set them apart. Dr. Mayer covered various aspects of leadership, including styles, conflict communication, decision-making, and situational leadership. Each topic was expertly presented, shedding light on the dynamics that contribute to effective leadership. Implementing these principles has not only fostered personal growth in my leadership role but has also deepened my understanding of my strengths, weaknesses, and those of my project students.
I highly recommend this course to anyone aspiring to be a great leader or looking to refine their leadership skills. Dr. Matthias Mayer's workshop offers practical tools to nurture good leadership practices and foster a positive working environment. It's a valuable investment for those committed to cultivating excellence in leadership.
| Ananthakrishnan Vijayakumar Maya |
A lot more confidence and peace of mind
Even though I am still a second-year PhD student, I decided to attend Dr. Matthias Mayer s Career Planning and Job Application Seminar and was pleasantly surprised.
The seminar was based on information and questions we provided over a questionnaire in advance, so it was tailored to meet our requests about the topic and the content ended up being extremely helpful.
We were provided insights on our CVs, CLs, and we received feedback on mock interviews. We were also offered plenty of supplementary material to support us in the long-term. To me, the interview session with the invited speaker was the best part, since we were able to connect theory and practice, and see how well the strategies mentioned in the seminar worked for the speaker to become a successful scientist.
I left the seminar with a time plan of what I need to work on until I am finally at the stage of applying for jobs. This gives me a lot more confidence and peace of mind, because now I know how to prepare myself for what is to come.
| Débora Carvalho Radicchi |
I was very impressed
In brief, I was very impressed by the well-prepared lecture slides, the lecturer s expertise, and the constructive feedback I immediately received from the lecturer during the instant practice in the seminar. I learned many helpful concepts and guidelines that support me in improving my slide design and how to present my idea more clearly. For example, hourglass structure is especially beneficial because it helps me focus on a good structure for the whole presentation design and know how to present each slide to keep the audience following my idea delivery.
| Kao Chih-Yuan |
It only "clicked" for me after the workshop
I took part in the workshop " Manage yourself - with success and momentum through your studies". As a science student, it is sometimes a challenge to stay in your energy and respond with a clear "no" to inquiries or distractions. Young women still struggle far too often to stand up for their own needs. I was aware that a little "yes" here and another "yes" there can lead to my own goals falling by the wayside, but it only "clicked" for me after the workshop.
I learned to get clarity about my own goals and how important it is to work your way through from the back (the goal) to the front (elephant carpaccio). In other words, not to put projects on your own list, but small steps that do not overwhelm you and are feasible. I really enjoyed the exchange with other participants and the breaks were great to get into the exchange. I noticed that while participating in the workshop, I asked my questions in a more goal-oriented way and got away from the classic "small talk" and was thus able to learn more about the participants and their path. At the same time, I thought it was great how Matthias responded to us students, even though his student days were a few years ago.
In this workshop, we not only received numerous application examples for implementation, but also went into implementation in a targeted manner. My personal highlight, however, was the example of Matthias with the crossed thumbs. In future, I will always put my hands together and cross my thumbs the other way round when I want to tackle something new and uncomfortable and remember that things always feel a bit unfamiliar at the beginning - just like when my left thumb is on the right - thank you! [translated from German]
| Bilge Ertugrul |
I finally feel that I have some clear directions to follow
Great workshop! Matthias brought awareness to the many crucial yet often overlook aspects of career planning. We got offered a number of actionable tools, from how to optimize CV and CL to useful lists of online and book resources. We learned about many practices and we were able to directly test them in an encouraging and interactive atmosphere. I particularly appreciated the demo interviews and how Matthias was able to provide personalized tips and inspirations to each participant.
