Making science a happier place
Professional tailored workshops & peer groups for scientists
We believe science needs healthy people.
That’s why we offer practical, research-based workshops that strengthen the mental well-being, motivation, and self-management skills of early career researchers.
Our mission is to empower PhD candidates and postdocs to navigate the challenges of academic life with confidence and clarity. And to help institutions build supportive environments where creativity can thrive.
Our workshops
Empowering researchers through skills that matter.
Our workshops offer practical, evidence-based input combined with active reflection, peer exchange, and applicable tools – all designed to strengthen both the individual and the academic system.
Discovering Needs
& Setting Boundaries
Listen inwards to explore your needs as a researcher and how to set boundaries mindfully.
Healthy Time &
Energy Management
Create clarity and flow with smart structures that actually fit academic life.
PhD Communication
Toolkit
Speak up, listen well, and navigate academic teamwork with confidence.
Self-Empowerment
& Motivation
Conquer fears and doubts by practising a growth mindset and set goals that keep you motivated.
Peer Coaching Skills
for Academics
Learn conversation frameworks to establish sustainable support sessions and networks.
Resilience
in Research
Stay connected to your purpose – even when things get tough.
All workshops are available in various formats: from compact 2-hour sessions to full-day intensives. We offer them in English or German, online or in person, and for both small and large groups.
Whether you’re planning a graduate programme, a group retreat, networking event or a conference, we tailor each workshop to fit your context and audience. We’re happy to adapt our workshops to meet the specific needs of your group.
We’re happy to talk through your needs. Let’s find the right format for your audience.
Our peer groups
Structured support meets real connection
Give your students more than a one-time impulse.
Our peer group format offers a space for reflection, learning, and mutual support – over time.
In these professionally moderated series, a fixed group of PhD candidates meets regularly across 6–8 sessions. Each session combines input on key topics like boundaries, resilience, and time management with open peer exchange and shared strategies.
✔ 6–8 sessions – tailored to your needs
✔ Professionally facilitated – by certified coaches with academic experience
✔ Online or in-person – adaptable to your university’s context
✔ Topics from our workshops – deepened through group exchange and discussion
✔ Peer connection – because shared experience reduces isolation
Why peer groups?
Because sustainable change takes time – and community. Researchers benefit most when they can explore their challenges in a safe space, reflect with others, and integrate new strategies into daily life.
About us
Hanna Sänger
Biologist turned mental health coach
I’m Hanna – certified coach, scientist at heart, and someone who knows how challenging academic life can be.
I started my PhD in molecular biomedicine with passion and purpose. But over time, the pressure, perfectionism, and constant “more” took a toll. I made the difficult decision to leave academia to protect my well-being – a turning point that now shapes how I support others.
Today, I work with PhD students and postdocs to strengthen their mental and emotional health in research. I bring empathy, clarity, and lived experience into every session. I believe in science – and I believe it can be a place where people thrive.
I’m Kristin – doctor of engineering, space science enthusiast, and someone who believes that sustainable success in science starts with self-awareness.
When I began my PhD, I was eager to dive deep into my research topic. Along the way, I discovered that while science is full of exciting challenges, many researchers face them on their own. It took me several years to find a time management approach that truly worked for me. I realised that effective time management is highly personal and only sustainable when it considers ones individual needs and boundaries.
As a reaseracher with postdoctoral experience, I know the demands of the academic system from the inside. With our workshops, I want to offer the kind of training I once wished for: practical, empowering and science-based.
Dr. Kristin Vielberg
Geodesist and passionate solution finder
Why choose us?
We know academic life from the inside: with its pressures, uncertainties, and moments of brilliance. Our workshops are not generic “one-size-fits-all” formats. They’re real, practical, and tailored to the needs of young researchers.
We’ve been there.
We know the pressure, the doubt, and the dealines – and how to work through them.
We speak science and human.
Our formats combine academic insight with empathy and real-world tools.
We get to the point.
We bring you what really helps. With clarity, warmth, and zero fluff.
You’re looking for a reliable partner to support your program? We’re here – with strong content, smooth communication, and a mission that’s bigger than ourselves.
What our clients say
an absolute enrichment for our programme
“The workshop ‘Understanding emotions to set mindful boundaries’, which Hanna and Kristin as part of the EXIST Women Programme at the University of Bonn, was an absolute enrichment for the accompanying programme and for the participants.
I particularly liked the short impulses on the topic of understanding emotions, which were supplemented with exercises on personal behaviour and reflection.
The atmosphere was very special and the feedback from the participants was positive throughout, so we will be very happy to include the workshop in our EXIST Women support programme again next year.”
Anna Villwock, programme organizer, enacom bonn
helpful for anyone seeking ways to enhance self-organization
“In a relaxed environment, Kristin and Hanna presented a group of PhD students with tools to navigate the writing process, as well as soft skills, self-organization, and strategies for dealing with never-ending to-do lists.
Having been researchers on their own, Kristin and Hanna know what they are talking about and how complex the daily life of a PhD student can be.
The workshop was interactive, open-minded, and free from pressure. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, it gave us helpful ideas and inspiration to find what works best for each of us. The workshop is not only helpful for researchers but also for anyone seeking ways to enhance self-organization.”
Charlotte hacker, phd student, uni Bonn
I’d definitely recommend it to colleagues
“Hanna and Kristin’s Healthy Time Management workshop at our PhD/PostDoc retreat was really helpful to me. They shared practical tips tailored to the challenges we as scientists often face, and her advice made me rethink how I approach my daily tasks.
The session was clear, well-structured, and gave me some great ideas to create a healthier balance between work and downtime.
I’d definitely recommend it to colleagues looking to manage their time better.”
Jonas schulte-schrepping, postdoc, DZNE
teilnehmendenorientiert, inspirierend und praxisnah
Hanna und Kristin überzeugten durch ihre professionelle Vorbereitung, ihr Gespür für die Zielgruppe und ihre klare, motivierende Moderation.
Besonders hervorzuheben ist ihre Fähigkeit, auf Englisch oder flexibel zweisprachig eine wertschätzende und offene Atmosphäre zu schaffen, in der sich alle Teilnehmenden aktiv einbringen konnten.
Der Workshop verband theoretische Impulse zum Thema Resilienz und Netzwerken mit konkreten Reflexionsübungen und lebendigen Diskussionen – genau das, was unser MeTra-Programm braucht, um Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen nachhaltig zu stärken.
Wir freuen uns auf eine weitere Zusammenarbeit!.”
Isabell, metra programme, Uni Bonn
Contact
Interested in booking a workshop or peer group for your program or your next retreat?
Whether you already have a workshop in mind or are just exploring options – we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us directly via email:
team@phdpositive.de
