Newsletter June 2024
Nice To Meet You – Eve Silfverberg
What was your career path before you joined Euresearch?
I studied biology at the University of East Anglia in the UK, where I grew-up. After graduating, I started my research career in molecular plant pathology. Switzerland is clearly one of the top research nations and it was great for me to have the opportunity to complete my PhD at ETH Zurich. During that time, I was first introduced to EU projects, as my professor was a participant in a pan-European consortium. Plant pathology is a relatively small community, but I already saw at that time how the framework programmes bring together experts from different countries and disciplines.
What attracted you to your current position and what do you enjoy most?
I have been working for Euresearch Network since 2008. With its strong focus on life sciences, Basel was an attractive destination for me. The job description was very broad and this accurately reflects the variety of our work. This is one of the things I love about my job – it is very varied, there is always something new to learn and it is certainly never boring! I also enjoy the interaction with so many dedicated people. We have the privilege to accompany very interesting people on their research journey. We advise researchers from all areas of research and this makes the job very rewarding.
What are your daily challenges?
The political situation has been the biggest challenge in recent years. When I first joined Euresearch, the European Research Council (ERC) had only just been established. At the University of Basel, we had 3 grants from the first call. The scheme was very new and not so well known. This has obviously changed over the years. We have now had more than 60 ERC grants in Basel and the international recognition is very important to our grantees and the university. The lack of access for early-career researchers to this scheme and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is very damaging for the research community. This year has already brought more positive developments, with our researchers being able to apply to the ERC Advanced Grant 2024 Call in August. Let's hope the situation continues to develop in this way.
What is special about the Regional Office for Northwestern Switzerland?
The team of course! It is a real pleasure to work with my colleagues every day. I also think the location makes it quite special. With Basel's close proximity to France and Germany, you really feel the international atmosphere. There is a lot of openness for European collaboration in Basel and this makes our job much easier.
Interviewer: Maya Meier
Illustration: Alexandra Rosakis
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