What to do after the PhD? I finally feel that I have some clear directions to follow. Highly recommended, anybody would benefit from this course.
| Giuseppe Balsamo |
Very engaging and inspiring
I had never imaged communication to be something that could be systematically improved - until the 2-day seminar with Matthias. Through theory and in-seminar practice, Matthias built a solid framework to guide conversations to solve conflicts - instead of creating one. For instance, Matthias demonstrated vividly how a message can carry meanings at different levels, which both the speaker and the listener may not be fully aware of. The framework ranges from broad topics like thinking from the other person's perspective, to small but important details for better phrasing words and sentences, many of these I readily put into practice right after the seminar. The seminar was very engaging and inspiring, definitely an asset that I would carry on into work and life!
| Zhou Ye |
One of the best I've ever attended
I visited the two-day online conflict management seminar, one of the best I've ever attended. Before, I thought two days were too long for a workshop on this topic. After it, I was satisfied and grateful that it was not just half a day. The two days' time allows the group to discuss deeply and for me to convert the theories into personal use. We have not only learned many valuable tools to deal with conflicts but also had discussions and practices in small groups. Especially interesting for me was one simulation we made, which helped me learn my behavior from a third party's view and helped me understand my counterpart's reaction in real life. After the seminar, I have ideas about how to deal with conflicts in my career and personal life. Moreover, Matthias is super enthusiastic and sincere. Not only the content of the seminar but also his professional way of conducting it inspired me a lot. Many thanks!
| Shi Di |
It is amazing how in only 2 hours one can learn so many things
Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn from you in this course! I was surprised how many mistakes a lot of people, including myself, make while designing their slides. Matthias was so enthusiastic about teaching us how to improve our presentations that I was really motivated to rework my recent presentations. It is amazing how in only 2 hours one can learn so many things to make a presentation more appealing and working with Powerpoint much easier and more efficient. I am positive that what I have learned during this seminar will stick to me for the rest of my academic career. Thank you!
| Dilara Hasavci |
Very interactive and entertaining
I enjoyed the seminar with Matthias and I am sure that with the recommendations he gave us, I can convince the scientific audience of my next talk. Through the vivid exchange and the examples Matthias made, I experienced the workshop even if it was online- as very interactive and entertaining. I got inspired on how to get the attention of my audience and how to structure and prepare my next presentation. For me, especially the examples, the direct transfer to my own work and the feedback on my own short talk were very helpful to further improve my own presentation style and slide design.
| Constanze Riedinger |
Deeply tailored to the participants' questions and needs
Hi PhD colleague or young researcher. I want to share with you my experience in the two days Present your science and yourself workshop. Like you, I had a busy schedule and I thought to skip it. It can wait, it is not urgent. Nevertheless, I want to encourage you to take it based on the great results it had for me.
I present my findings in conferences and talks based on what I have seen and improving self-experiences. And I can tell it is not the best way but it is, unfortunately, the common way of learning in academia. Therefore, when I say the workshop, I expected to experience and gather some graspable tips to improve my presentations. These expectations were fully fulfilled.
I needed some tips on how to speak and stand during my presentation, improving my slides and my storytelling. The workshop is filled with ground-to-earth comments to improve in all those areas. It was very time efficient, we only met two days for eight hours in total but I could already see a difference in my presentation. I didn t need to prepare much, just the material from my past presentations was more than enough to work with. The general information was immensely helpful but on top of that, I also really appreciate and enjoy that we work on our own examples of storytelling, and slides. The workshop was deeply tailored to the participants' questions and needs.
I found out some aspects of my talk that do not help that have to do with my intonation, my speed during the talk, my use of the slides. This was truly helpful and I also received relevant ways of improving. Don t worry, this feedback was handed to me in a very constructive and friendly way, and I also got to find out aspects of my talks that really work and therefore, be aware of them and emphasize them more.
I am positive this workshop gave me tools to prepare and deliver better talks about my research. This is very important for our careers; how to communicate the best way possible what we have to say about our findings, is kind of the whole point. I encourage you to do the workshop and give solid steps towards that purpose.
| Agustina Marques |
Amazingly good and engaging
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Conflict Management class with Dr. Matthias Mayer, and I am thrilled to provide feedback on this enriching experience. The comprehensive coverage of various aspects related to conflict resolution has undoubtedly enhanced my understanding of conflicts, and has equipped me with valuable skills and tools for my professional and personal life.
