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 specialist
• Damir Hasković – Coordinator of the Next Tech Talents project
• Kārlis Krēsliņš – Project partner and university representative

Together, they unpack the ERA pillars, discuss what makes a successful ERA proposal, and share hands‑on experiences from the recently funded Next Tech Talents initiative—focused on strengthening deep‑tech ecosystems and improving researcher career pathways in Europe.

Whether you’re a researcher, proposal writer, project manager, or institutional leader, this episode helps you understand the ERA logic, avoid common pitfalls, and recognize how ERA‑funded actions support systemic change across Europe.

Timestamped Questions & Segments

00:00:02 – Welcome to the episode
00:00:35 – Introduction of guests and topic

Interview with Siiri Kolka

00:01:40 – What is the ERA dimension of Horizon Europe and why does it matter?
00:12:06 – What makes a competitive ERA proposal?
00:14:00 – Why is understanding the ERA policy agenda crucial?
00:17:20 – How should applicants think about consortium composition?
00:18:55 – What should applicants check when calls have a “portfolio approach”?

Interview with Damir Hasković

00:19:36 – How did you organize your proposal-writing journey for Next Tech Talents?
00:23:11 – What makes an impact section convincing?
00:25:55 – What is the Next Tech Talents project about?
00:31:02 – Who is in your consortium and why?
00:33:20 – Tips for applicants preparing proposals under ERA/WIDERA

Interview with Kārlis Krēsliņš

00:35:25 – First impressions and reflections on ERA insights shared today
00:37:20 – Why did your institution join this consortium?
00:40:01 – Your role in the proposal and how it translated into project duties
00:46:00 – Can ERA projects lead to national reforms (doctoral schools, career models)?

Closing Reflections

00:55:20 – Siiri’s final remarks and key takeaways
00:58:30 – Episode wrap‑up

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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 Contact Points (NCPs) across countries, improve researcher mobility, and leverage digital tools—including matchmaking platforms and AI—to strengthen collaboration.

Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or simply curious about how the EU fosters scientific careers and international cooperation, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of research support.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

•Juliane Sauer’s career path: from communication scientist to EU research consultant
•The Radiance project: scope, funding, and goals
•Ensuring consistency among MSCA NCPs across countries
•Peer learning, benchmarking, and tailored training approaches
•Quantitative & qualitative evaluation methods for NCP support
•Adapting to diverse target groups: doctoral networks, postdocs, industry partners
•Matchmaking platform for researchers and institutions
•The role of AI in supporting—but not replacing—human expertise

⏱️ Question Timestamps

•00:57 – Introduction to Dr. Juliane Sauer’s background
•02:38 – What is the Radiance project and its objectives?
•05:56 – How will consistency among NCPs be ensured across countries?
•09:10 – Evaluating success: indicators and feedback mechanisms
•10:06 – Adapting Radiance to different MSCA schemes and target groups
•13:30 – Tailoring support for widening and third countries
•13:33 – The matchmaking platform: how it works and why it matters
•16:00 – Exploring AI tools: balancing automation with human touch

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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 advanced spatial biology and photoacoustic imaging. She opens up about the realities of research mobility, the value of intersectoral experience in healthcare policy, and the challenges researchers face in building sustainable careers across borders.

Whether you're an early-career researcher considering mobility or a seasoned scientist navigating nonlinear career paths, this conversation offers insights, advice, and thoughtful reflections on the future of research in Europe.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Dr. Monika Golińska’s path into research and early motivations
• First experiences with international mobility and Erasmus exchanges
• Challenges of relocating: bureaucracy, adaptation, and institutional culture
• The impact and value of Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA)
• Intersectoral mobility: transitioning into the UK National Health Service
• Transferable skills between academia, healthcare, and policy
• Returning to academia and rekindling a passion for research
• Work-life balance for mobile researchers
• Career precarity, risk-taking, and planning next steps after fellowships
• Suggestions for more sustainable mobility programs
• The future of European mobility and support networks for researchers

⏱️ Detailed Timestamps & Guiding Questions

00:00 – 00:01 | Intro

00:53 – 01:18 | Guest Introduction

01:24 – 02:41 | Q1: “Tell us more about yourself and your career mobility.”

02:41 – 04:06 | Q2: “What was your first experience with research mobility?”

04:07 – 05:31 | Q3: “How challenging is adapting to a new country?”

05:31 – 07:00 | Q4: “What role do European mobility programs play?”

07:00 – 09:22 | Q5: “Have you experienced intersectoral mobility?”

09:22 – 11:20 | Q6: “What was the impact of working in healthcare?”

11:20 – 13:16 | Q7: “What drew you back to academia?”

13:16 – 15:00 | Q8: “How responsive is policy to research evidence?”

15:00 – 18:02 | Q9: “What are the opportunities and drawbacks of mobility programs?”

18:02 – 19:41 | Q10: “How can researchers deal with career uncertainty?”

