Organized at Instituto Superior Técnico by Isabel Sá-Correia and Jorge H. Leitão, a joint workshop of two FCT-funded doctoral programs, BIOTECnico-Biotechnology and Biosciences, directed by DBE and iBB, and AEM-Applied and Environmental Microbiology, in which DBE and iBB participate, took place by the Zoom platform on February 15 (dedicated to AEM) and 16 (dedicated to BIOTECnico). The external supervisory committees (ESC) of both programs, which include highly renowned academics in the areas of the PhD programs, were present and participated very actively . We are in a great debt to them, it was a privilege to learn from them. PhD students and alumni were on the focus of the workshop program and clearly demonstrated the level of their advanced training in the framework of BIOTECnico and AEM. The ESCs were very impressed about how these two fabulous programs were designed and managed and how was built a culture that encourages PhD candidates to take initiative, grow and prosper. We thank the PhD students and alumni for their impressive scientific presentations and their mature views on the doctoral programs. Congratulations to the directive boards, the students, the alumni, and their supervisors and collaborators.