The exploration of different personality types was particularly insightful, highlighting the diverse ways individuals approach and navigate conflicts. I believe that the emphasis on how to formulate "I messages" instead of confrontational sentences was a standout feature of the class, and give concrete tools to manage people and also prevent conflicts by solving them at early stage. Learning how to communicate assertively yet respectfully has proven invaluable, offering a constructive way to express feelings and concerns without escalating tensions. Having practical sessions to train and discuss within the workshop was also very helpful to test the strategy without risking a first trial on a real-life situation.
The class additionally delved into the underlying reasons behind conflicts, providing a comprehensive overview of the root causes. In addition, we have discussed how active listening can help to empathize with people and make them feel better understood, so that one can limit conflict. One of the other highlights of the workshop was the systematic approach to conflict resolution preparation. This made me understood that some important conflicts need to be resolved after a careful preparation time to analyze the best strategy to deal with them. Learning how to identify the core issues and develop effective communication were important tools provided in the workshop. The step-by-step guidance on this matter provided a structured framework that I can readily apply in real-world situations.
The speaker was amazingly good and engaging. He took real care to personalize the workshop to the needs of the group, address all our questions and provided us with feedback to make his points as clear as possible on examples from our own experience. This was extremely appreciated! I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in this class and I look forward to incorporating all these valuable lessons into my everyday life. Thank you Matthias!
| Jun.-Prof. Dr. Priscilla Briquez |
Extremely grateful for the invaluable insights
Grateful for the Time Management Workshop Experience :
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Time Management workshop during the first year of my Ph.D., and I am extremely grateful for the invaluable insights and skills I gained from the course.
What I appreciated most about the workshop was that it delivered exactly what I was seeking. The instructor provided practical and actionable insights that I could immediately apply to my daily life.
Initially, adapting to the systematic approach presented in the workshop posed a challenge, but as I gradually implemented the strategies, I noticed a significant improvement in both my efficiency and overall quality of life.
One of the highlights of the workshop for me was when the instructor introduced the concept of "Slicing the Elephant and Kissing the Frog."
This metaphorical approach not only made the learning goal-oriented but also provided a memorable framework for approaching tasks and priorities.
Reflecting on the workshop, I can confidently say that attending it was a pivotal decision. The skills acquired through time management enhanced my abilities positively in various aspects of my academic and personal life. I believe that without the insights gained from this workshop, I would have missed out on a valuable opportunity for personal and professional growth.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the instructor, Dr. Matthias Mayer for delivering a workshop that exceeded my expectations and proved to be an invaluable asset during this crucial phase of my academic journey.
| Vishnupriyaa Pulickel-Sajeevu |
Took away a lot of important points
Thank you very much for the great seminar!
First of all, I would like to say that the entire event has remained a friendly, professional and fun memory for me. What I found very great was the group work and that we were able to work with personal examples.
I also took away a lot of important points. For example, how to behave in a conflict situation and what to look out for. I have even tried to apply what I have learned a few times.
It has also become clear to me that you have to pay more attention to the thoughts, feelings and ideas of others before you react. This is more challenging than I thought.
In all cases, I am convinced that these experiences will help me in my life. I can only recommend the seminar! [translated from German]
| Viktoriia Lebedynska |
How much more effective my days are
The time management workshop, which was carried out very professionally and interactively, gave me an understanding of practical techniques that help me to structure my working days. Since then, I have actively incorporated the "Kiss the Frog" technique into my daily planning, always keeping the Eisenhower principle in mind to prioritize and carry out tasks. I'm already noticing how much more effective my days are becoming and I reserve more time for important research tasks. A clear recommendation to all people who are burdened with responsibilities for a wide variety of daily activities and who want to create a better overview of their work.
| Tim Puhlfürß |
It would be a pity if you had the chance and you let it pass.
