Where is Anna Gasperl now? And what is her advice on how to land your dream job?

This summer, we want to know what happened to the people who helped us create and shape the PostDoc Office.

Today: Anna Gasperl. We remember Anna fondly, because she was such an active and appreciative participant in all our events – and she was really helpful in fine-tuning our offers so that they meet the needs of our researchers.    

 1) Where are you today and where did you work during your time in Graz?

I currently work at Regionalmanagement Südoststeiermark. Steirisches Vulkanland GmbH, based in Bad Radkersburg. As a regional Habitat Connectivity Manager, I work with local communities to create nature-friendly corridors and stepping stone habitats that connect ecosystems, support biodiversity, and strengthen the bond between people and the natural world. My current project is part of the “Modellregion NaturVerbunden Südoststeiermark im Steirischen Vulkanland"  initiative run by the Styrian government, unit for Nature and General Environmental Protection.

During my postdoc employment, I worked with Maria Müller and her team on plant stress responses at the Institute of Biology. I was also involved in teaching from 2012 to 2025.

2) What is your advice on how to make good career decisions and be satisfied in your work life?

Connect with colleagues and postdocs - also outside your field - to get new perspectives on career decisions and make long-term friends.

Try to work for some time outside academia, but close to your field of interest. It's always good to have a plan B. This approach helped me land my current dream job, where my experience inside and outside academia is a great advantage.

Stand your ground when it comes to authorship issues - professional counseling can help.

3) What's a memory of University of Graz that stands out in your mind?

My best memories at the University of Graz are, of how in a respectful and friendly atmosphere research, international collaboration, and teaching thrived — and of how much support I received from colleagues and events like the PostDoc Office’s ‘Fiasco Fest’ during challenging times.

Don't miss the PostDoc Office Writing Retreat and Writing group! Apart from sharpening your writing skills, it's a great opportunity to connect with fellow postdocs.

Thank you so much for the interview, Anna, and for staying in touch!

Interview date: June 30, 2025. Picture credit: Juliana Ketschler, Lichtblicke Fotografie

About the series: 

• All the interviews are here: Where are they now?  The interviews runs from July 21 to Aug 8, 2025. Questions: Johanna Stadlbauer, Research Care