Coaching Groups

Aims of Coaching Groups

The aim of coaching is to support the participants/coachees in their career planning. In addition, any topic related to your career can be addressed in the coaching group.

Coaching is a supportive, goal-focused, and co-creative process that helps the participants/coachees develop and strengthen their skills, overcome challenges, and foster professional growth – whether in academia, industry, or the public sector.

It empowers and encourages the participants/coachees to set goals, develop strategies, and build the skills necessary to reach their full potential.

Building connections and peer support through networking is also a key component.

The coach ensures a safe space, allowing for open and honest dialogue.

Overall, coaching helps navigate challenges, build resilience, and pursue success in your career.

What is the difference between mentoring and coaching?

Click here!

Costs

In total, 20h of coaching

  • Doctoral Students: CHF 200.-
  • Postdocs: CHF 300.-

Individual Coaching Session

Participants who have attended a coaching group have the possiblity to follow an individual coaching session of 1 hour with either the trainer of the workshop or any other FLP Trainers/Coachs.

The cost for this session is CHF 50.-

Registration Form

Registration

Registration will open approximately 6 weeks before the starting date of each coaching group. 

The number of participants is limited to 8.

Coaching groups will take place only if the minimum number of 6 participants is reached.

Methods

Coaching tools, short theoretical inputs, group and individual exercises, case studies, plenary discussions

Organisation

  • Sessions last for up to 6 months (5 half-days). If needed, an additional individual coaching session can be organized for an extra 50 CHF
  • Group size: 6-8 scientists accompanied by 1 coach

Cancellation Policy

  • Full refunds will be made before the registration deadline (10 days before the start of the coaching group). After this date no reimbursement will be done, unless you provide a substitute.

    Fees can apply for last minute cancellations, which can be invoiced to the participant.

Commitments and duties

Participants are expected to attend all coaching sessions.

Offers in 2026

Coaching Group @ ETHZ

Dr. Beatrice Sigrist

Target audience: Doctoral students and postdocs

Dates:
The first session will take place at ETHZ on
Tuesday, May 5, 12.30 – 15.30
(Dates for other sessions will be defined with the participants)

Price: CHF 200 / CHF 300 (Doctoral Student / Postdoc)

Location: ETHZ/Online

Registration will open on March 30

Coaching Group @ ETHZ

Dr. Lille Springall

Target audience: Doctoral students and postdocs

Dates:
The first session will take place at ETHZ on
Friday, August 21, 09.00 – 12.00
(Dates for other sessions will be defined with the participants)

 

Price: CHF 200 / CHF 300 (Doctoral Student / Postdoc

Location: ETHZ / Online

Registration will open on July 6

Coaching Group @ ETHZ

Dr. Sarah Shephard

Target audience: advanced postdocs (end of 1st, in 2nd or further)

Dates:
Will be announced soon

Price: CHF 120 / CHF 180 (Doctoral Student / Postdoc)

Location: ETHZ/Online

Coaching Group @ EPFL

Dr. Ingrid Le Duc and Dr. Verity Elston

  • Purpose & Audience
    A structured, hybrid coaching programme for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at EPFL, designed to boost both practical career skills and personal resilience. 
  •  
  • Duration & Format
  • Three months (June/September to October/November, depending on availabilities)
  • Three full‑day retreats (≈ 7 hrs each, plus lunch) spaced a month apart (or with the summer break, if start in June)

Interim work: team and individual assignments, role‑model interviews, reflective journaling

  • Core elements

  1. Deliverables & Benefits
  • Concrete career artefacts: polished CVs, LinkedIn profiles, motivation letters.
  • Eight alumni portraits published on the FLP site, raising programme visibility.
  • Clear ROI for participants: venue, meals, professional development, and networking opportunities.
  • Team‑building outcomes: interview buddies, collaborative projects, shared reflections.
  •  

Price: CHF 200 / CHF 300 (Doctoral Student / Postdoc)

Location: EPFL

What participants say
"I feel a renewed interest to stay in academia, but I also feel more confident that I can succeed elsewhere."
"It has made me be aware of that if I don't make an active choice in my planning, life will make the decisions for me."
"lt really worked for me: I wanted to have more open discussions in my research unit and it worked. I take things less Personal. I see other people have the same issues. I feel better."
"The majority of the issues raised during the sessions were common across all participants, regardless of their academic background. Being in such a group means discussion flows more easily. It is also common for us as academics to be the only woman in the room in meetings or discussions. An opportunity to discuss in an women only environment is a novelty (and a nice one!). I also felt it was acceptable to bring up for example, the effect of an academic career on one’s family life, something I would not do in other workplace environments. Being in a group made up exclusively of women made this possible."