Matthias Mayer is one of the most dedicated, passionate and enthusiastic instructors I have encountered in any subject in a really long time. I had the opportunity to attend his 2-day online workshop on scientific presentation. It is easy to see that he not only has an enormous knowledge base in his domain of expertise but also puts his 200% into both producing and delivering the distilled content that he wishes to serve his attendees in the most efficient and effective way possible. His workshops cover a lot of ground thematically for the allotted time. Nevertheless, despite the intensive nature of his workshops, he manages to give focussed, pointed and transformative feedback to each of the individual participants on all aspects of their presentation, many times, over the course of a single workshop. This I found extremely helpful in transforming my presentation from good to wow! I also found the external resources he provides his attendees in the form of handouts and videos to be especially thorough and beneficial for future learning. It is also worth mentioning that despite the fact that our workshop was held entirely over Zoom, the distance was imperceptible. If I get another chance, I would definitely attend another workshop with Matthias Mayer. It would be a pity if you had the chance and you let it pass.
| Manasa M. |
A life changing experience, incredibly helpful
A life changing experience, incredibly helpful workshop with a step by step approach and Q&A to an expert in the field. Who does that? I am so glad I could get a slot. The workshop was done in three days and every second was worth attending.
Before the seminar itself, participants were given the chance to reflect on their goals and expectations. Before writing those I knew what I wanted, and writing showed me that what I have been thinking was nothing around what I actually wrote, which was much deeper and clearer with the steps to get there. This pre-workshop exercise was also a great way to clear my mind and get me ready to receive new information as I realized that I had questions I could not answer.
The daily sessions were packed with meaningful information with shorter and longer breaks including activation exercises. For long lasting conferences it is easy to be seated for over 5 hours. These exercises not only relaxed my muscles but also increased my circulation which kept my attention high. I could figure out that Matthias is very good with groups. He did a wonderful job with us all. I personally found it very empowering as nothing was between me and my dreamed career, but active planning. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone and especially fellows hesitating between academia or industry as a career path and those who need to be encouraged.
This course will definitely fit as a must take seminar for PhD students. It dissipates uncertainty, giving you the tools to successfully choose your career path. What I also very much liked is that if you have a plan, it is completely okay to take time for yourself after your PhD, this is in no way a falling plan.
Dr. Babette Guimbang |
The perfect start to the application phase
For me, the "Career Planning & Job Application Seminar" with Dr. Matthias Mayer was the perfect start to the job application phase after my doctorate. In the seminar we went into the most important points of a successful application in an interactive way, with a special focus on CV and CL as well as the job interview. Matthias took a lot of time for each participant and always gave detailed and constructive feedback. Personally, I particularly liked the very good atmosphere and helpful comments from Matthias and the other participants. I now know what to expect when applying for a job and I feel very well prepared. I also find the links and book suggestions that Matthias gave us to be helpful and tailored to our needs. The interview organized by Matthias with the COO of the Max Planck Institute in Florida gave us participants an insight into the career path of a scientist that you cannot get anywhere else without contacts. I can warmly recommend Matthias' seminar to every PhD student in Life Science as preparation for applying for a job. [Translated from German]
Stefan Schön |
Der perfekte Start in die Bewerbungsphase
Das Career Planning & Job Application Seminar bei Dr. Matthias Mayer war f r mich der perfekte Start in die Bewerbungsphase f r meinen Job nach der Promotion. Im Seminar sind wir auf interaktive Art und Weise auf die wichtigsten Punkte einer erfolgreichen Bewerbung eingegangen, mit besonderem Fokus auf CV und CL sowie das Jobinterview. Matthias hat sich f r jeden Teilnehmer viel Zeit genommen und hat immer detailliert und konstruktiv Feedback gegeben. Mir pers nlich haben die sehr gute Atmosph re und die hilfreichen Kommentare von Matthias aber auch den anderen Teilnehmenden besonders gefallen und geholfen. Ich wei nun was bei der Jobbewerbung auf mich zukommt und f hle mich sehr gut vorbereitet. Auch die weiterf hrenden Links und Buchvorschl ge, die Matthias uns gegeben hat, empfinde ich als hilfreich und gut auf uns zugeschnitten. Das von Matthias organisierte Interview mit dem COO des Max-Planck-Instituts in Florida hat uns Teilnehmenden einen Einblick in den Karriereweg eines Wissenschaftlers geliefert, den man ohne Kontakte sonst nirgends bekommt. Ich kann jedem PhD-Studenten in Life-Science als Vorbereitung f r die Jobbewerbung das Seminar von Matthias w rmstens empfehlen.
