ESB Webinar – Where to Build a Research Career? Academia, Industry and Beyond

Choosing a career path after a PhD or during the early stages of a research career can be both exciting and challenging. From pursuing academic research to joining a startup or working in an applied research institute, each path offers unique opportunities, challenges, and ways to make an impact. In this panel discussion, three experienced professionals will share their perspectives and career journeys across different research environments, discussing the opportunities available beyond traditional academic pathways, the skills needed to thrive in different settings, and how to navigate career transitions. Whether you are a PhD student, an early career researcher, or simply curious about alternative career paths, this session will offer valuable insights to help you explore your options and shape your own career journey.

For this panel discussion, we are pleased to welcome the following panel members:

Prof. Aurélie Carlier (Maastricht University, the Netherlands) is full professor of AI and Mechanistic Modelling in Biology at the Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (MaCSBio). Her research focuses on multiscale computational modelling of biological processes, with a particular focus on bone tissue engineering, cell–biomaterial interactions and kidney pathophysiology. Her work has been recognised with several distinctions, including the ESB Student Award (2012) and the ESB Best Doctoral Thesis Award (2015), and is funded by VENI (2016) and VIDI (2025) grants from the Dutch Science Foundation and an ERC Starting Grant (2024). Prof. Carlier served the ESB as a council member, including as chair of the Early Career Committee and as treasurer, and is co-founder of FEM (Female Empowerment Maastricht University).

Prof. Paola Occhetta (Politecnico di Milano, Italy) works at the intersection of organ-on-chip technologies, advanced human in vitro models, and artificial intelligence. As Principal Investigator of an ERC Starting Grant, she develops microphysiological platforms to support disease modelling, drug discovery, and more predictive preclinical testing. Prof. Occhetta is co-founder of BiomimX S.r.l., a Politecnico di Milano spin-off developing beating organ-on-chip platforms, and Vice President of the Industrial Alliance for Microphysiological Systems (IAMPS). She is also the inventor of two patents, both transferred to industry, and an active member of the ISO committee on organ-on-chip standardisation.

PD Dr Peter Varga (AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland) leads the Biomedical Development Program at the AO Research Institute Davos, which he joined in 2014 after working as a postdoc and Principal Investigator at the Julius Wolff Institute of the Charité Berlin. His research focuses on the biomechanics of bone fractures, implant fixation and healing, with a special focus on computer simulations. Dr Varga is habilitated at the University of Bern, where he teaches as Privatdozent for Biomedical Engineering, and has authored over 135 scientific publications and co-invented two patents. He currently serves the ESB as a council member.

The webinar will last 60 minutes in total. For a smoother flow, we encourage you to send your questions in advance to Alessio Amicone, Benedetta Fantaci, Florian Rieger, and Vijay Nandurdikar. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the session, but those submitted by email will be given priority.

Click here to register for the webinar.
Date and time: Friday, November 20, 2026; 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CET

Register here