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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