SynTrac iRTG Research Training Camp 2025: Academic Writing Workshop
Building on the success of its earlier retreat on research planning and collaboration, the Integrated Research Training Group (iRTG) of the SynTrac project recently hosted another training event—this time with a dedicated focus on academic writing. From 25. August to 29. August 2025, the doctoral researchers once again came together in in Almendorf near Fulda for a workshop designed to sharpen their scientific communication and writing skills and support the publication process.
Writing Coach Dr CJ Fitzsimons from Leadership Sculptor GmbH delivered a dynamic research writing workshop for the SynTrac PhD candidates, offering participants an in-depth look at how to craft effective academic papers and sharpen their writing skills.
The Research Training Camp was structured into three main parts:
- Clinic – Participants examined and discussed examples from various sections of research papers, analyzing what works and why.
- Input – Organizers shared key information and practical tools related to academic writing, helping attendees develop a strong foundation.
- Writing – Guided work phases allowed participants to apply what they learned directly to their own writing projects, with feedback from the Writing Coach and SynTrac Project leads.
Photos: SynTrac
The workshop opened with a practical session on deciding what to include in a paper, helping participants focus on essential contributions and audience expectations. This was followed by a detailed discussion on the structure of a paper, including best practices for organizing introductions, methods, results, and discussions.
Other segments covered a range of topics critical for producing polished manuscripts. Attendees explored writing and revision strategies, style basics, and an overview of writing tools to improve clarity and efficiency. Another session provided guidance on creating clear and impactful tables and figures, while additional modules addressed punctuation and grammar tips that often challenge authors, especially when English is not their native language.
As part of the program, participants also explored common writing challenges and learned practical strategies to sustain momentum in their projects, successfully overcoming what is commonly known as writer’s block.
Participants benefited the workshop’s practical approach and the wealth of take-home resources. In particular in the guided writing phases, the content was tailored to each participant’s stage of progress – some groups were still finalizing the concept of their study, while others were already writing up their first results. This event marks another step in strengthening the professional development and research communication skills of the SynTrac PhD student community, further reinforcing the foundation for successful interdisciplinary collaboration.
