Coaches in the programme

The coaches we use at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences are all certified coaches with relevant experience coaching PhD students. It is important to note that if you sign up for the programme, you do not get to choose your own coach.
Below you can read more about their interests and background. 

Camilla Dindler

I am an associate professor of communication at Aalborg University, and my journey through academia has spanned since 2004, occasionally punctuated by short breaks working in the private sector. As a scholar, my interests lie within dialogue, participation, and power. With a rich tapestry of experience in academia, leadership, coaching and counseling, I firmly believe that maintaining vitality in both work and life is rooted in feelings of security, a comprehensive grasp of our surroundings, and a sense of curiosity. As a coach, my passion lies in attentive listening, helping individuals on a transformative path of self-discovery and reimagination within the intricate fabric of our world. My drive stems from empowering others, enabling them to harness their agency, and leaving an impactful mark where significance resonates deeply for each individual.

Ditte-Marie From

I am an associate professor with a degree in the sociology of education, specializing in social and mental well-being and learning environments. I have spent over a decade exploring how individuals' existing but often untapped resources can be activated to enhance their potential and success. As a certified coach, I integrate these perspectives to support and guide individuals to achieve their personal and professional aspirations, while prioritizing well-being. I began my PhD journey in 2007 at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Department of Nutrition, and at Roskilde University's Graduate School of Lifelong Learning. Since 2009, I have taught and supervised numerous students, including writing activities for PhD candidates. I am the founder of Academic Coaching, and I recently resigned from my position as an associate professor to become an independent researcher, coach and facilitator. My mission is to empower and guide students and professionals within academia towards a productive and healthy academic journey.

Frederikke Winther

I am a senior consultant at Copenhagen Coaching Center working as a coach, consultant and teacher. I am driven by a profound concern to support people to succeed in life – wherever it takes them. It is my clear experience that professional, as well as personal development, best happens when we feel motivated, competent and released. Finding that state of mind is to me the core purpose of coaching. From 2012 to 2018, I worked as an assistant professor at Aalborg University in Copenhagen teaching and doing research in problem-based learning (PBL) and dialogical feedback. In 2007, I took my master’s degree (in Rhetoric) at The University of Copenhagen, and from 2009 to 2012, I did my PhD at DPU/Aarhus University. Twice a year, I teach the communication module of the Industrial PhD course provided by Innovation Fund Denmark. 

Helle Rootzen

I have supervised many PhD students and I have always enjoyed the interaction with them. Besides the scientific part, I love to help make life in academia joyful and meaningful, and to help PhD students be able to combine research and private life. Working with people, I use my experience as a research leader to promote a better research culture for all. That is important to me. I am a CEO and founder of andhero, which I started in 2020 after I decided to leave DTU to be a knowledge entrepreneur. At DTU, I was a professor in learning technology and digitalization, and from 2010 to 2015 the director of DTU Compute. I am educated in mathematical statistics at the University of Copenhagen, have a PhD from DTU, and I am educated as a business and life coach.

Jens Larsen

I help researchers and PhD students create a more productive and joyful writing praxis. I have worked as a PhD coach and writing teacher since 2004. I am a co-founder of Writeconcept.dk, where we help PhD students and researchers become more productive writers. I teach sustainability and coaching at Aalborg University and work with researchers around the world. I have written books, articles, and research papers in coaching, sustainability, storytelling, and change management.  My passion is to help researchers find their own true stories as researchers and succeed in their lives and careers. 

Lisa Dahlager

I have been working as an independent coach and psychotherapist since 2008. I have a master’s degree in cultural sociology and a PhD in public health. I work part-time as an associate professor at the Department of Management, Organisation and Administration, at University College Copenhagen with teaching and research mostly in health management and organisation. Besides this, I am an active artist. My passion is to understand and work with creative processes. 

Liv Gish

I am an independent coach and consultant with a special interest in writing processes, time management and work-life balance in academia. This interest began during my own PhD process back in 2010 when I entered the last phase of my PhD – I needed tools to become more productive and even more importantly figure out how to make it more joyful. Alongside my research career at the Technical University of Denmark and Aalborg University, I have since continued to specialize in these topics. In 2011, I started facilitating writing and time management courses for PhD students, and in 2015, I started coaching PhD students. In early 2021, I decided to do both full-time and thus became independent. 

Mirjam Godskesen

I am an independent coach and consultant, owner of UNWIND, and have coached PhD students since 2006. I am experienced in coaching all aspects of the PhD study such as planning, writing, work-life balance, motivation and handling relational issues. From 2008 to 2012, I managed two projects that aimed to develop PhD coaching at five Danish universities. My background is in Engineering (PhD from DTU) and I am affiliated with Aalborg University, where I was formerly an Associate Professor. Apart from coaching, I develop and teach courses for doctoral supervisors in Denmark and across Europe and run Writing Bootcamps for academic writers. My current research interests are in the areas of PhD coaching and education of doctoral supervisors.