Leap in the dark

Picture: Uni Graz/Christa Strobl

Temporary contracts, financial uncertainties, competitive pressure: becoming a scientist today is a difficult challenge. Four early stage researchers tell us why they love their work nevertheless, which obstacles they are facing and how they are overcoming them.

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish”. What served Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, as a motto indeed sounds like a manual for entering the world of science. If you start out with passion, persistence and a spark of craziness, chances of success might be good. But these qualities are by no means a guarantee for success.

Read more in our science-magazine UNIZEIT (German only)

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Stephanie Kolleritsch, Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften: "Rückschläge gibt es immer wieder. Man lernt damit umzugehen und den Mut nicht zu verlieren.“

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Maximilian Wagner, Institut für Biologie: „Sei flexibel und nütze jede Chance, die sich bietet. Bleib neugierig und motiviert.“ Foto: Uni Graz/Christa Strobl

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Dijana Simić, Institut für Slawistik: „Hab eine dicke Haut. Stell dich nicht in Frage. Glaub an dich und an das, was du kannst.“ Foto: Uni Graz/Christa Strobl

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Gerhild Leljak & Christina Koppelhuber

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