Transversal training

Besides on-the-job technical training, IMDEA Materials Institute is committed to train the Institute’s staff in “soft” or transversal skills. Those competences are relevant to a broad range of occupations and sectors (academic research or teaching career, specialization in a given field or a career at industry or other type of organization) and are the building blocks for the development of the “hard” skills required to succeed on the labor market.

Below you can consult the history of courses that have already taken place and the ones that are currently under preparation. These courses are mainly targeted to Research Assistants, Research Associates and Principal Investigators. In all cases, their goal is to improve both the scientific performance and the career prospects of our staff.

Upcoming

Equality in research

Date and length of the course is TBC
Delivered by: The instructor of the course is TBC

- Learn how promoting gender balance contributes to excellence and inclusivity in scientific endeavors
- Understand the importance of fostering gender balance and creating inclusive working environments where all talents can thrive
- Discover how incorporating the gender dimension enhances research quality and relevance to society

Fundamentals of intellectual and industrial property

Date of the course is TBC, 6 hours
Delivered by: The instructor of the course is TBC

- Improving knowledge of how to approach the management of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the various protective measures for R&D projects in different sectors
- Raising awareness among research personnel about the importance of PII rights in the development of their investigative activities
- Having a basic understanding of Patent Strategic Management: concept, protection strategies, and exploitation. International extension

Open science: open access, research data management and citizen science

Date and length of the course is TBC
Delivered by: The instructor of the course is TBC

- Principles of open science, emphasizing open access to research findings and effective management of research data
- Insights into fostering transparency, collaboration, and societal impact within the scientific community
- Explore the intersection of science, accessibility, and community engagement

Funding opportunities for research and development: grants overview at national and European levels

6th May 2024, 6 hours
Delivered by: María Teresa Ferrando García (Kveloce)

- Introduction to funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers
- Funding opportunities at national level
- Funding opportunities at European level
- Tools and Platforms

Microsoft Office 365

22nd May 2024, 12 hours
Delivered by: The instructor for the course is TBC (2FFormación)

- TEAMS - Video conferencing tool and Microsoft 365 hub
- ONE DRIVE - Hard drive in the cloud
- SHARE POINT - Fundamentals, uses and collaborative work
- Other Tools - TO DO and PLANNER

2024 Courses

Managing conflict constructively across cultures

3rd March 2024, 6 hours
Delivered by: Alicia Marín Muniesa (Coach - The sky is the limit)

- Increase self-awareness of your communication style and cultural preferences
- Identify appropriate practices for managing cross-cultural communication challenges at the workplace
- Practice the win-win negotiation model to manage conflict across cultures

Antifraud Measures Plan

12th March 2024, 15 minutes
Delivered by: IMDEA Materials

- Risks in the management of funds
- The Anti-Fraud Action Plan in the management of Next-Generation Funds
- Specific risk analysis of projects funded with European Funds
- Basic and applied Regulations

2023 Courses

Time & stress management

14th & 20th November 2023. 9 hours
Delivered by: Ulrich Schubert (Psychologist, certified business coach and leadership trainer)


- Theoretical framework
- Stress management skills and techniques
- Time management

Creating your own career plan and job search strategy

26th October 2023. 7 hours
Delivered by: Manuél Escobar (Carreras Científicas Alternativas)


- Career planning
- CV and Linkedin profile
- Preparing for a selection process (interview and negotiation)

Oral presentations: beyond slides

18th May 2023. 7 hours
Delivered by: Lisa Saemisch and Gavin Lucas (The PaperMill)

- Relating to my audience and telling a story
- Defining my message, content and structure
- Key concepts in visual communication
- Focus on creating slide presentations
- Presenting your work. Concepts and practice

Scientific entrepreneurship

17th & 19th January 2023. 10 hours
Delivered by: Miguel Ángel L. Trujillo (BA International Partners)

- Entrepreneurship fundamentals for researchers
- Design of a business model
- Design of a market research interview

