Postdoc Forum
Postdoc Forum is a new format within the Charleston programme designed to support exchange of experience in career development among postdoctoral researchers. The forum focuses on sharing career paths, exploring inter-sectoral collaboration opportunities, and strengthening peer mentoring within the postdoctoral community. It is co-organized with Czexpats in Science and open to all postdoctoral researchers, not only those affiliated with Charles University. All sessions are held in English.
List of sessions *
Postdoc Forum I: Strategic Career Thinking
Postdoc Forum II: Postdocs Between Roles
* More sessions in the series will follow in the autumn 2026.
PostDoc Forum I: Strategic Career Thinking – Thinking About Your Career Before Planning It
15 April 2026, 3 PM – Kampus Hybernská
In this workshop, participants will strategically think about their career by evaluating their strengths, limitations, values, beliefs, interests, goals, practices, and relationships with others. They will first audit their achievements and responsibilities to highlight their competences and identify gaps for self-improvement. Based on this initial reflection, they will then think about their goals, the obstacles to these goals, and some tactics to overcome these obstacles.
The workshop will combine short lecture blocks and group and individual activities. The goal is to offer postdocs time to sit down and effectively reflect on their current career situation with the guidance of a professional and the possibility to share with others.
The session will consist of a 60–90 minute workshop followed by an open discussion.
Speakers
Marie Feřtrová
Marie is a researcher, ICF-certified coach, and workshop designer specialising in the unique dynamics of academic and R&D environments. With a background in co-founding a research team at Charles University’s Faculty of Science and a consulting firm for applied social research, she brings a deep, firsthand understanding of the challenges scientists face. She doesn’t just coach -she understands the “language of science.”
Marie partners with researchers and academics to navigate specific challenges such as strategic prioritisation, vision-setting, career crossroads or transition, and burnout prevention. By fostering self-confidence and decision clarity, she supports clients in building the foundations necessary to lead impactful research.
Currently, she is dedicated to a bold vision: integrating coaching principles as a standard tool for the development of researchers and PhD students across the Czech R&D&I ecosystem.
Jan Froněk
Jan helps academics achieve strong results without sacrificing important relationships, health, or their sense of purpose. He earned his PhD in Andragogy from Charles University and later became a certified coach with over 800 hours of practice, working with researchers and university staff from more than 20 universities worldwide. Having experienced academic life himself – from publishing and conferences to teaching and administrative demands – Jan understands the pressures researchers face.
His work combines coaching, sharing key content, and peer learning to help academics move forward in demanding projects while maintaining balance and clarity. Jan follows the ethical code of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and contributes to sustainability initiatives such as the Climate Coaching Alliance.
Postdoc Forum II: Postdocs Between Roles – Navigating Responsibility, Communication and Expectations
27 May 2026, 3 PM – Kampus Hybernská
More information coming soon.
N.B. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.