Expressivity and Voice in Doctoral Communication (417)

1 October 2026

Dr Kathinka Salzmann

This workshop enables PhD candidates to develop a clear, embodied and sustainable oral presence in academic contexts specific to doctoral studies: teaching, research presentations, conferences, thesis defenses, scientific meetings, academic research competitions, etc. Through progressive body- and voice-based work, participants explore the relationships between posture, breathing, voice, scientific intention, and stress regulation. The workshop is specifically designed for the doctoral context, where oral communication is not only a tool for knowledge transmission and academic legitimacy, but also a key factor in managing cognitively and emotionally demanding situations.

Special attention is given to understanding how stress manifests in the body and the voice, and how it can be regulated through concrete, practical tools. Rather than eliminating stress, the workshop focuses on transforming it into a supportive resource for clarity, presence and expressivity.

Workshop content

• Physical warm-up, grounding and body awareness
• Breathing techniques for voice support and stress regulation
• Breath management over time in demanding speaking situations
• Vocal warm-up and vocal hygiene (resonance, diction, articulation)
• Voice projection and adaptation to different academic formats (seminars, lectures, conferences, competitions)
• Expressivity and modulation (rhythm, pace, intensity, pitch) as tools for clarity and stress reduction
• Reading aloud and spontaneous reformulation of scientific content
• Simulations of doctoral speaking situations (presentations, concept explanations, Q&A sessions, academic competitions, etc.)
• Individual and group feedback
• Integration of transferable tools into daily doctoral and academic practice

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Use posture and breathing to support their voice in a sustainable and grounded way,
• Regulate stress and nervous tension before and during academic speaking situations,
• Project their voice clearly without tension or fatigue,
• Modulate expressivity to make scientific content more intelligible, engaging and confident,
• Adapt oral communication strategies to various academic contexts,
• Apply practical tools to prevent vocal fatigue and manage pressure,
• Speak with greater confidence, presence and emotional 

University of Geneva

Date: Thursday 1 October 2026

Place: Universtiy of Geneva

Schedule: 9 am - 1 pm

Trainer:

Kathinka Salzmann (PhD) holds a doctorate in French literature and translation studies from the University of Geneva. She has extensive experience in the performing arts, artistic direction and cultural mediation.
She regularly works as a trainer in expressivity, voice and oral presence in higher education, as well as a consultant and role-play actor in leadership assessment and development contexts in academic and institutional settings across French- and German-speaking Switzerland. Her approach combines academic rigor, embodied practice and tools drawn from theatre, with particular attention to the specific demands of doctoral and academic environments, including stress regulation and high-stakes communication.

Participants are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train between the city of their university and the location of the workshop (half-fare card, 2nd class).

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