19:41 – 21:25 | Q11: “How do we stay healthy during mobility?”

21:25 – 24:03 | Q12: “What’s the future of mobility in Europe?”

24:03 – 25:01 | Closing

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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 polymer chemistry and rare diseases, Nino discusses the transformative role of mobility, the value of interdisciplinary thinking, and the importance of supportive communities such as the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA).
He also reflects on the challenges researchers face — from isolation to funding instability — and offers practical advice for early‑career scientists navigating international paths.

Whether you're a researcher considering mobility, a policymaker, or simply curious about how chemistry, culture, and policy intertwine, this episode offers an inspiring, thoughtful, and honest perspective on what it means to build a career across borders.

⏱️ Questions & Timestamps

Below are the main questions asked during the conversation, based on the transcript’s time markers.

00:01:41 – Introduction of the guest

“Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain your current research or professional role?”

00:02:49 – First experience with research mobility

“What was your first experience with research mobility, and what motivated you to take this step?”

00:05:31 – Impact of mobility

“How has moving across borders shaped your career path and personal development?”

00:07:39 – Opportunities created by international mobility

“What are the biggest opportunities that international mobility creates for researchers?”

00:09:40 – Challenges of mobility

“What are the main challenges you experienced or observed in international mobility?”

00:10:44 – Institutional support

“How can institutions and policymakers better support researchers in overcoming mobility-related challenges?”

00:12:20 – Networking and collaborations

“How has mobility influenced your collaborations and professional relationships?”

00:13:56 – Advice for early‑career researchers

“What advice would you give to early-career researchers considering mobility as part of their path?”

00:14:44 – Future of research mobility in Europe

“How do you imagine the future of research mobility in Europe, especially from your perspective as an NCP?”

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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 into rejection, persistence, and how research ideas evolve through failure.

The conversation dives deep into the political consequences of deindustrialization, challenging dominant assumptions that link economic decline directly to voting behaviour. Drawing on findings from her ERC project, Anne‑Marie explains why community, family, memory, and industrial nostalgia matter more than annual economic indicators—and why her project took an unexpected but productive turn when its central hypothesis did not hold.

This episode is especially valuable for early‑career researchers, offering practical advice on ERC applications, proposal writing, interviews, project deviations, amendments, and the realities of managing a large grant—particularly during disruptions such as COVID‑19 and institutional mobility.

⏱️ Question & Segment Timestamps

00:00 – 01:50 | Introduction
Welcome to Euraxess Smart Talks and introduction of Anne‑Marie Jeannet and the DESPO project.

01:50 – 03:35 | Academic background
How Anne‑Marie transitioned from history and the humanities into social science and sociology.

03:35 – 06:50 | Applying for the ERC Starting Grant
How she decided to apply, early rejections, persistence, and improving the proposal over time.

06:50 – 08:40 | What makes a strong ERC idea?
Why ERC projects are about big ideas and new avenues, not small research gaps.

08:40 – 10:35 | Deindustrialization and politics
How her project reframed the political effects of deindustrialization beyond jobs and unemployment.

10:35 – 11:55 | External shocks and project reality
Political changes, COVID‑19, and whether the project followed its original plan.

11:55 – 14:20 | When the core hypothesis fails
Why finding “no effect” changed the direction of the research—and why that matters.

14:20 – 15:30 | Industrial nostalgia
The paradox of longing for factory work that people do not want to do themselves.

15:30 – 16:55 | Media, memory, and romanticizing the past
How collective memory and media narratives shape perceptions of industrial history.

17:00 – 19:30 | Deviations, amendments, and ERC flexibility
How to legally and scientifically manage changes to an ERC project.

19:30 – 22:55 | Advice for early‑career researchers
Proposal writing, abstracts, mock interviews, and learning from ERC winners.

22:55 – 24:55 | Portability and institutional challenges
Moving institutions with an ERC grant and why starting grants can be slower than expected.

24:55 – 26:15 | Closing reflections
Final thoughts on challenges, transparency, and success in large research projects.

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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 current research on rare laminopathies at the Spanish National Research Council.

Together, we explore how mechanical forces shape cell behavior, why mechanobiology matters for human health, what it's like to transition from the US to Europe as a researcher, and how MSCA fellowships can open doors to international careers. Jennifer also reflects on work culture differences, navigating immigration bureaucracy, language challenges, and the role of public healthcare and parental leave in shaping a sustainable academic life.

Whether you're an early‑career scientist considering mobility or simply curious about the frontiers of mechanobiology, this episode is filled with practical insights, honest reflections, and inspiration.

