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

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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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