2022 Courses

Introduction to software patents

24th November 2022. 1 hour
Delivered by: Nicolás Escudero (CEO of Tribalyte Ideas and European Patent Attorney)

- Patents: main concepts, ideas and importance
- How to detect research results worthing protection
- Strategies for software management, protection and exploitation

Interview skills for supervisors

20th October 2022. 4 hours
Delivered by: Cristina Mateo (Liberty up)

- The importance of the interview
- Screening CVs and preparing for the interview
- During the interview
- Evidence-based evaluations and decision-making. Unconscious biases

Professional development

24th May 2022. 7 hours
Delivered by: Manolo Castellano (Carreras Científicas Alternativas)

The importance of transferable skills inside/outside academia. Practical tools to identify skills for your CV and professional social networks.

Strategies to explore new profesional pathways/scientific careers: job hunting and hiring process.

Networking efficiently inside/outside academia.

CV, prodessional resumes and selection processes.

Round table discussion and Q&A session: Life after the PhD. (real examples from IMDEA Materials alumni)

Public speaking

10th May 2022. 8 hours
Delivered by: Lance Schuyler Hedstrom Miller & Harriet Thompson

How to improve fluency and gain confidence speaking in public

Learn to prepare engaging presentations

Learn to improvise, develop memorization strategies and understand body language

Mock presentations and monologues

Funding opportunities for research and development

20th April 2022. 5 hours
Delivered by: David Alcántara (SACSIS)

European funding opportunities in Horizon Europe

Other European and Spanish funding opportunities

Scientific writing

16th February - 15th April 2022. 12 hours
Delivered by: Ignacio Crespo

All this for what?

Evolution of the papers

The headline and abstract

The introduction

Discussion and conclussions

Efficient writing

Autonomous learning

The most frequent errors

2021 Courses

Leadership and management skills (Principal Investigators)

10th, 11th & 12th November 2021. 24 hours
Delivered by HFP consulting (funded by "María de Maeztu" grant CEX2018-000800-M)

Fundamental principles for professional interactions

Key skills for effective communication

Enhancing your efficiency

Establishing and maintaining productive collaborations

Solving conflicts

Team development

From research to enterprise: an introduction to startup creation and management

1st, 13th & 14th July 2021. 14 hours
Delivered by: Marco Laucelli (Founder & CEO at Galeo) (funded by "María de Maeztu" grant CEX2018-000800-M)

The start-up as an experiment

The problem: identifying and validating the problem

Customer development: discovering the customer

The solution: unique value proposition

The pivot: discovering the right opportunity

Modelling the revenue streams: revenue models and validation

Being unique: the unfair advantage, IP, competitive advantage, barriers

Reaching the customer: channels and metrics

Basic financials for start-ups

Team, culture and processes

Start-up management: the hardware case

Pitching to investors: business plan, resources, needs, risks

Public speaking

26th May 2021. 4 hours
Delivered by: Lance Schuyler Hedstrom Miller and Harriet Thompson


Intoduction - why confidence matters

Speaking clearly and vocal variety

Memorization techniques

Improvising and dealing with nerves

Science communication. Getting started

15th & 22nd April 2021. 8 hours
Delivered by: Luis Quevedo (filmmaker, podcaster, producer and TV personality) (funded by "María de Maeztu" grant CEX2018-000800-M)


Pre-work

What the media wants and how to be a proactive communicator

“MoJo” Mobile journalism basics and other tools

Non-traditional communication, non verbal language, visuals and more

On-camera, mock interviews and feedback

Take home package: a brief survival book on how to deal with the media

Economics and finances for scientist and engineers

10th & 11th March 2021
Delivered by: Iván Rivero (Opportunity Revenue Consulting Services) (funded by "María de Maeztu" grant CEX2018-000800-M)

Markets and numbers

Business models and pricing strategy

Fundamental concepts of financial planning


Creativity kit to generate better ideas and overcome any challenge

23rd & 25th February 2021
Delivered by: Ana Clara Alvarez Cufari (Anitaideas)

Creativity: where are you?

