Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach

Date of events	22.01.2026 r.
Form and place of training	online (MS Teams) (Europe/Brussels)
duration of the webinar	2.00 – 4.00 pm. CET
Training participants	university staff
Thematic category	webinar

 

The webinar is organized in the frame of ERA Talent project (101103476) in collaboration with PATTERN project (101159751) under Horizon Europe.

Introduction

Mr Achilleas Tsiligeridis, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH)
1. The International Postdoc Journey: Challenges and Opportunities

• Short-term contracts
• Visa/residency uncertainty and administrative issues
• Adapting to academic culture in another country
• Integration into local networks
• Balancing     career development, research output, and personal life
• Opportunities for growth: transferable skills, global networks, interdisciplinary work

2. Mental Health Realities for Early-Career Researchers

• Evidence of elevated stress, anxiety, and depression among PhDs and postdocs (e.g., Levecque et al., 2017)
• Work–Life Balance, Work-Family Conflict
• Perfectionism and imposter syndrome
• International status can amplify isolation and stress

3. Practical Strategies for Postdocs: Well-being &Resilience

• Prioritize sleep, exercise, and hobbies
• Build support networks (local postdoc associations, peer groups)
• Seek mentorship early—inside or outside your lab
• Learn to negotiate workload and expectations
• Explore career options early (academic & non-academic)

4. What Can Institutions Do?

• Provide structured onboarding for foreign postdocs
• Offer independent mentoring or ombudspersons
• Train supervisors in cross-cultural communication and mental-health awareness
• Ensure transparent career development policies

5. Useful Resources

• International Office/Careers Service/Counselling Service etc. for mobility     and career guidance
• Local postdoc associations and mental health services
• Peer support

Brian Cahill is the Managing Director of the Center for Cooperation and Career Management at the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He is also a part of the Learning and Skills Analytics Group at the Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology in Hannover. He was Grant Manager of the COST Action CA19117 on Researcher Mental Health. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the SciLink Foundation and was Chair of the Marie Curie Alumni Association from March 2016 to February 2018. In these roles, he engaged with early-career researchers on topics ranging from researcher career development, innovation, research funding, science communication, science policy, researcher pensions, research integrity, responsible research and innovation and many more. He has written a career column for Nature and been invited to speak at many career-related events, including the EuroScience Open Forum, the AAAS Meeting and the Vitae Researcher Career Development Conference.

Eleni Giannakoudi is a researcher in work and organizational psychology at the University of Groningen, where she studies how employees and leaders navigate hybrid work arrangements. Her expertise lies in self-regulation, productivity, and well-being at work. She is also the co-founder of The Happy 9 to 5, a platform that translates research into practical strategies for healthier and more fulfilling careers, with a focus on burnout prevention, setting boundaries, and work-life balance. Eleni has designed and delivered numerous workshops for early-career researchers as well as industry professionals, helping participants apply evidence-based insights to thrive both personally and professionally amid the changing demands of work.
Tina Armașu is an organizational psychologist and organizational consultant passionate about helping people and organizations create meaningful change. She recently completed her doctorate in Organizational Psychology at the University of Groningen, studying how habits, self-regulation, and work design during times of uncertainty shape performance and well-being. Through her consulting work and development workshops, Tina supports employees and leaders in creating healthier, more human-centered workplaces where performance and well-being go hand in hand. As co-founder of The Happy 9 to 5 and co-host of the Friday Coffee Chats podcast, she translates research into meaningful, practical strategies that make work more sustainable and fulfilling.