Here you can find further information about the soft- and practical-skills workshops of the Graduate Days of CUI 2015.
Workshops
Physicists in risk finance: Dr. Oliver Hein, Dr. Tobias Sander, and Dr. Jochen Meyer (d-fine GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany)
- First day: From Physics to Finance (Dr. Oliver Hein)
Finance has evolved into a highly complex subject affecting the whole economy. The understanding of the complex dynamics of financial products and markets is a strongly needed matter. Physicists are currently in the process of transferring physical ideas and paradigms into the economic context. The lecture outlines the ideas behind it and gives a broad overview of different models and approaches.
- Second day: Introduction to the Measurement and Management of Market Risk (Dr. Tobias Sander)
Financial institutions are exposed to market risk whenever changes of market prices can impact their financial bottom line. For most banks prominent market risk drivers include interest and foreign exchange rates, commodity and equity prices, as well as credit spreads. This talk gives an introduction to the definition of market risk, the financial instruments it typically arises from, and statistical modelling approaches to quantitatively measure and control it.
- Third day: Introduction to Credit Risk (Dr. Jochen Meyer)
Looking at the lending activities of financial institutions, credit risk is the most relevant risk to be managed. Although the field of credit risk modelling has evolved substantially during the last decade, there is still a lot of room for new approaches, basically because of a substantial change in the business environment and many new regulations. This talk gives an introduction to basic assumptions and the most common statistical models used in credit risk management.
LabVIEW: Mr. Mike Kesselmeier (National Instruments, Hamburg, Germany)
LabVIEW software is ideal for any measurement or control system. Also LabVIEW is the ideal development environment for innovation, discovery, and accelerated results.
In this lecture it will be explained what is LabVIEW and it will be shown how to programm with the graphical programming-language G.
The first part is especially for all LabVIEW-Rookies who never saw LabVIEW before.
In the second part it will be discussed how to control measurement devices like oscilloscopes. For example how can be used drivers or examples of the device manufacturers. An other point will be the implementation of the VISA-API.
The last day will be focused on programming architectures like Queues/Notifiers and Case Structures.
Management of collaborative research projects / Project management: Ms. Monica Schofield (TuTech Innovation GmbH, Hamburg)
This workshop provides a hands-on introduction to the art of managing multi-disciplinary, multi-organisational research projects. Horizon 2020 is used as a model, but the approach is applicable to multi-partner projects. It is targeted at researchers and management support staff who may find themselves in a management role, but also those who perhaps just need to know about management involves. This workshop is also suitable as a complementary skills course in project management for young researchers. The workshop will follow the form of lectures followed by group exercises with discussion feedback. It aims to be very practical an interactive in nature, giving students skills and understanding that they themselves can apply rather than theory on project management.
The lectures will be given in English. Groups may discuss in German if preferred.
First session: A short introduction to the basics of project management
- Project management
- Role of the coordinator
- Basic management issues
Second session: Keeping control
- Project governance
- Effective communication
- Project controlling
- Managing multicultural teams
Third session: Dealing with conflicts and crises
- Root causes of project difficulties
- Handling conflicts
- Managing expectations and completion
Summary, conclusions, feedback Q&A.
Slides of the lecture 1, lecture 2, and lecture 3.
Objectives – Choices – Ideas. (Setting goals, making decisions and stimulating creativity): Mr. Rob Thompson (RTTA – Outstanding Interpersonal Skills for Research Scientists, Frankfurt, Germany)
A PhD is a huge undertaking and often the freedom that you are given can result in lack of direction rather than full motivation. Not having clear goals, being unable to decide how to progress while worrying that there is a better unexplored route will reduce anyone’s motivation. Being able to set appropriate goals, make timely decisions and think outside the box are skills essential for the progression and achievement of your PhD.
Outcomes
In the 3 separate workshop sessions, participants will learn useful, easy-to-follow guidelines which will enable them to:
1. Make effective use of their time by setting productive and realistic goals.
2. Be more efficient by being able to make appropriate and timely decisions.
3. Think creatively to be able to generate the innovative ideas needed to solve the new problems encountered.
These workshops will teach participants techniques to be more efficient and productive.
Workshop style
The workshops draws on the personal experience of all participants as well as that of the trainer, thereby ensuring that the training is specific for and relevant to the participants’ individual needs. The workshop will be a structured discussion forum to facilitate ideas and develop strategies. The workshop will be very interactive. Expect to be asked lots of questions, expect to be challenged, expect to participate!