We are pleased to introduce the PhD Training Series, a comprehensive skill-building program designed for PhD students at RICAM, JKU, and anyone interested in enhancing their academic capabilities. This initiative covers a broad spectrum of soft and technical skills, essential for researchers at all career stages.

Through this training series, participants will gain valuable insights into Soft Skills & Academic Development and Technical & Research Tools. We will invite experts from RICAM, JKU, and external institutions to deliver hands-on sessions, ensuring an interactive and practical learning experience.

• Soft Skills & Academic Development:
  • Presentation skills
  • Effective communication
  • Effective math paper: from writing to printing
  • Effective work organization
  • Funding opportunities
     
• Technical & Research Tools:
  • RICAM software and version control (Git)
  • AI tools for academic research
  • HPC usage and best practices
  • RICAM / Betriebsrat procedures training

The seminar is held on Mondays, twice a month, at 14:00. The following schedule applies for the summer semester 2025:
 

1. AI tools for academic research

Date: 03.03.2025

Speaker: Beata Ondrusova, Institute for Mathematical Methods in Medicine and Data-Based Modeling, Johannes Kepler University

Abstract: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into academic writing is fundamentally changing how researchers read, create, write and communicate their work. This presentation explores the transformative impact of AI tools on the writing process, from gathering information, reading, drafting a paper, editing, and plagiarism detection. By examining state-of-the-art AI applications, the seminar session will demonstrate how these tools enhance productivity, improve writing quality, and simplify the writing process. Additionally, ethical considerations, including authorship integrity and the potential for bias, will be discussed to encourage responsible AI integration.

Lecture outline: 
- Gathering information (literature search, literature management)
- Reading (engaging with the text)
- Writing a first draft
- Editing the draft (improving readability)
- Plagiarism detection
- Other useful tools (e.g., presentation tools, mind maps, grant writing)
- Ethical considerations 

Slides are available in the password-protected download area. The access data can be requested from the organizers.

2. Funding Opportunities and Grant Success Stories

Date: 17.03.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-2

Speakers:
Peter Kritzer, Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Lucia Rossi, Institute of Discrete Mathematics and Geometry, Technische Universität Wien
Dominik Dold, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna
Stefan Takacs, Institute of Numerical Mathematics, Johannes Kepler University

Lecture Outline

This lecture is divided into two sessions:

Funding Opportunities

Our colleague, Dr. Peter Kritzer, will speak about funding opportunities for researchers who are close to finishing their PhD program or in the early years of a PostDoc. In particular, Peter will highlight funding schemes by the Austrian Science Fund and the European Union.

Slides are available in the password-protected download area. The access data can be requested from the organizers.

Grant Success Stories

We are pleased to welcome our three guests: 
Dr. Lucia Rossi (University of Vienna) 
Dr. Dominik Dold (University of Vienna)
Dr. Stefan Takacs (Johannes Kepler University, Linz)

They have already been awarded the ESPRIT, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and Erwin Schrödinger grants, respectively. Lucia, Dominik and Stefan  will share their experiences with these grants and provide personal tips for applying for funding.

3. RICAM / JKU Betriebsrat procedures training

Date: 31.03.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-2

Speakers:
Christoph Koutschan, Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Austrian Academy of Science
Kurt Hingerl, Center for Surface and Nanoanalytics (ZONA), Johannes Kepler University Linz

Lecture Outline

This lecture is divided into two sessions:

RICAM Works Council Procedures Training

Our colleague Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Inf. Dr. Christoph Koutschan, a member and treasurer of the work council of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, will speak about the works council procedures at RICAM. Here are more details about his talk:

The works council of the OeAW, which has been founded 50 years ago, is an organization that represents the employees within the Academy and stands up for their legal rights. We give a quick overview of the duties of the works council and the kind of social services it offers to OeAW (thus, in particular, RICAM) employees.