🧩 Key Topics Covered

• Jennifer’s academic path: from Scripps Research to the University of Geneva and Spain
• Mechanobiology explained: how cells sense and respond to mechanical forces
• Structural biology, membrane protein purification, and cryo‑EM
• The value and challenges of Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Fellowships
• Work culture differences between the US, Switzerland, and Spain
• The impact of public healthcare, and social protections
• The burden of administrative tasks and immigration bureaucracy
• The importance of language learning for integration
• Advice for early‑career researchers on mobility, networking & choosing projects
• Future plans: stabilizing in Spain and pursuing ERC funding

⏱️ Questions & Timestamps

00:02:34 — Jennifer, could you tell us about your career path in academia and why you applied for the MSCA grant?
00:06:11 — How did you identify your research topic and select your host lab for the MSCA fellowship?
00:07:01 — Can you explain your research field and what mechanobiology means in practical terms?
00:09:00 — What are the challenges of doing experiments and simulations at the cellular scale?
00:11:57 — Is there real‑world applicability for your fundamental mechanobiology research?
00:12:57 — How might therapeutic approaches—like gene therapy or epigenetic drugs—play a role in treating these rare diseases?
00:14:51 — What are the differences between rare diseases and their treatment challenges?
00:15:02 — How would you compare the research environment in the US vs Europe?
00:17:17 — How did work culture differ between the US, Switzerland, and Spain?
00:18:52 — What was your experience with healthcare, maternity leave, and social protections in Spain?
00:21:01 — How difficult was the immigration and bureaucratic process?
00:23:05 — How important was learning the local language in Switzerland and Spain?
00:25:02 — Did your research progress according to plan during your MSCA projects?
00:26:32 — What are your future career plans?
00:27:38 — Do

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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. Expect candid reflections on funding landscapes, teaching vs. research roles, work–life balance, language and cultural adaptation, and why you should “never let someone say no for you” when applying for grants or opportunities.

⏱️ Question Timestamps (Guide)

Note: Timestamps reference the episode transcript’s timecodes.

• 00:01:29 — Introduction to field & academic journey
  “Could you introduce us to your field of study and your academic journey?”
• 00:03:43 — Was academia the first choice? Why move to Sweden’s government agency?
• 00:06:44 — Teaching vs. research: preference and why
  Integrating both, liberal-arts background, and post-COVID teaching reflections.
• 00:13:00 — EU vs. US: funding structures & work–life balance
  NSF experience, relative acceptance rates impression, foundations, and cultural norms around weekend work/admin.
• 00:18:46 — Is weekend work “normal” in the US?
  Flexibility vs. workload; classroom hours and publishing expectations.
• 00:22:16 —Teaching, research, and service—how it’s framed vs. the reality.
• 00:24:02 — Advice for US researchers moving to Europe
  Language requirements, cultural communication, immigration logistics, family considerations. [
• 00:31:00 — Is it easier to move EU→US or US→EU?
  Prestige, institutional recognition, and field-specific patterns.
• 00:34:00 — Challenges & opportunities shaping the career path
  Networking, grant-writing courage, and the Cambridge postdoc “no → yes” story.
• 00:40:00 — Why return to the US?
• 00:41:20 — Full-time professor vs. external engagement
  University support for consulting/expert-witness work and public engagement.
• 00:42:50 — Final advice & key takeaways for early-stage researchers
  Apply widely, stay active in your field’s discourse, embrace transatlantic opportunities.
• 00:45:50 — Closing and credits
  Hosts, editor, and dedication.

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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 family, mobility, professorship hiring cultures, and industrial vs. academic pressures, this conversation offers a rare look into what it takes to build two successful research careers while living abroad.

This episode is a warm, insightful, and honest look at the human side of scientific careers.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Career paths & research identities
• The dual-career challenge (“two-body problem”)
  Navigating academic vs. industry positions across countries.
• Mobility experiences in different countries
  Cultural differences in higher education, research support, and hiring systems.
• TU Wien’s dual-career program
  How Jessica’s professorship offer emerged and how the program supported their move.
• Balancing parenthood with global career transitions
  Visa concerns, childcare access, and adjusting start dates.
• Industry vs. academia cultures
  Confidential research, publication pressure, KPIs, and expectations.
• Language learning, cultural integration & communication
  What makes academic life easier in a new country.
• Advice for early-career researchers on mobility
  Why leaving the comfort zone accelerates growth.
• Cross-disciplinarity within a dual-career household
  Unexpected synergies between microfluidics, HCI, robotics, and interaction design.

⏱️ Timestamps

01:31–04:00 — Research Backgrounds

04:00–07:00 — Industry vs. Academia Pathways

10:55–13:00 — Research Support & Mentoring Cultures

13:00–16:00 — Finding two fulfilling positions, timing, relocation.

13:20–15:20 — TU Wien

15:40–17:00 — Becoming Parents While Relocating

17:00–20:00 — First Impressions of Austria

21:00–23:30 — Publish or Perish vs. Confidential R&D

24:20–26:00 — Cross-Disciplinary Inspiration at Home

29:30–31:00 — Language Skills & Adaptation

30:30–33:00 — Advice for Early-Career Researchers

33:00–35:00 — Cultural Differences in Confidence & Networking

35:00 — Closing & Credits

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