PhD Day 2026 - Under Pressure: Taking Ownership of your Research, Growth and Direction

On June 29, 2026, GSLS PhD Day returned with a powerful new theme: Under Pressure. This year’s edition focused on taking ownership of your research, your growth, and the direction of your PhD journey. It was an afternoon full of inspiration, practical tools, and fresh perspectives, from impactful keynotes to hands‑on workshops aimed at strengthening well‑being, focus, and confidence.

Paralympic wheelchair basketball champion Bo Kramer opened the day with a talk on resilience and perseverance. She shared her personal story, from being diagnosed with bone cancer at age eleven to becoming one of the best wheelchair basketball players in the world. Her message highlighted how setbacks can become turning points, how success is built together, and why believing in your own potential is the first step toward achieving your dreams. “Every dream starts with someone who keeps believing.”

After the keynote, participants joined a series of interactive workshops, ranging from Boxing Coaching and Dealing with Perfectionism to The PhD Priority Compass, Improv(e) your Science, Multitasking is a Myth and Fueling your Mental Resilience. Each session provided concrete tools to strengthen focus, communication, decision‑making and resilience, competencies PhD candidates can directly integrate into their daily research practice.

Evolutionary biologist Aniek Ivens closed the day with an inspiring lecture on Leadership in Nature. She explored how animals lead and follow, from ant colonies to migrating geese, and what these patterns can teach us about leadership in science. Using Applied Improvisation, participants reflected together on the day’s insights in an interactive wrap‑up session.

We look back on a successful PhD Day during which PhD candidates gained new insights, practical skills, and renewed confidence to navigate the demands of academic life. They left with energy, inspiration, and tools to grow as researchers, and as people.

We hope to see you all at next year’s event!