EURAXESS Smart Talks
The EURAXESS Smart Talks podcast for talents is your personal guide to Research Careers, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commision. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
EURAXESS Smart Talks
Dual Careers, Global Mobility & Scientific Life with Prof Jessica Cauchard and Dr Michael Levant
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