Attend courses

There is much you can do to develop your transferable skills. Not all approaches require extra classes and a huge investment of your time.
If you feel that you should be doing more, then your employer is there to help. Most universities and research institutes provide career development training and workshops to researchers in the life sciences. Such classes range from workshops in writing grant applications, to courses in research management and organisation. Some workshops are even tailored to postdocs, in others you will be joined by PhD candidates and well- established researchers.

Treat these courses and workshops as places to learn as well as opportunities for networking. You may be sharing a classroom with your future co-workers, possible employers, or potentially your own employees!

• Life Sciences & Health course database - LSH listed a number of (local) courses for life scientists of different levels. From business courses to those more focussed on science. Find out more...
  
• EG-Liaison is the centre of expertise for the European Framework Programme in the Netherlands. Their mission is to enhance participation of Dutch academia, research institutes and companies in the European Framework Programme and related European programmes (e.g. Marie Curie fellowships, European Research Council grants). It supports applicants with information and independent advice, partner search, and training programmes
  Find out more...
  
• NWO Talentendag & NWO Talent-classes – Exclusively for postdocs and PhD students to develop your academic skills. Management and leadership, media training, using social media for your career, networking, just to name a few. Free of charge but hurry as places are limited. Find out more...
  
• NIBI Project management – How to effectively manage your research project as a PhD student/postdoc? This course includes strategic positioning of your research project, problem-solving, negotiation, communication skills. Find out more...
  
• TI Pharma Education & Training – To help you tailor your personal education program, TI Pharma has made an overview of courses and master classes available at participating research schools. TI Pharma also offers it's own training programme for professionals in the life sciences. Find out more...
  

At the universities

Here are some good places to start looking for additional skills training at the universities:

• Universiteit van Amsterdam: dienstverlening voor promovendi (in Dutch only)
• Utrecht Universiteit: Career and career moves for staff
  
• Universiteit Leiden: 'Postdoc'
  
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen: Courses career development and training department
  
• Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam: Training for staff
  
• Maastricht University: Career services
  
• Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen: Training programmes for postdocs
  
• Universiteit van Tilburg: Training for academic staff
  
• TU Delft: Loopbaan ontwikkeling (in Dutch only)
• TU Eindhoven: Euflex employment services
  
• Universiteit Twente: Courses and training for employees
  
• Wageningen UR: Personal development
  
• Vrije Universiteit: Loopbaan en ontwikkeling (in Dutch only; VU-net-id required)