Ideation Workshop - dive into the world of creativity techniques - 23 April 2026

Trainer: Corinne Benzing (Life Science Center Mainz, LZM)
Date and Time: 23 April 2026, 13:30-16:30
Target group: PhD students, Postdocs
Venue: IMB
Content:
Get creative! Your path to brilliant ideas.
Want to start your own business, but still looking for the right idea? Thinking about turning your research into a business? Or just want to learn some techniques for coming up with ideas? Then you have come to the right place!
In this workshop, you will dive into the world of creativity techniques and learn methods that will help you discover new perspectives and develop innovative ideas. Together, we will try out different approaches and go through the entire process of idea generation and selection.

What can you expect?

- Learn about and try out creativity techniques
- Understand how ideas are born
- Exchange ideas with other aspiring entrepreneurs and creative minds
- Find inspiration for your own business idea

Who is the workshop suitable for?

For anyone who wants to start a business but is still looking for that spark of inspiration—whether you are just getting started or already have some initial ideas. Take the first step toward your own innovation and discover how much potential you have!

Please register by 13 April 2026
To receive information on course fees for external* participants, please email training@imb-mainz.de

Think before you write (Scientific Writing) - 20+21 May 2026

Trainer: Andrew Moore
Date & time: 20+21 May 2026, 9:00-17:00
Venue: IMB
Target group: advanced PhD students and postdocs
Content:

• Find out about the most important rule of communication (any communication).
• Learn about how readers find and read your work, so that you can write better for your intended audience.
• Get some interesting insights into cognitive psychology that are highly relevant for writing good scientific English.
• Learn how to structure your writing for maximum effect.
• Submit a short piece of writing, and benefit from group feedback and editorial input in real time.
• Find out how editorial works, how to avoid common pitfalls (typical reasons for rejection), and how to react to rejection letters.
• Understand the journal world better, and improve your ability to choose an appropriate journal in which to publish (and to avoid "predatory" journals!).

Please register by 13 April 2026
To receive information on course fees for external* participants, please email training@imb-mainz.de

Affinity Designer - Beginners - 16 June 2026

Trainer: Christian Nuber
Date and Time: 16 June 2026, 9:00-17:00
Venue: onsite
Target group: Postdocs & PhD students
Content:
This beginners' course aims at PhD students and junior scientists who want to learn how to make figures and drawings for scientific publications / posters using Affinity Designer.

Please register by 13 May 2026
To receive information on course fees for external* participants, please email training@imb-mainz.de

Boundaries and Assertive Communication - 17 June 2026

Trainer: Sonja Noss
Date & Time: 17 June 2026, 10:00 - 12:00
Venue: onsite at IMB
Target group: PhD students, Postdocs, Group leaders, Staff
Content:
This practice-oriented workshop strengthens boundary skills and assertive communication as key preventive factors for mental health and sustainable performance. 
The workshop aims 
- to prevent overload through clear prioritisation and conscious commitments, 
- to strengthen self-efficacy and emotional regulation, 
- to reduce stress-intensifying communication patterns (e.g. people-pleasing, conflict avoidance)
- and to promote sustainable high performance by protecting energy and priorities.

Please register by 11 May 2026
To receive information on course fees for external* participants, please email training@imb-mainz.de