Report on the Research and Teaching Visit with Particular Emphasis on the Promotion of the Doctoral School of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin

From 12 to 15 January 2026, I carried out a research and teaching visit at the University of Graz (Austria) within the framework of scientific cooperation with the Biodiversity Sciences research group. One of the key objectives of the mobility, in addition to the planned research activities, was the promotion of the doctoral education offer of the Doctoral School of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin in an international academic environment.

An important element of the visit was the delivery of an invited lecture during the Biology Institute Scientific Colloquium. The event brought together academic staff, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates and students, as well as individuals interested in international cooperation, including potential supervisors and co-supervisors. Approximately 50 participants attended the seminar. During the presentation, the opportunities for cooperation with the Doctoral School of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin were introduced, and it was indicated that the mobility had been funded under the Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB) programme, Task 22. Photographic documentation of the event has been attached to this report.

During the lecture, I presented the research profile of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin and the structure and functioning of its Doctoral School. The presentation included the doctoral training offer for international candidates, opportunities for joint and international PhD supervision, and potential areas of scientific collaboration. I also presented opportunities for doctoral student mobility and participation in international research projects and grant applications.

The presentation generated considerable interest among participants, particularly doctoral candidates and early-career researchers. Following the seminar, several individual discussions were held concerning research cooperation, joint projects, and the potential participation of international candidates in recruitment to the Doctoral School of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The activities undertaken during the mobility contributed to increasing the international visibility of the Doctoral School, establishing contacts with potential international co-supervisors, and encouraging international doctoral candidates and young researchers to consider cooperation with the University of Life Sciences in Lublin.

Dr Joanna Sender
Sub-department of Natural Foundations of Forestry,
Institute of Soil Science, Engineering and Environmental Management
University of Life Sciences in Lublin