What brought you back to the EUI?
I'm here today because of the EUI Alumni Conference in Economics, which takes place every June, and it feels great to be back on campus. It's great to see so many people from my time at the EUI, professors, fellow students, and it's always fantastic to be in Florence.
How did your EUI experience contribute to building your career?
My EUI experience contributed to my career in many ways. It helped to build a network of people, so wherever you go you meet a lot of EUI friends. It also helped me to grow as an academic. The supervision was great, it was a very active department, we had many seminars, you got a lot of exposure as students. And all of this contributed to growth in this academic world. I often think back to that time, and I'm still very much connected to the EUI.
Who were the people on your EUI path who helped you build your career?
Of course, one person that I'm very grateful for and that helped me a lot was my supervisor, Piero Gottardi. I was also influenced by other professors who were there at the time. People like David Levine. He helped me a lot in the job market and getting to know how things work.
But I think what I also took away from the whole experience was this very friendly environment. It wasn't competitive; we were helping each other. There was this feeling of collegiality among both students and professors, and I think growing up in this kind of academic environment is something that has shaped me.
What does the photo you shared with us represent to you?
This photo shows my close group of friends together at our graduation ceremony. I have fond memories of that day because it was great to see each other again after a small gap. People had started leaving and we came back together to this place, and I think we were all proud of having made it. It was a great reunion.
What advice would you give to someone considering an academic career at the EUI?
If you are considering an academic career at the EUI, I would recommend working hard but also keep in mind that this is also just a really great time to grow as a person and to get to know people. I think it's very important to build friendships and to build a network and make the most out of it. So, take advantage of all these things that the EUI offers, especially the close interaction with supervisors and guests. I think this was always great at the EUI, we had many international guests coming through. Make the most out of these social opportunities.
What do you wish you knew before coming to the EUI?
I have to say I didn't know much before coming to the EUI, I had no idea what the job market was. I came from a small German university, so I was pretty ignorant at that stage. In retrospect, I'm not sure I wished I had known everything that was to come. I think sometimes it's also good to just sort of do the experience without thinking too much ahead. I would say it's very important to choose the research topics according to what you're really interested in and not thinking too much about, you know, what is it that makes it easier later when you try to find a job. I think coming in with limited knowledge maybe is sometimes not the worst thing.
What part of EUI still lives with you today?
Professionally what still lives with me from my EUI times is the collegiality that I got to know here and which I'm still experiencing a lot in every place I go to. Of course, also the many friends that I see when going to seminars or conferences all over the world, there's a very strong EUI connection. And then from a personal perspective, like many EUI students, I actually found my partner during my time at the EUI. So, this makes these years particularly special, I would say.
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The EUI Alumni Testimonials series offers a glimpse into the diverse paths and experiences of our alumni. Through their stories, we revisit meaningful moments from their time at the EUI and discover how these experiences continue to shape their personal and professional journeys.
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Disclaimer: All information reported in this article reflects solely the perspective of EUI alumni and former EUI members. In no case does this article represent the view of the organisations the interviewees are affiliated with.