HRA Event - Postdoc Appreciation Week
The HRA Postdoc Network is excited to host its annual event on 18th September, 2025 during Postdoc Appreciation Week! This year’s focus is on Navigating the Postdoc Sandwich Position—a discussion on managing expectations from above and below while on your postdoc journey. After the workshop, join us for a fun pub quiz organized by one of the Postdoc Network members. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and socialize with fellow postdocs!
Registration
Program
2:00 - 4:30 PM - Workshop on "Navigating the Postdoc Sandwich Position: Leading Junior Researchers While Managing Up" by Dr. Tanja Hentschel
Postdocs often find themselves in a unique in-between role—managing expectations from their supervisors while also guiding PhD or Master's students. This interactive workshop helps you navigate that "sandwich" position with confidence. We begin by exploring how to lead and support junior researchers with different personalities and needs. Next, we turn to the art of upward leadership: how to influence and communicate effectively with your professor. Through personal reflection, practical exercises, and peer discussion, we’ll also tackle how to balance your own research with mentoring others and manage expectations on both sides.
Trainer profile - Dr. Tanja Hentschel
Photo: privat
The workshop is led by Dr. Tanja Hentschel, Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Business School. Tanja holds a PhD from the Technical University of Munich and has a background in psychology. With over a decade of experience in academic leadership development, her work bridges academic insights and practical leadership skills. Her trainings focus on topics such as leadership in all directions, personnel selection, navigating academic careers, managing diverse teams, and creating inclusive environments.
4:30 – 5:00 PM - Presentation on the HRA Postdoc Network
Get to know our initiatives, goals, and networking opportunities!
5:00 – 7:00 PM - Pub Quiz, Pizza and Postdoc Networking
Note: For the Pub Quiz, there will be teams of 3-5. If you already know your team, please mention the names of your team-members during the registration process. If you don’t have a team, please also let us know while registering. We will find you a team during the event.
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