Blogs
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Ilias Bellas
Ilias Bellas, Dr of Philosophy in Computational Mechanics/ Mechanical Engineer, and researcher at the University of Thessaly, shares insights into his research journey, the mentors who have shaped his career, what motivated him to pursue a path in research, and the challenges that have contributed to his growth as a researcher.
Research Appreciation Day: Research Starts with Great Support
On Research Appreciation Day, it is worth taking a moment not only to celebrate scientific discoveries but also to recognise the people behind them and the journey that leads to those breakthroughs. Every accomplished researcher was once an early-stage researcher, navigating the challenges of building skills, gaining experience, and establishing a career in research. SMART…
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Ivana Manevska
Ivana Manevska, a PhD candidate in Heritage Interpretation, shares insights into the beginnings of her research career, the mentors who shaped her path, the experience she gained at the Minds Europe Institute, and the challenges that have contributed to her growth as a researcher.
Voices of early-stage researchers: Dunja Istrat
Dunja Istrat, a PhD student and intern researcher at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, in the field of Environmental and Occupational Safety Engineering, reflects on her research journey, the challenges she has faced, and the experiences that have shaped her scientific career.
What’s the Roadmap from Micro-learning to Certification?
If you’re an early-stage researcher, chances are you’ve already built a powerful set of skills: you manage complex tasks, work with uncertainty, collaborate across teams, produce evidence, communicate ideas, and deliver under pressure. This blog post offers a simple idea you can use immediately: Stack your skills, one small, credible achievement at a time, until…
Voices of early-stage researchers: Ivana Biondić Jazbec
Ivana Biondić Jazbec obtained her Master's degree in Finance from the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Zagreb in 2017 and spent a semester at Chemnitz University of Technology in Germany through the ERASMUS+ programme. She currently works as a Research Assistant in the Department for European Policies and is pursuing a…
From Lab to Market: A Practical Guide to “Industry-Ready” Research Skills
The green and digital transition needs these researchers. Industry needs them. Public sector organisations need them. But the bridge between "published a paper" and "shipped a product" does not build itself. This is exactly the problem that SMART Researchers was designed to solve, and why we are part of it.
Voices of early-stage researchers: Antonela Alvir
Antonela Alvir, a self-employed entrepreneur and PhD candidate at the University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, is an early-stage researcher. She is currently in the final stage of her PhD. Following the empirical study and the presentation of its findings to the Doctoral committee in February 2026, she is now focused on…
The Hiring Question: Do Certifications Matter?
A reality check for early-stage researchers – and a closer look at when certifications actually matter. If you’re an early-stage researcher, you’ve […]
Voices of early-stage researchers: Mladenka Novaković Bežanović
Mladenka Novakovic Bezanovic, Teaching Assistant with a PhD at the University of Novi Sad’s Faculty of Technical Sciences, reflects on her research journey, the challenges she has faced, and the experiences that have shaped her scientific career.
Entrepreneurship Mindset for Researchers: Turning Research Skills into Real-World Impact
When researchers hear the word entrepreneurship, many immediately think of startups, investors, and pitching. Yet an entrepreneurial mindset is much broader, and far more relevant, than launching a company. At its core, it is a way of thinking that enables people to transform knowledge into value for society, industry, policy, and communities.
Education Without a Blackboard: How SMART Researchers Is Rethinking What It Means to Learn
Education, we are often told, is about preparing people for the future. For early-stage researchers (ESRs) across Europe, the challenges of the future have a habit of arriving early - short contracts, unclear career paths, and expectations that stretch far beyond the lab or library. So, what does education look like when the classroom is…