Además de la formación técnica en el puesto de trabajo, el Instituto IMDEA Materiales está comprometido con la formación de sus científicos y personal en competencias transversales o soft skills. Estas competencias son relevantes para una amplia variedad de profesiones y sectores (carrera académica o docente, especialización en un campo determinado, o trayectoria profesional en la industria u otro tipo de organizaciones) y constituyen la base para el desarrollo de las competencias técnicas o hard skills necesarias para tener éxito en el mercado laboral.
A continuación, puede consultar el historial de cursos ya celebrados y aquellos que se encuentran actualmente en preparación. Estos cursos están dirigidos principalmente a los investigadores predoctorales (Research Assistants), investigadores postdoctorales (Research Associates) e Investigadores Principales (Principal Investigators). En todos los casos, su objetivo es mejorar tanto el rendimiento científico como las perspectivas de desarrollo profesional de nuestro personal.
Course title: Career management workshop: managing your professional career
Date: January 20, 2026
Delivered by: TBC.
Course summary: TBC.
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Course title: ERC individual grant proposal writing course
Date: March 12, 2026
Delivered by: TBC.
Course summary: TBC.
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Course title: Facilitation Workshop: Administration and Researchers (OCPI)
Date: May 21 and May 22, 2026
Delivered by: TBC.
Course summary: TBC.
Course title: Use of artificial intelligence to write EIC Pathfinder proposals
Date and Time: July 1 & 3, 2025. 9.30-12.00 (5 hours total)
Delivered by: Vikesh Chugani (Atrineo AG)
Course summary: The first session (July 1) lays the foundation for understanding and using AI in the context of proposal preparation. Participants will gain a basic understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI, get hands-on experience with general AI tools such as ChatGPT, and explore their potential applications and limitations. The second session (July 3) focuses on the practical use of AI tools throughout the entire proposal preparation process for competitive EIC Pathfinder applications. Participants will explore leveraging generative AI and specialised LLM-based tools to support idea generation, partner search, proposal structuring, content development etc.
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Course title: Writing the impact section for a pillar 2 Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
Date and Time: May 27, 2025. 9-13.00 (4 hours total)
Delivered by: Adrián Escribano and Chema Castellano (Innovarum)
Course summary: Contextualising impact sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.2: what are they and why are they? Questions and take-home messages.
*This training was organised within the AM2C3 project, funded by the European Union under grant agreement 101159727 (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02).
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Course title: Introduction to code/software protection and exploitation
Date and Time: April 10, 2025. 9.00-12.30 (3.5 hours total)
Delivered by: Natalio Rodríguez, Coral Navarro and Leonardo Casado
Course summary: Software protection. Software patents: when they apply and what they protect. Open source licenses, data use in AI, and data protection. Use of data for AI training: what is legally allowed and what is not. Open source licenses: types, restrictions, etc. Licensing Agreements, SLA, and Technology Transfer. Licensing agreements: types, key clauses, and best practices.
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Course title: From idea to proposal. The fundamentals of Horizon Europe grant writing
Date and Time: April 9, 2025
Delivered by: Maite Ferrando and Mireia Ferri
Course summary: Overview of Horizon Europe and its significance for pre- and postdoctoral researchers. Proposal idea and main errors to avoid. How to identify a key need and challenge. Problem definition and innovative approach. State of the art and scientific/technological gap. From the idea to the proposal. How to write Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections.
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Course title: Transfer of results
Date and Time: November 6, 2025. 10:00-17.30 (6.5 hours total)
Delivered by: Manolo Castellano
Course summary: An initial, inspiring, and hands-on experience that enables researchers to discover how their scientific skills and expertise can be transformed into value propositions beyond the laboratory.
Course title: ERC Starting Grant proposal writing course for researchers
Date and Time: October 23, 2024
Delivered by: Peter Sheard (founder and CEO of Trend 2000 Ltd.)
