This summer, we want to know what happened to the people who helped us create and shape the PostDoc Office in 2022. Since the PostDoc Office was officially opened it has been a shared effort to build and maintain a community that allows every researcher to shine, be inspired, and exchange ideas with brilliant peers.
What are these researchers doing now?
Today: Sandra Grinschgl. We remember Sandra happily, because she enthuastically took part in a lot of our networking events, gave us a lovely goodbye when she got her tenure-track job in Bern, and is sometimes still secretly participating in the writing group.
1) Where are you today and where did you work during your time in Graz?
I'm a lecturer and researcher with Tenure Track at the University of Bern, Switzerland. My teaching and research centers around the ongoing digitalization from a psychological perspective. From 2020 to 2024, I was a PostDoc at the lab Differential Psychology at the Institute of Psychology in Graz.
2) What is your advice on how to make good career decisions and be satisfied in your work life?
Unlike the advice I received during my postdoc phase, I didn’t map out my career in detail. Instead, I consistently pursued topics that interested me—both in teaching and research—and was lucky to land a Tenure Track position in Switzerland.
While it’s certainly wise to plan your career steps, I would also encourage keeping an open mind toward alternative paths. Sticking too rigidly to a single plan can sometimes limit opportunities.
Equally important is having a strong support system—whether through colleagues, friends, or family. For me, that network was essential in getting through difficult, uncertain, and frustrating periods. Further, it’s worth remembering: academia is also just a job. Don’t let it consume your whole life—make space for living beyond it.
3) What's a memory of University of Graz that stands out in your mind?
My best memories are having lunch on the lawn in front of the Psychology Institute with colleagues who have become good friends over the years. Those lunches were especially good when we went for Harry's ice cream afterwards. Another great memory is the very first Fiasco Fest - it was freezing in the building of the Botanical Garden but we still had the best time!
A key part of my support system during my postdoc phase came from the interdisciplinary connections I made through events organized by the PostDoc Office. Even when I left the University of Graz and moved to Bern—without knowing anyone—Johanna connected me with a local postdoc who gave me a warm welcome to the city. I’m truly grateful for all of this—thank you!
Thank you so much for the interview and kind feedback, Sandra, and for staying in touch!
Interview date: May 26, 2025. Picture credit: Grinschgl/Privat, with a Uni Bern buddy - Albert Einstein
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 Careers Campus.