EURAXESS Smart Talks

Episodes

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  Prof. Inta Mierina "The Idea Comes First: Excellence before the proposal" 12.10.2026 57m

  In this episode, Prof. Inta Mieriņa, sociologist and ERC grantee from Latvia, shares her ERC journey and research on migration, social integration and migrant reception in Central and Eastern Europe. She discusses the inspiration behind her project, the value of international mobility and networks, and offers practical advice on preparing for an ERC application and interview - from seeking critical feedback to being ambitious and persistent. Send us a message!
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  Beyond Papers and Grants: Brian Cahill on Researcher Mental Health, Networks, and Institutional Change 15.07.2026 25m

  In this episode of EURAXESS Smart Talks, we sit down with Dr. Brian Cahill — Grant Manager of the ReMO COST Action (CA19117) on Researcher Mental Health for a wide-ranging conversation about why researcher wellbeing has become one of academia's most pressing, and most overlooked, issues. Brian traces his own path into this work back to his years chairing the Marie Curie Alumni Association, where he became a first point of contact for early-career researchers hit by funding cliffs, precarious ...
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  Stress-Testing Resilience: An MSCA Postdoc Journey in Manufacturing AI with Tanel Aruväli 08.07.2026 21m

  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 simple ruler analogy, and how VUCA-era disruptions (geopolitical tension, supply chain shocks, energy crises) ...
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  Surfing the Waves of Discovery: Exploring Hidden Water on Other Worlds 01.07.2026 51m

  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 subsurfaces using electromagnetic waves. With publications in Nature and Science, she is a world-renow...
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  Beyond Burnout: Building Institutional Support for Researchers' Mental Health 16.06.2026 24m

  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-assessment tool helping universities audit their own mental-health support across eight key areas — and shares result...
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  Mindful Connections: Academia, Communication, and AI in Mental Health 29.05.2026 23m

  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 culture, personal career decisions, and the rise of AI, this episode covers the full landscape of w...
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  Understanding the ERA Dimension of Horizon Europe: Strategies, Insights & Real Project Experiences 19.03.2026 58m

  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 Point, ERA specialistDamir Hasković – Coordinator of the Next Tech Talents projectKārlis Krēsliņš...
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  Radiance & Research Mobility: Dr. Juliane Sauer on Shaping MSCA Support 06.03.2026 31m

  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 initiative. Together, we explore how Radiance is working to harmonize support for MSCA National Conta...
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  Mobility That Matters: How Moving Shapes a Scientist’s Career 25.02.2026 25m

  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 cutting‑edge project investigating the link between endometriosis and ovarian cancer through advance...
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  Crossing Borders and Bridging Disciplines with Dr. Antonino Puglisi 11.02.2026 16m

  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 professional identity. From postdoctoral adventures abroad to leading impactful projects on polym...
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  How Deindustrialization Shapes Politics: Lessons from an ERC Starting Grant 04.02.2026 26m

  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, and her experience applying for—and winning—an ERC Starting Grant. She shares candid insights int...
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  Dr. Jennifer Kefauver on Mechanobiology, Mobility, and MSCA Fellowships 26.01.2026 32m

  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—through her interdisciplinary postdoctoral work in structural and membrane biology, to her curren...
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  Experiences of American researchers in EU: Social humanities field in focus 17.12.2025 46m

  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 work, and practical advice for early-stage researchers considering moves between the EU and the US. ...
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  Dual Careers, Global Mobility & Scientific Life with Prof Jessica Cauchard and Dr Michael Levant 04.12.2025 35m

  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 countries, disciplines, and career systems. From navigating the “two-body problem” to balancing famil...
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  Beyond Relocation: How Dual Career Services Transform Global Mobility at Universities 15.11.2025 29m

  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 essential for retention, well-being, and tapping into hidden talent pools. She also offers insights into...
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  Let’s get science out of the lab! A conversation with Professor Marina Joubert 29.10.2025 31m

  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 scientists can better engage with society, build trust, and navigate the evolving landscape of science c...
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  Science Meets Startups: Inside the EURAXESS START-up Tour 15.10.2025 23m

  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 the EURAXESS Startup Hub, an initiative connecting researchers with opportunities in scientific ent...
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  How combining linguistics and mathematics turned into a successful company 08.10.2025 28m

  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 the ethical dimensions of AI, the challenges of launching a startup in a crowded tech landscape, a...
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  Strategic Intelligence, Space, and Career Mobility with Dr. Frank Danesy 24.09.2025 1h 12m

  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 Orbit8, a venture focused on career guidance, Dr. Danesy offers a unique perspective on navigating hi...
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  Entrepreneurship in Academia - From Idea to Prototype 08.09.2025 27m

  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 research and innovation. She opens up about her teaching philosophy, startup challenges, and the art of ...