Why do universities need researcher development? We've asked our community for their opinions. Danica Stojanovic-Schaffrath, postdoctoral researcher and member of the Research Careers Campus Strategic Advisory Council, says:
Because the RCC provides immense support to a vast variety of research projects, goals, and initiatives.
The Strategic Advisory Council advises and supports the Research Careers Campus and the Rectorate and makes recommendations on strategic agendas, when accepting new consortia and when drawing up the annual programme. It has six members, one of which is Danica: English language and literature scholar, versed in linguistics, literary and cultural studies.
Asked about why researcher development is important, and what the RCC does well, she elaborates:
My response to this question will always be tied to my personal philosophy in research: you have to love what you do. However, doing what you love is not always easy in academia, especially when you think about what comes after your research is done. Two consistent concerns plague every early- and mid-career scholar: innovation and visibility. Finding research lacunae that fit both our individual passions and are met with institutional support is not always easy (don’t ask me how some people reacted to my plan of doing a PhD on contemporary fantasy on stage!). If you ask me, these two are always intertwined: if one has the means to do their innovative – even if slightly different – research, its quality will speak for itself and be appreciated in wider circles.
What Research Careers Campus really excels at is providing immense support to a vast variety of research projects, goals, and initiatives. Workshops, seminars, and, yes, financial aid to conduct, evaluate, and present one’s research to the world at conferences, internal and external get-togethers, and research stays – take your pick and the RCC has your back! Academic work is never just one thing, and all these engagements come together in creating opportunities to conduct innovative research and make it visible across the academic board. I believe I speak for everyone when I say I really appreciate the open-minded acceptance of a diverse range of topics, as well as the wide selection of offers the RCC arranges for young researchers. The recent Ambassador Grants enabled excellent scholars to both pursue their projects and bridge interpersonal gaps among their colleagues. Similarly, coaching sessions, gatherings, and writing retreats all offer different formats to both do and talk about your research. The multi-faceted support of various causes and venues of academic advancement helps young academics both to be visible and encourages them to follow their research interests beyond supposedly traditional paths.
You can meet Danica and other fantastic collaborators from the different faculties of the university at our Festival in April 2026: Research Careers Campus Festival 2026
Picture credit: Uni Graz/Kommunikation.
Interview: Johanna Stadlbauer, RCC, 15.12.2025