Self-check of creative moments

"What if..." Meet your new best friend

Everything a paperclip has to teach you

Put a SCAMPER in your life… and a few more techniques to use when you need them

That everyday object has the answer your project needs

Silence is your ally. Relaxation techniques to do even at the office

If you don't like it, change it. If you love it, improve it. How to speed up your mind with daily exercises

Give me a paper and a pencil and I'll move the world. Drawing techniques to capture ideas

2020 Courses

Professional management of R&I projects

30th of November & 1st of December 2020. 8 hours
Delivered by: Ebva García (RTDI)

Introduction (opening and presentation, introduction to Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation)

Professional management of projects. PMI standards (the great game of the goose, qualities of a good project manager, adapting PMI standards to R&I projects)

Management of Horizon Europe projects (project phases and lifecycle, coordination structures and jargon)

Communicating at the workplace

18th & 19th of February 2020. 7 hours
Delivered by: Roberto Espinosa (sales, innovation and technology)

Agile organizations and transformational leadership

Shared leadership

Best known methods about email communication

Giving and receiving feedback

Effective meetings

Goal setting

Negotiation: getting to yes

Well-being 360º

4th, 8th, 11th & 25th of November 2020. 9 hours
Delivered by: Wellbeing 360 (funded by "María de Maeztu" grant CEX2018-000800-M)

Mental calmness


Vital body


Emotion management and time management


Fluid relationships


2019 Courses

R&D results protection and valorisation. Licensing as a technology transfer mechanism

16th December 2019. 7 hours
Delivered by André Santos y Patricia Guillén (ABG intellectual property)

Results protection and valorisation.

Licensing.

Career management and recruitment processes. Academia vs industry

25th & 26th September 2019. 7.5 hours
Delivered by: Manolo Castellano (Carreras Científicas Alternativas)

Workshop: Understanding your own skills. Personal strategies for future professional transition.

Workshop: Practical tools to identify skills for your CV and professional social networks.

Round table discussion and Q&A session: Life after the PhD. (real examples from IMDEA Materials alumni: Alicia Moya (Research Associate at UAM), Nathamar Dudamell (Product Assurance Coordinator at GMV) and Marcos Rodríguez (Structural Engineer at Siemens Gamesa))

Writing techniques for R&I project proposals

22nd May 2019. 4 hours
Delivered by: Eva García (RTDI)


Analysing and managing critical success criteria

Introduction to persuasive writing: concepts, techniques and tools

Enhancing proposal “readability”: importance, techniques and tools

Economics and finances for scientists and engineers. Basics for the design of a business plan

5th & 12th February 2019. 14 hours
Delivered by: Eva García (RTDI)

Introduction

Theatre of business models

Conclusion analysis and consolidation of concepts

Business modelling: Team work over a real case

How to innovate business models and chaired discussion around real cases

Uptake of new technologies: Loop, dynamics and decision-making
Economic and finances: Basic concepts and quantitative techniques; Study cases

Giving value to innovation projects: Basic concepts and quantitative techniques; Study cases and discussions

2018 Courses

Practical advice for writing and defending an excellent PhD Thesis

6th April 2018. 1 hour
Delivered by: Miguel Herráez, Joseba Múgica and Carlos González (IMDEA Materials Institute)

Before writing / Writing / Formatting the document / Defending the Thesis

More recommendations

Professional management of R&I projects under H2020 collaborative schemes

17th April 2018. 7 hours
Delivered by: Eva García (RTDI)

Introduction

Professional management of projects. PMI standards

Management of H2020 projects

Science communication

13th & 20th June 2018. 8 hours
Delivered by: Luis Quevedo (filmmaker, podcaster, producer and TV personality)