Course summary: Key aspects of ERC StG applications. Proposal evaluation and what evaluators look for and tailoring your CV for ERC. Presenting your concept, establishing the narrative, explaining novelty etc. Identifying and accounting for risk: development of the work plan, writing an appropriate impact section, estimating and justifying the project budget, essential aspects of writing clearly and presenting the proposal effectively etc.
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Course title: Fundamentals of intellectual and industrial policy
Date and Time: September 17, 2024
Delivered by: Clarke Modet
Course summary: Improving knowledge of how to approach the management of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the various protective measures for R&D projects in different sectors. Raising awareness among research personnel about the importance of PII rights in the development of their investigative activities. Having a basic understanding of Patent Strategic Management: concept, protection strategies, and exploitation. International extension.
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Course title: Microsoft Office 365
Date and Time: May 22, 2024
Delivered by: 2FFormación
Course summary: TEAMS – Video conferencing tool and Microsoft 365 hub. ONE DRIVE – Hard drive in the cloud. SHARE POINT – Fundamentals, uses and collaborative work. Other Tools – TO DO and PLANNER.
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Course title: Funding opportunities for research and development: grants overview at national and European levels
Date and Time: May 6, 2024 (Total time: 6 hours)
Delivered by: María Teresa Ferrando García (Kveloce)
Course summary: Introduction to funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers. Funding opportunities at national and European level. Tools and Platforms.
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Course title: Antifraud Measures Plan
Date and Time: March 12, 2024 (Total time: 15 minutes)
Delivered by: IMDEA Materials Institute
Course summary: Risks in the management of funds. The Anti-Fraud Action Plan in the management of Next-Generation Funds. Specific risk analysis of projects funded with European Funds. Basic and applied regulations.
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Course title: Managing conflict constructively across cultures
Date and Time: March 3, 2024
Delivered by: Alicia Marín Muniesa (The Sky is the Limit)
Course summary: Increase self-awareness of your communication style and cultural preferences. Identify appropriate practices for managing cross-cultural communication challenges at the workplace. Practice the win-win negotiation model to manage conflict across cultures.
Date and Time: November 14 and November 20 (9 hours total)
Delivered by: Ulrich Schubert
Course summary: Theoretical framework. Stress management skills and techniques. Time management.
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Course title: Creating your own career plan and job search strategy
Date and Time: October 26, 2023 (7 hours total)
Delivered by: Manuél Escobar
Course summary: Career planning. CV and Linkedin profile. Preparing for a selection process (interview and negotiation).
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Course title: Oral presentations: beyond slides
Date and Time: May 18, 2023 (7 hours total)
Delivered by: Lisa Saemisch and Gavin Lucas (The PaperMill)
Course summary: Relating to my audience and telling a story and defining my message, content and structure. Key concepts in visual communication. Focus on creating slide presentations, presenting your work, concepts and practice.
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Course title: Scientific entrepeneurship
Date and Time: January 17 and 19, 2023 (10 hours total)
Delivered by: Miguel Ángel Trujillo (BA International Partners)
Course summary: Entrepreneurship fundamentals for researchers. Design of a business model. Design of a market research interview.
Course title: Introduction to software patents
Date and Time: November 24, 2022 (1 hour total)
Delivered by: Nicolás Escudero (CEO of Tribalyte Ideas and European Patent Attorney)
Course summary: Patents: main concepts, ideas and importance. How to detect research results worthing protection. Strategies for software management, protection and exploitation.
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Course title: Interview skills for supervisors
Date and Time: October 20, 2022 (4 hours)
Delivered by: Cristina Mateo (Liberty up)
Course summary: The importance of the interview. Screening CVs and preparing for the interview. During the interview. Evidence-based evaluations and decision-making. Unconscious biases.
