EURAXESS Smart Talks

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, we sit down with Dr. Tanel Aruväli, an MSCA postdoctoral fellow originally from Estonia (TalTech), now researching at the University of Malta. Tanel shares the story behind his research on simulation-based stress testing for resilience assessment in manufacturing companies — explaining what "resilience" really means for a factory floor using a sim...

 Today we take you beyond Earth to the icy moons, dusty plains, and hidden subsurface oceans of our Solar System. Our guest is Professor Elena Pettinelli, a physicist and planetary scientist from Roma Tre University. Prof. Pettinelli is the Principal Investigator of the ERC-funded project SWIM (Surfing radio Waves to detect liquid water in the solar system), which investigates planetary subsurface...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Elisa Garcia Garcia, of EURAXESS Spain (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, FECYT), about one of academia's most under-addressed issues: researchers' mental health. Drawing on her own move from bench researcher to research manager, Elisa breaks down what "institutional support" really means in practice, introduces SATIS — a new self-...

About This Episode What does it really take to stay mentally well in academia? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gábor Kismihók — a researcher at the intersection of learning analytics, career development, and wellbeing — for an honest, grounded conversation about mental health in the research community. From the early warning signs supervisors should watch for, to the role of institutional cu...

How does the European Research Area (ERA) translate from policy vision into concrete opportunities for researchers and institutions—especially those in widening countries? In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , we dive deep into the ERA dimension of Horizon Europe and explore how to build competitive, high‑impact WIDERA proposals. You’ll hear expert insights from: Siiri Kolka – National Contact...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, we sit down with Dr. Juliane Sauer, Director and founding member of OXYGENEUM, and former MSCA National Contact Point for Switzerland. With over a decade of experience supporting researchers across Europe, Juliane shares her journey from academia to consultancy, her leadership in the Net4Mobility project, and her current role in the ambitious Radiance initi...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , hosts Daria Aksenova and Jovan Aranđelović sit down with Dr. Monika Golińska —a biochemist, cancer researcher, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow whose work bridges leading European institutions including the Medical University of Łódź and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. Dr. Golińska shares her journey from early student exchanges to leading a c...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, we sit down with Dr. Antonino (Nino) Puglisi — a Chartered Chemist, seasoned researcher, and European advisor at UK Research and Innovation. With more than 20 years of international experience across Italy, the UK, Austria, and Turkey, Nino shares a deeply personal and insightful journey of how research mobility shaped his scientific career, worldview, and...

In this episode of Euraxess Smart Talks, we speak with Anne‑Marie Jeannet, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Milan and Principal Investigator of the ERC Starting Grant project DESPO – Deindustrializing Societies and the Political Consequences. Anne‑Marie reflects on her journey into social science, her unconventional academic path from the humanities to quantitative sociology,...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , hosts Daria Aksjonova and Jovan Aranđelović sit down with Dr. Jennifer Kefauver, a Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellow whose career spans world‑class research centers in the US, Switzerland, and Spain. Jennifer shares her journey from earning her PhD at Scripps Research—studying mechanically activated ion channels in Nobel Prize–winning laboratories...

Anthropologist and legal scholar Dr. Niklas Hultin (Associate Professor, George Mason University) joins EURAXESS Smart Talks to unpack what it really means to build a career at the intersection of anthropology, law, history, and international relations—with a focus on security practices in West Africa. We explore his transatlantic journey (Sweden ↔ United States), consulting and expert-witness wor...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks we speak with a remarkable dual-career academic couple: Dr. Michael Levant, a physical chemistry and microfluidics researcher at TotalEnergies, and Prof. Jessica Cauchard, Full Professor for Embodied Intelligent Interaction at TU Wien and a pioneer in human-drone interaction. Together, they share their deeply personal and highly practical journey across coun...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, we sit down with Mary Kagendo Kobia, Senior Global Mobility Consultant at the University of Copenhagen. Mary shares her decade-long experience supporting international researchers and their families as they transition to life in Denmark. From practical relocation challenges to creating a sense of belonging, Mary explains why dual career services are essenti...

In this inspiring episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , we sit down with Dr. Marina Joubert, a trailblazer in science communication from Stellenbosch University. With a rich background in food science, journalism, and agricultural sciences, Dr. Joubert shares her journey from the lab to the public sphere, advocating for evidence-based discourse and the democratization of science. We explore how scient...

Guest: Prof. Milan Zdravković — Associate Professor and leading Applied AI researcher at the University of Niš, Serbia; Coordinator of the Serbian EURAXESS Network; Leader of the Scientific Startup Entrepreneurship Hub in the EURAXESS Hub project. 📄 Episode Description In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , hosts Darja Aksjonova and Jovan Arandjelović welcome Prof. Milan Zdravković to discuss...

In this episode, we sit down with Marco Antonio Stranisci, a postdoctoral researcher in Natural Language Processing at the University of Turin and founder of aequa-tech , an AI startup focused on social impact. Marco shares his journey from humanities to computer science, his activism against hate speech, and the creation of Debunker-Assistant , a tool designed to combat misinformation. We explore...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Frank Danesy – a strategist, academic, and innovator whose career spans the armed forces, aerospace, academia, and entrepreneurship. With over two decades at the European Space Agency , Dr. Danesy shares insights on strategic intelligence , career mobility , and the evolving landscape of research leadership . From his early days in the military to co-founding...

In this inspiring episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , hosts Darja Aksjonova and Jovan Aranđelović sit down with Dr. Artemis Kontou — a polymath whose career spans mechanical engineering, entrepreneurship, academia, and music. From her PhD in tribology at Imperial College London to co-founding a privacy-focused startup with over 1 million downloads, Artemis shares how she bridges the worlds of resear...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , we explore the wealth of opportunities available to international researchers in Germany. Our expert guests provide first-hand insights into research mobility, academic support systems, and practical strategies for thriving in Germany’s research ecosystem. Guests: Vitaliy Bondarenko – Senior Scientific Officer, EURAXESS Germany Network Coordinator  Imme Bu...

In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks , we dive into the fascinating world of scientific diplomacy with Dr. Marco Borra , an experienced scientist and diplomat. Dr. Borra shares his non-linear career journey , from his early days in marine biology and molecular research to his current role as Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Paris . We explore the intersection of science and policy ,...

"There is a lack of deep understanding of how science works, making it difficult for society to truly listen to the voice of science. Strengthening this understanding is crucial—and one way to do so is by encouraging more scientists to engage with science policy." We are honored to welcome Prof. Robbert Dijkgraaf , renowned physicist and former Minister of Science and Education in the Ne...

The need for skilled and professional research managers grows as research becomes more complex and competitive. These experts play a key role in supporting researchers—from identifying funding opportunities to navigating institutional processes to promoting research excellence. Join us to explore how the RM ROADMAP project is paving the way for broader recognition, professional development, and ne...

Many Horizon Europe funding schemes focus on career development for researchers, but institutional change is also in the spotlight. Whether you're:  An early-career researcher seeking new opportunities, A research manager looking to stay ahead of the latest trends, A university representative exploring how EU initiatives impact HR strategies, or An industry leader wanting to understand the sk...

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are the European Union’s flagship funding programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers. MSCA support research excellence, mobility, and collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines. They offer funding for doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowships, staff exchanges, and co-funded programs, fostering career development at...

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are the European Union’s flagship funding programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers. MSCA support research excellence, mobility, and collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines. They offer funding for doctoral training, postdoctoral fellowships, staff exchanges, and co-funded programs, fostering career development at...