This summer, we're all about making space in your work life for those things YOU consider a priority. So we've asked our University of Graz researcher community about aspects of their daily work life that they have developed a useful routine for - and aspects that still need a “research life hack”.
Interview partner:
Lara Trussardi's daily work:
“I am an assistant professor working with partial differential equations for modelling natural and social phenomena. I love to see and to look for mathematics in daily phenomena that goes beyond what people would expect. I am also the spokeperson of Graz Women in Mathematics and one of the referent person for the network "Motherhood and Science" at Uni Graz."
The "happy hack" that makes Lara more efficient/creative/motivated at work:
"I firmly believe that if you want to make a difference, you have to roll up your sleeves. My motivation for what I do comes from the little things. A PhD student who presents her research and is pleased with how it went; a mother who appreciates the efforts being made to make the university a more mother-friendly place; a student who decides that science subjects might be right for her.
More practical, for me it is extremely important to have colleagues who understands what is hard, what it difficult in order to get advice and feedback."
And the challenge in her research life that she still needs a hack for:
"If only the day were 48 hours long...!
Maybe I should learn not to take people too much to heart. And I should accept that I sometimes things might not be perfect but simply "ok"."
What is your own happy hack? Let us know!
Find the full series of interviews here: How to hack your research life - Research Careers Campus Graz
(Interview: Johanna Stadlbauer, 30.6.2026, picture credit: Trussardi, privat)