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Course title: Professional development
Date and Time: May 24, 2022 (7 hours total)
Delivered by: Manolo Castellano (Carreras Científicas Alternativas)
Course summary: Solving conflicts. Team development and how to effectively resolve differences in the workplace. The importance of transferable skills inside/outside academia. Practical tools to identify skills for your CV and professional social networks. Strategies to explore new professional pathways/scientific careers: job hunting and hiring process. Networking efficiently inside/outside academia, CV, professional resumes and selection processes.
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Course title: Public speaking
Date and Time: May 10, 2022 (8 hours total)
Delivered by: Lance Schuyler Hedstrom Miller & Harriet Thompson
Course summary: How to improve fluency and gain confidence speaking in public. Learn to prepare engaging presentations. Mock presentations and monologues. Learn to improvise, develop memorisation strategies and understand body language.
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Course title: Funding opportunities for research and development
Date and Time: April 20, 2022 (5 hours total)
Delivered by: David Alcántara (SACSIS)
Course summary: European funding opportunities in Horizon Europe. Other European and Spanish funding opportunities.
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Course title: Scientific writing for researchers – all this for what?
Date and Time: February 16 and April 15, 2022 (12 hours total)
Delivered by: Ignacio Crespo
Course summary: Evolution of the papers. The headline and abstract. The introduction. Discussion and conclusions. Efficient writing. Autonomous learning. The most frequent errors.
Course title: From research to enterprise: an introduction to startup creation and management
Date and Time: July 1, 13 and 14, 2021 (14 hours total)
Delivered by: Marco Laucelli (Founder & CEO at Galeo) (funded by «María de Maeztu» grant CEX2018-000800-M)
Course summary: The start-up as an experiment. The problem: identifying and validating the problem. The pivot: discovering the right opportunity. The solution: unique value proposition. Modelling the revenue streams: revenue models and validation. Being unique: the unfair advantage, IP, competitive advantage, barriers etc.
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Course title: Leadership and management skills (Principal Investigators)
Date and Time: November 10, 11 and 12, 2021 (24 hours total)
Delivered by: HFP consulting (funded by «María de Maeztu» grant CEX2018-000800-M)
Course summary: Fundamental principles for professional interactions. Key skills for effective communication. Enhancing your efficiency. Establishing and maintaining productive collaborations. Solving conflicts. Team development and how to effectively resolve differences in the workplace.
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Course title: Public speaking: effective delivery and presentation
Date and Time: May 26, 2021 (4 hours total)
Delivered by: Lance Schuyler Hedstrom Miller and Harriet Thompson
Course summary: Speaking clearly and vocal variety. Intoduction – why confidence matters. Memorisation techniques. Improvising and dealing with nerves.
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Course title: Economics and finances for scientists and engineers
Date and Time: March 10 and 11, 2021
Delivered by: Iván Rivero (Opportunity Revenue Consulting Services) (funded by «María de Maeztu» grant CEX2018-000800-M)
Course summary: Markets and numbers. Business models and pricing strategy. Fundamental concepts of financial planning.
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Course title: Science communication for researchers. Getting started
Date and Time: April 15 and 22, 2021 (8 hours total)
Delivered by: Luis Quevedo (filmmaker, podcaster, producer and TV personality) (funded by «María de Maeztu» grant CEX2018-000800-M)
Course summary: Pre-work. What the media wants and how to be a proactive communicator. “MoJo” Mobile journalism basics and other tools. Non-traditional communication, non verbal language, visuals and more. On-camera, mock interviews and feedback. Take home package: a brief survival book on how to deal with the media.
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Course title: Creativity kit to generate better ideas and overcome any challenge
Date and Time: February 23 and 25, 2021
Delivered by: Ana Clara Alvarez Cufari (Anitaideas)
Course summary: Creativity: where are you? Self-check of creative moments. «What if…» Meet your new best friend – Everything a paperclip has to teach you. Put a SCAMPER in your life… and a few more techniques to use when you need them. That everyday object has the answer your project needs. Silence is your ally. Relaxation techniques to do even at the office.