To do:
The road towards getting your PhD is not always an easy one. But you don’t have to go it alone! The PhD advisors at the Doctoral School are there to help you with problems regarding time management, supervision, loneliness, stress, insecurities… basically any problem that may occur during your PhD. If indicated, the PhD advisor will refer the PhD candidate to other authorities, such as the Amsterdam UMC Scientific Research Counsellor, a mediator or an external confidential counsellor. Our PhD advisors Jordi and Mandy both have a PhD and a training in coaching. In one or more sessions they will use their experience to give you tools to tackle your problems. Contact them by sending an email to phdadvisor@amsterdamumc.nl
Jordi Cabanas-Danés: “During my career as PhD candidate and later as postdoctoral fellow, I have always been interested in the persons behind the researchers, and what are the challenges they need to overcome. After completing my training as coach in 2019 I decided to join the Doctoral School as PhD advisor. During conversations my approach begins with genuinely listening and connecting in an accessible yet safe environment. Once your objective is clear, I will guide you further to discover your own unique tools to cross the bridge towards solutions.”
Mandy X. Hu: “I completed both my PhD and coach training in 2018. As a PhD advisor I can do what I love (consulting and coaching) and work with the people with whom I have affinity (PhD candidates). During conversations my strategy is to dig to the core of the problem, increase awareness, and empower to make authentic choices. In this way, I believe, not only the quality of the PhD trajectory may improve, but the quality of other aspects of life - not in the least, the relationship with yourself :)”
Necessary documents:
Tips:
Confidential counsellor:
Fenneke Blom is the confidential counsellor (vertrouwenspersoon) specifically for PhD candidates for issues related to undesirable behavior at the workplace (such as bullying, verbal or physical violence, discrimination etc.) and general integrity issues. You can e-mail Vertrouwenspersoonpromovendi@amsterdamumc.nl directly or be referred by the PhD Candidate Advisor
Scientific integrity counsellor:
For advice regarding scientific integrity, contact Janneke Horn at the Amsterdam UMC/UvA or Frank Snoek at the Amsterdam UMC/VU
HR:
For advice regarding labor disputes or issues with your employment contract, contact HR AMR or HR Amsterdam UMC (via a 'melding in het Service Portaal')
Occupational health service:
For problems regarding occupational health and absenteeism counselling contact the occupational health service at the Amsterdam UMC/UvAor Amsterdam UMC/VU)
Psychological support:
When experiencing mental health issues, you can seek corporate social help at the Amsterdam UMC or psychological help at the VU or the UvA
Peer to peer group coaching
Sometimes you would like to discuss something with a peer. However, it might be difficult to discuss this with your direct colleagues as e.g., they may be involved. Peer to peer group coaching (which is called intervisie in Dutch) is a way to discuss these issues in a safe environment within a small group of PhD candidates (read blog 9: The power of peer coacing). Click here to register!
ASAP
ASAP is a platform created for and by PhD candidates at the Amsterdam UMC. ASAP represents PhDs at the Amsterdam UMC and organizes a broad spectrum of social and informative events
Support for supervisors
Are you a PhD supervisor and in need of a consult? We are also there for you! Contact us at doctoralschool@amsterdamumc.nl
Downloads:
Every month the PhD advisors will blog about their experiences here:
- Blog 11: Why do we act so weird around positive feedback?
- Blog 12: Bigger than our Ego?
- Blog 13: Eye-openers on assertiveness
- Blog 14: New Year and New Beginning – Letting go of old stories
- Blog 15: Tick Tock – The weight of time in a PhD trajectory
- Blog 16: Let's strive for imperfection
- Blog 17: It’s time to lift these labels
- Blog 18: Let it rain
- Blog 19: Human biases when assessing risks
- Blog 20: Why we should abandon 'shoulds'
- Blog 21: Give me a break from this break!
- Blog 22: What is fair?
- Blog 23: Are comparisons always odious?
- Blog 24: The Victim of Blame
- Blog 25: Alone in a Crowd: Seeking Connection in an Isolating Environment
- Blog 26: You don't have a problem
- Blog 27: Embracing failure on the path to success
- Blog 28: Happiness - Again and Always
- Blog 29: A half-full test tube: Leveraging optimism in your PhD path
- Blog 30: How is your relationship with your parents?
- Blog 31: Supervision of PhD candidates