Stefan Schön |
Be ready to fail!
Leadership workshop with Matthias Mayer
Two intense days with basic information combined with group work and time to think about your colleagues and yourself. Matthias gave a full picture about the tasks of a leader and advices how to be a good one.
It was very important for me to understand my own personality, which leadership skills I already bring with me and where I need to work harder. I really liked the discussions and input we got about how to give constructive criticism and how to manage conflicts. My personal main statements I take from the workshop are:
*Leadership is hard work, therefore never stop reflecting yourself, give and receive feedback and keep learning. Motivate your co-workers in an individual and personalized way. And most importantly, be ready to fail!*
Thank you very much Matthias for your helpful and clear guidance to become a good leader.
I am looking forward to improve my skills and to come back to my workshop notes when I am struggling.
| Dr. Sandra Ammann |
Have a deeper impact
I took Matthias two days online workshop on Presenting Science . I had high expectations as I heard good comments about it in previous years; however, I was a bit afraid and not very comfortable with the idea of recording myself and analyze my presentation skills in front of other people. The truth is that during the workshop, I didn t even think about that. Being a small group, the attention is personalized, the atmosphere is friendly and cozy, giving the opportunity to be helped but also to help others. I can tell that the course is well prepared and structured and that Matthias has a lot of experience in the subject. This workshop is not a one-way talk where the presenter gives tips and the attendees listen, it is a place where opinions, feedbacks, advice and comments go in all directions including among participants. I liked it, I enjoyed it and I found the information useful. I would definitely recommend it to those who wish to have a deeper impact on their scientific presentations.
| Mónica Peña Luna |
One of my best experiences
Thank you for the amazing course. It was indeed one of my best experiences.
With a simple, vivid as well as professional way you managed to cover all the important topics how to successfully present scientific talks. There are some secrets of success that I was not aware.
Definitely, after your guidance I know how to give an excellent talk and my audience go back home happy for deeply understanding the take home message of my presentation.
| Dimitra Vlachokosta |
Exactly the push [ ] I needed
The Time Management Seminar with Matthias was exactly the push in the right direction I needed. Equipped now with concrete, practical strategies, I am already empowered to make the changes in my self-management and organisation on the road towards my goal of completing my PhD successfully.
Matthias struck the perfect balance between introducing us to effective strategies for learning and working (such as the quiet hour or the Pomodoro technique) and methods for maintaining inner calm. Often, such courses simply rattle off the ways in which one should go about improving oneself. Using visual examples and participative tasks, Matthias managed to coax the answers out of us and allow the penny to drop for us first, before laying out the theory behind a concept. His delivery was accompanied by the conviction that these tools can help to achieve both professional and personal goals. His holistic approach with meditation and keeping physically active during work-breaks was persuasive and applicable.
The highly interactive nature of the seminar encouraged me to apply Matthias tips to my own life and to consider and discuss these with the other seminar participants. The individual attention and encouragement Matthias was able to give to each participant (even in the online setting!) was very impressive. For anyone who is lost in the mists of their projects or frustrated by a sense of inertia, this seminar helped me to hone my vision. Already having tried out the quiet hour, and Matthias time-boxing , I have noticed an increase in productivity and in turn, satisfaction with my work. With a well-stocked toolkit of time-management strategies, I feel better equipped to face important projects in the future!
