Building the 'How' of Science: A MonksHillLab Skill Development Session Series for Early-Career Researchers

This living document provides a framework for skill development sessions for early-career researchers (ECR). The sessions focus on competencies in communication, problem-solving, and project ownership within academic research. Each session is based on "Engagement Starter Tasks"—practical scenarios that simulate research challenges. Each starter task is followed by a debrief that introduces a conceptual framework for direct application. This living document contains complete guides for the first following sessions:

1.) "Expectations" which defines collaborative partnerships

2.) "Supervisory Meetings" which outlines a structured approach for research discussions.

3.) "Scientific Writing" which outlines the core need of unambigious, clear scientific communication.

4.) "Scientific Figures" which focuses on creating clear, self-explanatory, and visually coherent figures that effectively communicate scientific results.

5.) "Work Organization" which equips ECR with a strategic framework and practical tools to transform an overwhelming workload into a managed set of deliberate choices, shifting from reactive chaos to proactive control.

6.) “Scientific Presentations” which provides ECR with the methods and skills to craft presentations that are not only clear but highly effective, helping them move from rushed, reactive slide-making to intentional design, delivery, and audience impact.

7.) “GHG Flux Calculation” uses a hands-on "trap-and-reveal" exercise to show why GHG flux calculation requires standardized, long-time tested algorithms, despite seemingly beeing methodologically straight forward.

8.) "Project Proposal Writing" which uses a "coffee machine" simulation and peer matchmaking to show that success depends on aligning a research idea with a funder's specific motivations.

The living document will be updated with additional sessions in the future versions. The next version will add sessions on "Thesis Brackets Writing", a team retreat blueprint and "Poster Presentations".