Research officer - Freie Universitaet Berlin
Susanne, from Freie Universität Berlin, participated in the ‘Live My Life’ job shadowing project, an initiative within Una Europa Alliance. Through this exchange, she had the opportunity to compare different approaches to research funding, gain insights into the structure of another university, and experience Bologna’s academic and cultural environment.
Understanding Research Funding at Freie Universität Berlin
Susanne works in the pre-award management team at Freie Universität Berlin, within the Research Funding and Information office. Her role involves advising on both national and international research funding opportunities. "We have a strong presence in national funding, with many large-scale projects that sometimes take over a year to develop," she explained. Being part of the research division, her work requires close collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure successful grant applications.
Susanne’s participation in the project stemmed from an invitation by a colleague from the University of Bologna (Unibo). Initially, she was uncertain about the alignment between their roles, as her counterpart worked in post-award funding while she specialized in pre-award management. However, she quickly realized that the exchange could still be highly beneficial. "It turned out to be very interesting to see how she works. Even though our roles are different, I learned a lot from her perspective, especially since she works at the departmental level, while I’m in central administration," she shared.
Reflecting on the experience, Susanne highly recommends job shadowing opportunities to colleagues. "If you have the chance to participate in an exchange like this, go for it! Even if you don’t have the exact same responsibilities as your counterpart, you meet so many people, and it’s a great learning opportunity," she emphasized. One of her key takeaways was seeing how similar challenges are approached differently in different institutions. "The structures and workflows are quite alike, but the solutions vary, and that’s something I found really insightful," she noted. Additionally, the opportunity to engage with other Una Europa colleagues broadened her understanding of pre-award processes for European projects at Unibo.
When asked to summarize her experience in one word, Susanne described it as "gorgeous." Beyond professional insights, she was particularly impressed by the collaborative atmosphere at the University of Bologna. "One thing I’d love to bring back to my university is the strong sense of teamwork across different departments. The way people stay connected, even through quick chats, makes everything feel very dynamic," she observed.
Susanne also appreciated the cultural aspects of the exchange. She was fascinated by Bologna’s historic university buildings and remarked on the grandeur of the rector’s office. "Our university president would love to have a room like that to welcome guests—it’s so representative and impressive," she said. However, she also recognized the blend of tradition and innovation at Unibo. "The university is both modern and historic, which creates a very unique environment. I also really enjoyed the museum we visited—it was a great insight into Bologna’s academic heritage."
On a lighter note, Susanne admitted that Italian cuisine was another highlight of her stay. Although she had visited Italy many times before, she regretted not yet having tried tortellini in brodo, a classic Bolognese dish. "I think I would take that back with me," she said with a smile.