Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez & Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

The Planning with Purpose information session is an introduction to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) at McGill. This session covers the process and building blocks of creating a meaningful IDP and setting goals in grad school. We also explore the resources, supports, and programming available from the myPath team to help you to forge your own learning path.

In this workshop you will have an opportunity to:
•    Understand what an IDP is and how to use one to support your grad school experience
•    Discover the resources and support available to help you create your IDP
•    Familiarize yourself with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' mandatory IDP reporting requirements for graduate students
•    Complete 1 of your 3 IDP reporting requirements!

 

Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez, Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Stay on track with a 45min “plan your week” session on Monday mornings. Meet with a group of peers to set your intentions, boost motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and (most importantly) take the pressure off!

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Presenter: Lorna MacEachern
Location: McLennan Library, room MS-74 (ground floor)
Campus: Downtown campus

Interested in creating an Individual Development Plan for yourself but not sure where to start? Join us for a one-day IDP writing retreat - lunch is provided for registered participants.

We’ll walk you through the steps and exercises to write your own IDP using myPath’s research-based approach. During the retreat, you will reflect on and assess your skills and values, imagine and create a vision for your future, and brainstorm your goals.

This silent retreat is perfect for those who would prefer to work on their IDP in independently.

No-Show Fee Alert: There are no fees associated with SKILLSETS workshops; however, registering for an event is a commitment to attend. If you can no longer attend, make sure to cancel your registration at least 48 hours before the workshop. Otherwise, a $25 No-Show Fee will be charged to your McGill student account. For more information on our policy, please go to www.mcgill.ca/skillsets/policies

 

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Presenter: Carrie Hanson and Lucia Dikaczova
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Graduate school demands strong study habits and effective learning strategies. Throughout your degree, your reasons for studying will change (courses to comps to defense), which will require different strategies and approaches. This workshop will help you adapt relevant study techniques for different contexts, improve focus, and develop critical thinking skills. We will also cover practical tips for making the most of study sessions while taking care of yourself. Designed for all disciplines, the workshop will help you develop your skills to navigate academic challenges with confidence and clarity.

By attending this workshop, you will be able to:

• Identify effective study strategies for specific contexts
• Create a personalized study plan
• Support your own wellbeing while learning in an intense academic environment

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Presenter: Anastasiia Yemets and Ross Swanson
Location: Thomson House restaurant
Campus: Downtown campus

Join us for this career panel with McGill PhD alumni working in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning!

Panelists:

• Alexandre Herbay (PhD, Communication Sciences & Disorders), Data Scientist – Project Lead, IVADO Labs.
• Ge Li (PhD, Earth and Planetary Sciences), Applied Research Scientist, Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute
• Marc-Antoine Beaudoin (PhD, Electrical Engineering), Senior Applied Research Scientist, Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presenter: Fathima Asfal and Andrew Churchill
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

In this workshop, participants learn how to avoid the pitfalls of building slides that have too much information, take too long to process, and compete for audience attention. By understanding the limits of human visual and auditory language processing, participants learn how to work within them. This workshop teaches: 1) strategic PowerPoint skills that make slides easier to process and more cohesive, 2) how to control audience attention, and 3) how to best test key visuals before presenting.

 

Learning outcomes:

•     Create complementary visuals that aid rather than compete with comprehension
•     Use PowerPoint functionality to create more cohesive slides
•     Use PowerPoint functionality to better control audience focus

 

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presenter: Carrie Hanson, Hannah Medley
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Struggling to stay on top of your academic research, professional development, and personal commitments? This practical workshop is designed specifically for graduate students to help you take control of your time. Learn effective day-to-day planning strategies, prioritize tasks with confidence, and build sustainable routines that support your long-term goals. Through hands-on activities and real-life examples, you'll leave with tools to reduce stress, boost productivity, and make time for what matters most.

 

After this workshop, you will be able to:

• Maintain your short and long-term goals using an Individual Development Plan
• Identify your areas of strength and opportunities for growth when managing your time
• Reflect upon your personal, academic, and professional priorities to create an actionable to-do list and ideal week
• Navigate personal obstacles to successfully implement your plan

This workshop counts towards the IDP requirement.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Location: Frank Dawson Adams Building, McGill Engine Centre - Seminar room 3 or 5 (depending on group size)
Campus: Downtown campus

This workshop will provide an overview of the different types of market research, how to analyze the competition, and the resources available at McGill to perform market research. Our market research librarian Amanda Wheatley will walk us through some of those resources using a market research canvas tool.

Learning outcomes:

• Describe at least two of the benefits of market research.
• Formulate the strategy to identify  customer segments and market size.
• Formulate the strategy to perform a competitive analysis.
• Use the market research databases available via McGill Library.

Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez, Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Stay on track with a 45min “plan your week” session on Monday mornings. Meet with a group of peers to set your intentions, boost motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and (most importantly) take the pressure off!

Date: Monday, February 9, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez, Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Stay on track with a 45min “plan your week” session on Monday mornings. Meet with a group of peers to set your intentions, boost motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and (most importantly) take the pressure off!

Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Presenter: Fathima Afsal & Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Frank Dawson Adams Building, McGill Engine Centre - room 5
Campus: Downtown campus

Come join us in this hands-on crafty workshop where you will brainstorm an IDP vision statement and use collaging to make a vision board. Workshop goers will have the opportunity to digitally or physically collage to make a vision board to stay on track with their goals! 

