IBG Teaching & Training (T&T) Seminar by Prof. Robert Harris “Effective Communication and Feedback within PhD Education”

Seminar Overview

Communication is central to success within PhD education, and the ability to give and receive feedback constructively is essential for fostering growth and development in research students.

During this session, participants will:

1. Discover strategies for adapting communication styles to the individual needs and preferences, fostering a supportive, inclusive and productive educational environment.
2. Understand the principles of effective feedback delivery, including specificity, timeliness, and balance between praise and constructive criticism.
3. Explore ways to foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning within your research group by promoting open and constructive feedback exchanges among students and between students and supervisors.

About the speaker

Professor Robert Harris has been the Academic Vice President for Doctoral Education at Karolinska Institutet since 2019. He has held several leadership roles in doctoral education at KI and previously served as President of ORPHEUS.

He leads the Applied Immunology and Immunotherapy research group at the Centre for Molecular Medicine at KI, focusing on translational research into chronic inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, particularly Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis. Prof. Harris has received several international awards for his contributions to doctoral education and has helped develop innovative immunotherapy approaches, including a vaccine candidate for Type 1 diabetes in collaboration with Diamyd Medical AB.