"An eye-opener for my research": How the European Talent Academy creates new perspectives

Alessia, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. What motivated you to participate in the European Talent Academy 2024?
There were two main reasons. First, I was still relatively new at TUM, and I saw this program as a great opportunity to meet other researchers and get a better understanding of the university.

Secondly, I wanted to integrate more interdisciplinary work into my academic practice – and that’s exactly what the European Talent Academy is about: fostering exchange across disciplines and collaborating with people from different academic backgrounds. In this respect, the program was a fantastic chance for me.

What aspects of the program did you find particularly valuable?
Above all, I appreciated the chance to learn new things – especially about the variety of available funding opportunities. Until then, I had been fortunate to always have funding for my research and never had to actively seek additional options. ETA opened my eyes to what else is possible out there.

I also found the process of writing project proposals to be a valuable experience. Last year, I applied for two calls for proposals—and was successful with both. This really changed my perspective on what I can achieve with my research ideas and how I can develop them further.

And, of course, meeting inspiring people was a real highlight – what started as initial conversations evolved into genuine friendships and valuable professional connections.

What challenges did you face during the program?
The program requires time, energy, and genuine commitment. If you really want to benefit from it, you need to be ready to fully engage. Another challenge for me was figuring out how to contribute my knowledge and expertise to other disciplines. Interdisciplinary collaboration sounds exciting in theory – but in practice, it’s often complex. People don’t always speak the same language, even if they share similar goals. But that’s also what makes it interesting.

How has participating in ETA influenced your research?
Based on the ideas I developed during the program, I applied for an individual research fellowship. This financial support gives me the freedom to explore a research topic that is a bit outside the typical focus of our department – and to develop a more independent line of research.

The project idea we developed deals with the transition to green hydrogen in the Global South from a sociological and social perspective. There are many studies on the technical and economic feasibility of such projects, but less research on their social acceptance within local communities and the social impacts they may have.

With this idea, I applied for the Add-on Fellowship from the Joachim Herz Foundation, which supports interdisciplinary research. So the connection to ETA is quite clear. I believe that my participation in ETA and the development of this interdisciplinary project significantly strengthened my application.

What advice would you give to future ETA participants?
Definitely apply if the topic fits your research interests. I would encourage everyone to give it a try – it’s really worth it.

And a key piece of advice: Engagement is great, but don’t put too much pressure on yourselves! I had the impression that some participants were trying to understand everything immediately and expected clear results right away. However, ETA is not about developing a finished team or project in a short period of time. It’s more about developing new skills, getting the initial spark for fresh ideas, and embracing a different way of thinking. For me, it was the first time I tried to develop a project with someone I hadn’t met before.

So my advice is: Don’t get discouraged if everything isn’t immediately clear or if visible results don’t emerge right away. Use the experience as a learning process and see it as a long-term opportunity that will support you on your journey.