All materials will be provided! Enjoy the company of other grad students and let's get crafty. 

No-Show Fee Alert: There are no fees associated with SKILLSETS workshops; however, registering for an event is a commitment to attend. If you can no longer attend, make sure to cancel your registration at least 48 hours before the workshop. Otherwise, a $25 No-Show Fee will be charged to your McGill student account. For more information on our policy, please go to www.mcgill.ca/skillsets/policies

 

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez & Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

The Planning with Purpose information session is an introduction to the Individual Development Plan (IDP) at McGill. This session covers the process and building blocks of creating a meaningful IDP and setting goals in grad school. We also explore the resources, supports, and programming available from the myPath team to help you to forge your own learning path.

In this workshop you will have an opportunity to:
•    Understand what an IDP is and how to use one to support your grad school experience
•    Discover the resources and support available to help you create your IDP
•    Familiarize yourself with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies' mandatory IDP reporting requirements for graduate students
•    Complete 1 of your 3 IDP reporting requirements!

 

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Presenter: Arav Saherwala and Andrew Churchill
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

This workshop focuses on the steps participants need to develop content for their next research presentation. From STEM based quantitative research, to social science exploration, this workshop will explore worksheets designed to help participants develop better content.

 

Learning outcomes:

•     Articulate the core message clearly and accessibly to maximize audience understanding
•     Brainstorm ways to start presentations that increase engagement
•     Learn patterns to structure presentations that create curiosity to learn more
•     Develop specific strategies to maximize credibility without getting bogged down

Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presenter: Compass Startup Legal Clinc
Location: Frank Dawson Adams Building, McGill Engine Centre - Seminar room FDA 3 or FDA 5 (depending on group size)
Campus: Downtown campus

Led by a team of caseworkers from Compass Startup Legal Clinic, this workshop provides startup founders with a clear path through the legal landscape, offering insight on issues such as incorporation, governance, fundraising, and selecting the ideal legal structure.

Learning outcomes:

• Describe the different forms of legal structures for enterprises.
• Explain the process of incorporation and its governance obligations.
• List the different ways to fund a venture.

Date: Monday, February 2, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez, Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Stay on track with a 45min “plan your week” session on Monday mornings. Meet with a group of peers to set your intentions, boost motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and (most importantly) take the pressure off!

Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Presenter: Alex Gavrila
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

Are you a postdoctoral fellow who is filing their first income tax return? Do you wonder what needs to be reported during your first year in Québec? Would you like to better understand tax slips and learn how to file your income taxes? Then this webinar is for you! We will first start with a brief overview of the Canadian tax system covering topics such as: different types of taxes, tax brackets, and how different sources of income get taxed. We will review key tax slips (see list below) and show you how to make sense of them through live examples. We will also go over the Québec Tax Exemption process for postdocs, including eligibility criteria, required documentation, and the application procedure. Finally, we will cover various tax credits and deductions available to you.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about the different Canadian tax brackets, what counts as taxable income, and how different types of income get taxed.
• Develop a basic understanding of the information contained on key tax slips (T4, T4A, T5, RL-1, RL-3, RL-8, RL-19, RL-24, and RL-31).
• Understand the Québec Tax Exemption process for postdocs and review eligibility criteria and the application procedure.
• Explore common tax deductions and credits available to you.
• Review various free tax filing resources and software.

Date: Monday, January 26, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Presenter: Rodrigo Alain Migueles Ramirez, Anastasiia Yemets
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Stay on track with a 45min “plan your week” session on Monday mornings. Meet with a group of peers to set your intentions, boost motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and (most importantly) take the pressure off!

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Presenter: Alycia Bartczak
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

Are you a doctoral student in Humanities or Social Sciences? SKILLSETS is launching a new experiential learning opportunity: Grad Knowledge in Action! This 4 week virtual work experience is powered by Practera and is designed to prepare you for the workplace through real world challenges. Find out more on our Grad Knowledge in Action page and join this Q&A session to ask your questions!

Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presenter: Carrie Hanson and Hadi Hojjati
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

Looking to manage your reading load? In this workshop, we’ll dig into strategies for making sense of dense academic texts, pulling out key ideas, and organizing notes. You will move from note-taking (just jotting things down) to note-making for better understanding. Whether you’re tackling complicated research articles or hefty books, you’ll learn techniques to engage deeply with the material, retain what matters, and build smarter habits for working with academic literature. Perfect for grad students in any field who want to sharpen their reading and note-making game. 

By attending this workshop, you will be able to: 

• Use strategies for reading comprehension
• Distinguish between note-taking and note-making
• Identify challenges and opportunities that arise with using AI for reading and notetaking

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Presenter: Lorna MacEachern, Agata Rybalkiewicz, and Chantelle Thauvette
Location: Online

This workshop is hosted on Zoom and is accessible through your McGill Zoom account. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR MCGILL ZOOM ACCOUNT AT https://mcgill.zoom.us/ BEFORE JOINING THE SESSION.

 

What’s your next step? This interactive workshop for graduate students will teach you the skills to review position types and work environments within the context of your career. Together, we will help you reflect on your professional identity and preferences, practice deciphering job postings, and identify next steps in your career exploration.

In this workshop you will have the opportunity to…

• Define your personal values, skills, and/or interests
• Practice deciphering job postings
• Identify the next step in your professional development
• Combine the above strategies to make impactful career choices efficiently