JKU Works Council Procedures Training

We are pleased to welcome our guest, Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Kurt Hingerl, a member of the Betriebsrat für das wissenschaftliche Personal (works council for scientific staff) of the Johannes Kepler University.

Prof. Hingerl will speak about the main idea of works council activities, and also address more general questions, including the balance or trade-off (goal conflict) between being engaged as a PhD student in the works council community and focusing on pursuing one’s own PhD. He will also touch on the unique challenges that arise when your “informal” employer is also your academic supervisor or mentor.

Slides are available in the password-protected download area. The access data can be requested from the organizers.

4. HPC usage and good practices: Introduction to the use of the Ricam HPC "Radon1"

Date: 28.04.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-2

Speaker: Florian Tischler, Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Austrian Academy of Science

Abstract: In this session, you will learn everything about using the HPC cluster, how to access Radon1, available nodes & software and how to run your own programs on it, from simple interactive programs to GPU usage to parallelized applications in batch mode.

Slides are available in the password-protected download area. The access data can be requested from the organizers.

5. University Mathematics Teaching in Practice: Tips, Tools, and Case Studies

Date: 12.05.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-1

Speakers:
Lucia Del Chicca, Pädagogische Hochschule OÖ & Department for STEM Didactics, Linz School of Education, JKU Linz
Jan-Michael Holzinger, Department for STEM Didactics, Linz School of Education, JKU Linz

Lecture Outline

This lecture is organized into two sessions:

First, our colleague, Dr. Lucia Del Chicca, will present on the following topics:

• Different Types of university courses with a focus on “exercises”
• Balancing teaching and research responsibilities: challenges and benefits
• Inclusive teaching practices (supporting students with disabilities)
• Responsibilities and expectations : preparing and delivering lectures or tutorials, assessment methods, grading, and feedback
• Personal experience with “Analysis 1 Übungen für Lehramt”

We are also pleased to welcome our colleague DI. Jan-Michael Holzinger, who will address the following key points:

• Working with KUSSS at JKU
• Software Systems and Tools for supporting teaching at JKU
• Personal experiences from teaching “Mathematics for AI”

6. EFFECTIVE MATH PAPERS: FROM WRITING TO PRINTING

Date: 26.05.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-2

Speaker: Olivier Ramaré, CNRS / Institut de Mathématiques de Marseille, Aix Marseille Université, France

Abstract: This talk shall cover the manner to write a paper, what is a proper structure, how to write a title, an introduction and proofs, how to cite, what are good examples, and the likes. If you are in your way to writing a paper, please bring it along or, if you can, send it before to me (I won't publish it before you :)). This talk will be open to the audience questions. Time depending, we will address the submission / revision steps.

7. Scientific Presentations and Communication

Date: 23.06.2025

Location: RICAM, Room 416-2

Speaker: Karli Kai Gillette, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, United States

Abstract: This seminar will cover the main components of giving an effective scientific presentation, with a particular focus on engineering and mathematical disciplines. We will go through and discuss presentation style, accounting for an audience, slide content and structure, and other hints, tips, and tricks for presenting scientific research effectively in different formats and across disciplines.

How to Participate:

To subscribe to the seminar, please follow the instructions below:

1. Access the subscription link: https://list.ricam.oeaw.ac.at/lists/listinfo/phdmail

2. Fill in the required information in the "Subscribing to PhDmail" section:

• Enter your email address
• Enter your name
• Create a password

3. Click the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the section.

4. You will receive a confirmation email from (phdmail-request(at)ricam.oeaw.ac.at) to the email address you provided.

5. To confirm your subscription, simply reply to the confirmation email without writing anything and keep the subject line unchanged.

Once you have completed these steps, you will be successfully subscribed to our PhD/training Seminar Series mailing list.

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out to us at

Email: phdseminar(at)ricam.oeaw.ac.at

Office: Room 409, or Room 431: (RICAM, SP2, 4^th floor).

JOIN US AND TAKE YOUR RESEARCH SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL!