Dual Careers, Global Mobility & Scientific Life with Prof Jessica Cauchard and Dr Michael Levant

Описание: 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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