Productivity tools for (young) researchers
This course introduces participants to personal productivity tools and techniques tailored for academic work and project management. It covers strategies for managing reference libraries, tracking tasks, and organizing research activities using cloud-based tools. Participants will learn how to build and maintain a personal reference collection, manage time effectively, and store information efficiently. By the end of the course, attendees will have gained practical skills in setting up personalized productivity environments to support their research careers and reduce redundancy in managing academic tasks.
Target audience: First-year doctoral students of any course of study. Doctoral students from later years may also participate, although introducing the elements seen in the course after research has already begun may be more difficult. But it's never too late actually :)
- ECTS: 1
- Total hours: 8
- Language: English
- Mode of participation: The course will be held in hybrid mode. Face-to-face classes will be streamed via Webex and recorded for later reference.
- Course code: INV.TRSVL.12
- Category: BASIC TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
How To Apply
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it
- OPENING of registrations: 15 Nov. 2025
- CLOSING of registrations: 12 Dec. 2025
The main objective of the course is to introduce participants to some personal productivity tools and techniques that are either closely related to academic work (i.e. managing and keeping track of a personal reference library) or general project management techniques, including tips on decluttering and a review of personal productivity methods.
Pre-existing, unstructured knowledge of the course topics will be transformed into a solid and interconnected understanding of how cloud-based tools can support everyday research activities and basic data management to reduce the risk of (excessive) redundancy in personal information management. Participants will acquire skills related to specific software tools and will be able to install and configure them in order to set up personalised productivity environments to support their careers as early-stage researchers.
Participants will learn how to:
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Build their own reference collection;
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Manage and track tasks and time usage, individually or in small groups;
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Collect, systematically store and manage information in the form of electronic notes;
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Orchestrate the use of different AI-based and research oriented web tools to their advantage.
15/12/25 15.30-17.30 CET - U1-06
12/01/26 15.00-17.00 CET - U6-28
19/01/26 10:00 - 12:00 CET - U6-28
26/01/26 10:00 - 12:00 CET - U6-28
The course will begin in December 2025 in hybrid mode.
In-person classes will be streamed via Webex and recorded so they can be watched later.
It will be possible to participate and submit the online quiz until March 2026.
Participants will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the course topics by taking a final online quiz.
3 - Good Health and Well-being; 4 - Quality Education
Name of the faculty: Prof. Andrea Mangiatordi
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it