Margaret Haverty |
The most interactive online course I have ever attended
When I told people that I would take a class on time management, most of them asked if I was the lecturer. I guess I come across as someone that is well organized and must have great time management due to my many hobbies and calendars. However, I was not satisfied because too many things still would not work out as planned, my to-do lists would never get shorter and sometimes it would be hard to reach my goals in time.
During the class I realized that I was using many of the methods and techniques we learned already and why I had the issues I had despite using them. In order to reach goals quickly, I would fill in my calendar with as many tasks as possible to finish within that week, which left me exhausted and by the end of the week I would skip tasks due to that and feel bad about it. This turned into a vicious circle of trying to do even more the following week to make up for not being productive enough the week before and squeezing in these tasks in an already far to full schedule.
I learnt to set just 3-5 specific goals for the week to finish and leave the remaining work hours as buffer for unexpected things which happen quite often in labs, sometimes more so than the stuff you planned. I am finally able to cross things off my to-do lists since I do not work that much in parallel anymore. I feel like I profited a lot from the class and I feel a lot more confident in finishing my thesis within the next 12 months.
Additionally to the great content, the course provided a great atmosphere created by Matthias. We learnt so much in so little time, yet I never felt tired or overwhelmed. The course was very interactive, probably the most interactive online course I have ever attended. Matthias was very positive and inspirational, had an answer to each question people asked (which none of us was afraid to ask due to the great atmosphere) and made us all feel welcome at any time. I would always recommend this course to anyone, no matter at which level of time management you consider yourself. You will take home a lot, not only on the topic but also personally due to his inspiring spirit!
Johanna Krüger |
I could raise my presentation skills from good to excellent [...] Strongly recommended!
The two-day online course on scientific presentation was really useful for me. I personally felt that it introduced me to another level of presentation where I could raise my presentation skills from good to excellent. I could imagine that the course is even more amazing in person but it worked really well online. We did feel as if we were sitting together in one space and we interacted very effectively that is because Matthias was very engaging and the course was very interactive. The technology worked well, the camera and white board created a classroom environment. I found especially cool how the camera s focus was changing when Matthias was in the center and speaking to us versus when he used the whiteboard and flip chart. Forming smaller groups and working together with other participants was also fun. We felt that we got to know the other course participants pretty well and having to pay attention and think about the other participants' presentations and slides was also useful for self-reflection. What I found most special about this course is the very individualized feedback that each of us received on multiple aspects of presentation. Recording a video of us while presenting and then watching it and discussing it individually with Matthias was a very unique and useful experience which one rarely ever has when presenting in real life. Matthias was very professional, enthusiastic, and patient and he gave us the feeling that he was interested in helping each one of us to develop their skills in the directions we needed. I personally learned important things about how to structure a talk and how to make it specific to one s audience. I am really looking forward to my next talk, I am curious about how the skills I recently gained in this course will translate in reality. Strongly recommended!
| Wala Jaser |
You will never regret this decision!
My name is Nan and I have taken the 2 days online seminar on conducting scientific talks which is extremely worthy of visit. There are 2 main reasons why I enjoyed a lot. Firstly, during this seminar, I could gain a very good understanding of what makes scientific presentations convincing. Matthias addressed the content with a very clear sequence and rhythm. Secondly, I had an opportunity to give a presentation during the seminar and then got quite valuable both positive feedback and what I still could improve. Moreover, I had another opportunity to give the talk again on the second day based on strategies I learned at the seminar, which was obviously improved right away. The seminar worked quite well and I felt like I was sitting at the real classroom even though it`s online because of good organization. Firstly, Matthias had a clear camera which could show himself and his handwriting on the board quite well. Secondly, we could discuss questions in Zoom and we also were separated into small rooms to talk about specific questions. What`s more, we could give talks while standing, showing our body languages quite clearly, which also made me feel like in the real classroom. I liked the way Matthias delivering the content and guiding through the seminar, with logical language skills, handwriting as well as several vivid videos. I benefited a lot during this seminar. After this seminar, I have more knowledge of giving convincing scientific presentations, specifically in three essential areas: create clear content, design proper media, be convincing on stage. What s more, I received a lot of valuable feedbacks about giving talks on stage. I would strongly recommend you to attend this seminar. You will never regret this decision!
