When: 25.09.-26.09.2025

 Where: Hirschwang an der Rax

From September 25–26, 2025, CoBeNe PhD candidates gathered in Hirschwang an der Rax for the Finalizing Your PhD Retreat. This two-day event offered participants a valuable opportunity to reflect on their doctoral journey, clarify the formal steps toward completion, and prepare for their next career milestones.

The program combined practical workshops, peer discussions, and individual planning sessions focused on key topics such as thesis submission, defense preparation, and future career development. Participants created personalized completion timelines, discussed challenges in the final phase of their PhD, and explored diverse career paths within and beyond academia. A highlight of the retreat was the interactive group work on balancing research, writing, and career planning, followed by open discussions on feedback, motivation, and the responsible use of AI in research.

VDS CoBeNe thanks all participants for their valuable contributions.

Beyond the structured sessions, participants also enjoyed informal networking during shared meals and a scenic “Monarchy Walk” through Schloss Wartholz — moments that strengthened the sense of community across disciplines.

The retreat proved highly beneficial in helping candidates gain clarity, motivation, and actionable strategies to navigate the final phase of their PhD with confidence. It fostered a supportive atmosphere where ideas, experiences, and advice could be exchanged freely, reminding everyone that completing a PhD is not only an academic achievement, but also a shared journey of growth.

 Who: PhD candidates & faculty from all CoBeNe discipline

PhD candidates:

  • 12 PhD candidates from Psychology
  • 1 PhD candidate from Behavioral and Cognitive Biology
  • 1 PhD candidate from the Cognitive Humanities

Faculty & Coordinator:

  • Isabella Anderson-Wagner, Jan Mikuni & Jana Nikitin (Psychology)
  • Thomas Bugnyar & Virginie Canoine (Behavioral and Cognitive Biology)
  • Susanne Reiterer (Cognitive Humanities)
  • Katja Hellekes (CoBeNe Office)