Program Overview

Negotiation Skills for Scientists

Course Information

The course will take place on:

• Monday, March 9, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Registration opens on January 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM, and the registration deadline is February 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The course is free of charge and is limited to doctoral candidates and postdocs of the University of Basel, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 participants. The trainer for the course is Rob Thompson.

Aims

The course aims to equip participants with the negotiation skills necessary to succeed in their careers, whether in academia or industry. It recognizes the unique challenges of the scientific environment, where highly intelligent and independent individuals must work together towards common goals. The course will teach participants how to influence and persuade others, ensuring that they can progress together effectively.

Content

The workshop will cover various topics, including:

• Goal setting techniques
• How to persuade effectively
• Building confidence and being appropriately assertive
• When to use authority and creating a solution-focused attitude and environment
• Dealing with conflicting motivations and resolving conflict
• Dealing effectively with difficult people (The Red Liner Model of interpersonal interactions)
• Ensuring clear communication and dealing with differing gender or cultural communication styles The course will also include a module on how to genuinely and lastingly improve self-confidence, enabling participants to put their new skills into action.

Methods

The workshop will draw on the personal experience of all participants, as well as that of the trainer, to ensure that the training is specific and relevant to the participants' individual needs. The workshop will be a structured discussion forum, facilitating ideas and developing strategies. It will be highly interactive, with participants expected to participate fully and be challenged to think critically.

Target Group

The course is designed for all doctoral candidates and postdocs.

About the Trainer

Rob Thompson has over 12 years of experience helping groups in the public and private sectors optimize their interpersonal relationships and group management. He has worked with research scientists and has delivered workshops in many of Europe's most prestigious research institutes.

Workload

The total workload for the course is 17 hours, consisting of:

• Preliminary work: a 30-minute questionnaire (maximum 1 hour)
• Course attendance: 16 hours

Feature

In the event of a change in the COVID-19 situation, the course may be switched to an online format, taking place on March 9, 10, and 11, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Once registration is open, applications will be collected for 24 hours, and course places will be allocated by lot. All registrations received after the initial 24-hour period will be put on a waiting list and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Course places and waiting list positions will be confirmed by email. Course registrations can only be canceled before the registration period ends. Participants who fail to attend a course without prior notification or withdraw after the registration deadline are subject to a fee of CHF 30.

Location

The course will take place at the Universitätsbibliothek Basel, GRACE room 306 (3rd floor), Schönbeinstrasse 18-20, 4056 Basel.