This summer, we want to know what happened to the people who helped us create and shape the PostDoc Office in 2022, when the PostDoc Office was officially opened. What are these former postdoctoral researchers doing now?
Today: Nina Kaiser. We remember our interactions with Nina happily, because she got one of our first PostDoc Grants, and her project was just so interesting and expansive: building the Hans Gross Centre for Interdisciplinary Criminal Sciences.
1) Where are you today and where did you work previously?
I’m a Scientist at and Project Lead for the Hans Gross Centre for Interdisciplinary Criminal Sciences at the Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and Criminology, of which I am also acting as managing director. In this capacity, I am working on bridging the gap between law and non-legal sciences, particularly at the intersection of criminal investigation, prosecution, and—above all—crime prevention.
I’ve started working on building up “my” centre in June 2021 as Project Assistant (Post-Doc), so back in 2022, I was basically just getting started.
2) What is your advice on how to make good career decisions and be satisfied in your work life?
My advice is to make career decisions truly your own — don’t let yourself be steered too much by external expectations. Good career choices are deeply individual, just like our interests and needs. That’s why it’s so important to be courageous, confident, and authentic in the process.
3) What's a memory of University of Graz that stands out in your mind?
I've been at the University of Graz for quite a while now, so—fortunately—I have more positive memories than I can count. But one moment that really stands out, especially in my current role, was the very first event of my 'True Crime Tuesdays' series. It truly felt like a public launch of our center and marked a special milestone for me—both personally and professionally.
Thank you so much for the interview, Nina, and for staying in touch! It's a pleasure that through the RCC, we can now continue to provide servies to researchers who are on track to be permanent employees - and have the chance for more productive interactions with scholars like Nina Kaiser.
Interview date: June 13, 2025. Picture credit: wildundwunderbar https://www.wildundwunderbar.at/
About the series: The interviews runs from July 21 to Aug 8, 2025. Questions: Johanna Stadlbauer, Research Careers Campus.