Pre-work

What the media wants and how to be a proactive communicator

“MoJo” Mobile journalism basics and other tools

Non-traditional communication, non verbal language, visuals and more

On-camera, mock interviews and feedback

Take home package: a brief survival book on how to deal with the media

Guide for a research career inside and outside academia

21st November 2018. 2.5 hours
Delivered by: Lorenzo Melchor (Former Science Coordinator in the Spanish Embassy in London, FECYT) and Manolo Castellano (Career Consultant, Carreras Científicas Alternativas)


The Research Career Development in the 21st Century – being a researcher in the European Union

Non-academic careers for researchers – thinking outside the box

Science communication for principal investigators

5th December 2018. 1.5 hours
Delivered by: Victoria Toro (journalist)


What the media wants and how deal with the media

Q&A session

From research to enterprise: an introduction to startup creation and management

12th, 13th & 18th September 2018. 12 hours
Delivered by: Marco Laucelli (Tech maker building lovely digital product based on analytics, AI, blockchain and distributed architectures. Business Design. Product Management, Service and Operations, everything as a service. Entrepreneur)


The startup as an experiment

The problem: identifying and validating the problem

Customer development: discovering the customer

The Solution: unique value proposition

The Pivot: discovering the right opportunity

Modelling the revenue streams: revenue models and validation

Being unique: the unfair advantage, IP, competitive advantage, barriers

Reaching the customers: channels and metrics

Basic Financials for startups

Team, culture and processes

Startup management, the hardware case

Pitching to Investors: business plan, resources, needs, risks

Idea generation and informed creativity for R&I projects

27 November 2018. 5 hours
Delivered by: Eva García (RTDI)


Spontaneous creativity: map of techniques

Introduction to the integral building of R&I project ideas

Informed creativity: map of techniques

Study case: integral idea building

Technology watch for R&I project building

Study case: gap analysis

Wrap up and conclusions

2017 Courses

Economic-business basic concepts

2nd March 2017. 2. 5 hours
Delivered by: Mar García (Financial Manager at IMDEA Materials)

What does economics means in general terms?

What is economic and financial information used for?

Main economic and accounting concepts

R&D&i project budget

Case study

Communicating at the workplace

17th November 2017. 7 hours
Delivered by: Roberto Espinosa (Economist with a strong interest in sales, leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation)

Best known methods about email communications

Leadership and teamwork

Giving and receiving feedback

Effective meetings

Goal setting

Negotiation

Intellectual and industrial property basic concepts. Protection and transfer of research results

21st September 2017. 4 hours
Delivered by: Diego Gutierrez (FOURLAW abogados)

Patents, copyrights, designs and know-how

Ownership, management and exploitation of results

2016 Courses

Introduction to project management. Project management my PhD

25th February 2016. 2 hours
Delivered by: Germán Infante (Project Manager at IMDEA Materials)

Why do I need management skills?

What is a project?

What is project management?

An introducion to project management

An overview of all project management areas, with special focus on the application to a PhD Thesis

Useful resources

Preparation and evaluation of R&D&i project proposals

11th October 2017. 3 hours
Delivered by: Miguel Ángel Rodiel (Technology Manager at IMDEA Materials) & Claudio Lopes (Senior Researcher at IMDEA Materials)

Preparation of R&D&i proposals

Evaluation of R&D&i proposals

R&D&i funding systems and opportunities

31st May 2017. 2 hours
Delivered by: Fernando Gómez (Project Manager at IMDEA Materials)

Get an innovative idea to be funded

Support programs along the R&D chain

The European R&D&i framework program H2020

Project proposal structure

Case study: from idea to a successful project

2015 Courses

Literature search. Introduction to writing scientific papers. How to prepare and deliver effective presentations

15th October 2015. 3 hours
Delivered by: Teresa Pérez-Prado (Senior Researcher at IMDEA Materials) &Miguel Ángel Rodiel (Technology Manager at IMDEA Materials)

Library search & papers writing

Effective presentations