In line with the mission of the COST Association, the SHiFT YRC Summer School 2026 is designed to support PhD candidates and early-career researchers in navigating increasingly complex and non-linear career paths, both within and beyond academia.
How do researchers translate their skills into diverse professional opportunities? How can uncertainty be transformed into informed career decision-making?Led by trainees Larissa Jane H. Houston and Maria Bekiari, the programme addresses these questions through a combination of reflective coaching tools, peer exchange, and practical career development activities. Across three interconnected sessions, participants will explore career awareness, transferable skills, grant writing, networking, job search strategies, and long-term career planning, while building confidence and clarity about their next steps.
With a strong emphasis on interaction and peer-supported learning, the summer school fosters a supportive environment where participants can share experiences, normalize uncertainty, and develop actionable strategies for their professional future across academic, industry, NGO, and policy sectors.
- Date: July 15–17, 2026.
- Format: In-person at Politecnico di Torino (Turin, Italy)
- Who should attend: PhD candidates and early-career researchers interested in career development, professional identity, and future pathways beyond academia
- Organised by: SHiFT YRC, with the support of the SHiFT COST Action, the COST Association, and Politecnico di Torino.
