PhinisheD! Workshops
PhinisheD! workshops are developed by community members and graduate professionals to share practical skills that support dissertation completion and academic progress.
Rapid Research Writing: From Idea to Cited Paper Using Google Docs
Presenter: Sai Gattupalli, Ph.D.
When: March 31st 2026 @ 12:30 pm CET
30-min tutorial + 30-min Q&A
This workshop introduces practical strategies for quickly drafting a research paper using Google Docs and built-in citation tools. Participants will learn simple techniques for organizing ideas, writing efficiently, and inserting scholarly citations while drafting.
During the session, the instructor will demonstrate how to move from an initial idea to a structured research paper draft, including how to manage references using BibCitation within Google Docs.
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30 minutes: Live demonstration writing a sample research paper draft from scratch
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30 minutes: Open Q&A and discussion
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This workshop is open to students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD) and postdoctoral researchers who want to improve their research writing workflow and learn faster ways to draft papers while maintaining proper academic citation practices.
Academic Writing with LaTeX and Overleaf: Thesis Setup and Formatting
Presenter: Dr. M. Camille Barlow
When: March 26th, 2026 @ 4:00 pm CET
1-hr tutorial + 1-hr optional thesis setup
Writing a thesis or research paper can quickly become frustrating when formatting, references, and figures start to get messy. LaTeX offers a powerful way to automate formatting and keep large documents organized, while Overleaf provides an accessible platform for writing, compiling, and collaborating online.
This hands-on workshop introduces the basics of academic writing with LaTeX using Overleaf, with a focus on thesis preparation. Participants will learn how LaTeX structures documents, how to organize chapters and sections, and how to efficiently manage citations, figures, tables, and equations, helping reduce formatting headaches later.
During the workshop we will cover:
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The basic structure of a LaTeX document
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Working with Overleaf for writing and collaboration
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Organizing thesis chapters and large documents
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Adding and formatting figures, tables, and equations
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Automate cross-referencing sections, figures, and tables
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Managing citations and bibliographies
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Special characters and symbols commonly used in academic writing
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Simple formatting techniques that save time when writing a thesis or publication
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Troubleshooting common LaTeX issues
Participants will be provided with a thesis template to help get started quickly. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chapter of their thesis or a draft manuscript. You will be guided through the process of transferring your work into Overleaf, and time will be provided to help troubleshoot individual questions and formatting issues so you can leave with a working document you can continue developing.
No prior experience with LaTeX is required.