| Nan Zhang |
Very enjoyable, and extremely informative
How not to be a procrastinator: getting things done in optimal time
As a doctoral candidate, as well as any full-time researcher, it is required from us to be able to run our project, plan experiments, constantly read related and non-related papers, attend to a number of seminars, take part in tutorships, write papers, develop soft skills, among other duties. Along with those, we also like to be a functional person, with hobbies, physical activities and time for our loved ones. Therefore, learning how to manage our own time is extremely important to cope with all these activities. Besides that, a good planning of the time in advance can save time and lots of stress, when trying to squeeze in one or more activities in a day.
For me, the seminar was eye-opening for the way I take my activities in general. Usually, I plan my experiments for instance in the very same day I need to perform then. It honestly takes me an entire morning thinking and scheduling something that, if organized before, could have been done in half of the time. Some of the messages delivered during the seminar goes along with our common sense and seem simply to acknowledge. However, as I never devoted time to take a proper look into the matter of planning and time organization, I haven t realized these messages and how we can apply them in our daily life. Moreover, we not only discussed behavior, but actual and practical techniques to put us on track. In my case, the Pomodoro technique, as well as the OKRs method, were very interesting because they give you tools and guidelines to start and evaluate the progress of a given project.
I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, giving the restraints of the online environment. However, the organization of Dr. Matthias Mayer, with colorful flowcharts and memorable slides, alongside with a great narrative, made the course very enjoyable, and extremely informative. By encouraging the group to work together and collaborate, he created a relaxed environment, where we could share our points of view and also hear our peers ones. And of course, the course was perfectly prepared and timed with the sections we should cover together. For that, Dr. Mayer was very thoughtful and asked us in advance what were our expectations and needs for the course. With that, he prepared a great tailored content that pleased all of the participants.
In conclusion, I could not recommend more the attendance to the course. For any type of professional, or person that want to profit from time better, the course gives practical tools for us to do what is expected from us, as well as things that we want to do, without carrying frustrating or guilty in the end of the day for not being able to accomplish some planned activities. I am currently trying to apply those techniques, with a week-calendar for planning, and setting small milestones to be conquered each day in a progressive way that allows me to get feedback and evaluation of my tasks.
Lorena Infante Teixeira |
A game-changer for me
I decided to take Matthias class because doing a PhD can be quite overwhelming and draining. In a nutshell, this class encourages you to take an honest look at your work habits, reflect on your goals, and ultimately help you be more efficient (and staying sane). A game-changer for me has been to structure my workday according to my biorhythm. I used to feel guilty for not being as productive in the middle of the day and usually tried to force myself to work, which really wasn t efficient and just led to more feelings of guilt. Matthias reminder that it s natural to have different energy levels throughout the day, but that we should work with them instead against them, made me restructure my day (minus the guilt from before). Matthias is incredibly enthusiastic about his work and also talked about his own experiences and struggles, which, in my opinion, made the experience more personal and relatable. Even though it was an online class, Matthias provided opportunities for interaction, which I really appreciated because hearing about other people s experiences motivated me too. However, don t expect this class to solve all your problems. Although Matthias gives you a range of methods and tools, and lots of encouragement, in the end, it s up to you to use them. For example, I knew about Pomodoro before the class and successfully ignored it for the last year, but now, setting a timer is the first thing I do when I start working. It helps me to be more focused and also helps with my anxiety. The class was super helpful for me, not necessarily because I learned lots of new things I hadn t heard about before, but it was Matthias way of communicating that encouraged me to reflect and then be consistent in using the tools that I found most helpful.
| Lisa Matthias |