Blogs
The Problem Isn’t the Problem: Why Researchers Need to Learn how to Solve Things
Problem-solving is much more than a useful extra skill. It is part of what makes research possible. Researchers develop and implement solutions to practical, operational and conceptual problems, often in situations where there is no obvious answer and where the problem itself may change as new evidence emerges.
Research Has a Direction. Do You? Strategic Thinking for Early-Stage Researchers
For early-stage researchers, strategic thinking is not about having a five-year plan carved in stone. Research rarely follows a straight line. Questions change, results surprise you, and opportunities appear that were not in the original proposal. It is about learning to see the bigger picture while still dealing with the work in front of you.
Why Being a Good Researcher Starts with Managing Yourself
When people imagine a successful researcher, they often picture someone with brilliant ideas, advanced technical skills, or an impressive publication record. Rarely do they imagine someone carefully planning their week, setting boundaries, or taking a proper lunch break.
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Milica Kovač
Milica Kovač, PhD, Research Associate at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, shares insights into her research journey, the challenges she has faced, the importance of professional connections and mentorship, and her advice for early-career researchers.
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Sandra Kolarić
Sandra Kolarić, PhD Fellow in Engineering Management, shares insights into her research journey, the role of mentors along the way, the tools she uses, how she builds and maintains professional connections, and more.
How Researchers Can Maximise Their Impact Beyond Academic Publication
Today, universities, research funders and society increasingly ask a different question: What difference did your research make beyond academia? Did it help shape a public policy? Improve professional practice? Inspire innovation? Support local communities? Influence public understanding? Or simply provide evidence that helped someone make a better decision?
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Nadiia Khakimova
Nadiia Khakimova, PhD Fellow in Chemical Engineering, shares insights into her research journey, highlighting the value of international experience, collaboration, and mentorship.
Voices of Early-Stage Researchers: Dunja Kobiljski
Dunja Kobiljski, MSc in Engineering Management and IT Project Manager, shares insights into her research journey and the motivations that led her to pursue the field of Agentic AI.
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…
What Is the European Framework for Research Careers – and Why It Matters for ESRs?
Many ESRs often see their career options as limited to academia. At the same time, employers outside universities may not fully understand the skills, competencies, and value that researchers can bring to their organisations. This is where the European Framework for Research Careers steps in.
Talent Development Ecosystems Within SMART Researchers: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
Europe’s next research leaders are in the making. The SMART Researchers project combines structured training, mentorship, and cross-sector mobility to foster talent […]
From Green to Digital: The Skills Researchers Need for the Twin Transitions
Once upon a time, two major forces – the green and digital transitions, also known as the Twin Transitions – began reshaping […]
Building Sustainable Research Careers: The Support Young Researchers Really Need
Early-Stage Researchers Face Uncertain Future They spend their days solving the world’s toughest problems – yet struggle to navigate their own research […]