Since its launch, the YERUN Research Mobility Awards (YRMA) have supported early-career, and in the last edition, also mid-career researchers across Europe in building collaborative, interdisciplinary, and impactful projects. As the YERUN community continues to grow, we are highlighting voices from previous and current YRMA editions awardees to understand how the award shaped their professional development and catalysed new research opportunities.
This article is the first in a special interview series showcasing reflections from YRMA recipients. In each edition, we will feature the experiences of two awardees across diverse disciplines and institutions. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more inspiring stories from across the YERUN network.
In this first feature, we hear from Dr Sangeet Saha, Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at the University of Essex, and Dr Tullio Viola, Assistant Professor in Philosophy of Art and Culture at Maastricht University. They reflect on their YERUN-funded experiences, memorable moments, and how the award helped them forge meaningful research connections across borders.
What impact did the YERUN Research Mobility Award have on your research and professional development?
Dr Sangeet Saha: “The YERUN Research Mobility Award was instrumental in advancing both my research and professional trajectory. It facilitated the establishment of a productive collaboration with the University of Bremen. This experience significantly contributed to my professional development by enabling the acquisition of new technical skills and enhancing my academic writing capabilities through joint publication efforts. Moreover, it strengthened my standing as an independent researcher. When I received the award in 2021, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Essex; the independence and opportunities fostered by the award were a catalyst in my progression to subsequent lecturer positions at the University of Huddersfield and later the University of Essex. Ultimately, the award served as a vital steppingstone for initiating subsequent joint research projects and publications.”
Dr Tullio Viola: “The YERUN Mobility Award helped me consolidate a line of research and foster its interdisciplinary nature. At the time of my application, I was working on my historical research on Jane Addams, an early twentieth-century American scholar who, in a book entitled The Long Road of Woman’s Memory investigated the role of folk narratives to serve as instruments of sense-making among marginalised communities (I subsequently published the paper here). I used the YERUN Mobility Award to get in touch with the Centre for Culture and Evolution (CCE) at Brunel University in London, and in particular with Dr. Alberto Acerbi, who used to work there. (He’s now at the University of Trento in Italy). The idea, roughly was: How can my historical case contribute to contemporary attempts to understand the dynamics of cultural transmission? Brunel’s CCE is one of the best places in Europe for contemporary anthropological research on cognition and culture, so I was very happy to spend a few days there and share my historical expertise with scholars who study the same problems from a different angle.”
Can you share a memorable moment or highlight from your mobility experience?
Dr Sangeet Saha: “Although the collaboration occurred virtually due to the pandemic, a distinct highlight was witnessing the effectiveness of bridging geographical distances through various online collaboration tools. Successfully cultivating a strong working relationship with the Bremen team and achieving significant progress on our joint research and publications, leveraging platforms such as Zoom and Overleaf, felt like a considerable accomplishment. I recall a specific instance from 2021 when we captured a Zoom meeting via screenshot; seeing the team connected virtually served as a tangible reminder that despite the physical separation, we were successfully building a strong, collaborative professional relationship.”
Dr Tullio Viola: “I gave a talk at Brunel of which I have a very good memory. The discussion was lively and engaging. I am very grateful to Alberto and all other participants, such as Mícheál De Barra and Aiyana Willard. Also, during my trip to London I was able to pay a visit to the fantastic library of the Warburg Institute, which hosts one of the best collections on cultural history in the world. There I could find some material that was quite important for my paper.”
Did the collaboration initiated through the award lead to any ongoing partnerships or follow-up projects?
Dr Sangeet Saha: “Yes, the foundation established during the YERUN award period has led to several ongoing partnerships and follow-up activities. We achieved two joint publications, one most recently this past January, and have actively pursued further funding opportunities, submitting joint applications to both an EPSRC call and an ARIA call. Additionally, we are exploring the formation of clusters for future EU Horizon proposals and investigating potential partnerships in related research domains. I am still working with my Bremen colleagues.”
Dr Tullio Viola: “It led to the publication of the paper mentioned above.”
What advice would you give to researchers considering applying for the YERUN Research Mobility Awards?
Dr Sangeet Saha: “I strongly endorse the YERUN Research Mobility Awards as an excellent platform for researchers, particularly those in the early stages of their careers. These awards present an invaluable opportunity to gain experience, learn from established research groups in one’s field, and expand professional networks. I highly recommend eligible researchers consider applying for these awards.”
Dr Tullio Viola: “I would advise not hesitating to contact people you’ve never been in touch with. The fellowship is just a great opportunity to expand your network.”
Thank you, Sangeet and Tullio!
These reflections from Dr Sangeet Saha and Dr Tullio Viola illustrate how the YERUN Research Mobility Awards foster not just research visits, but long-lasting academic and professional growth. Whether virtually or in person, their stories show how building bridges across disciplines and borders can lead to enduring impact — from co-authored papers to new research directions and valuable networks.
This article marks the start of a series — stay tuned as we continue to share how YERUN awardees are advancing research and building connections throughout Europe.
.
Short Bios:
Dr. Sangeet Saha is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at the University of Essex. His work focuses on critical areas within embedded systems, including real-time scheduling for FPGAs and multicore systems, fault tolerance, and energy-efficient heterogeneous computing for edge AI. He has secured research funding from various agencies, including The Royal Society, Innovate UK (UKRI), and the University of Essex Knowledge Exchange Funding Scheme. Dr. Saha actively disseminates his research through numerous publications in high-impact journals, such as the IEEE and ACM Transactions series, and premier conferences (including DAC and CODES+ISSS).
Dr. Tullio Viola studied philosophy in Italy, France and Germany and has a PhD in philosophy (2015) from Humboldt University in Berlin. He is now a tenured assistant professor (UD-1) in philosophy of art and culture at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He works mostly in the history of late modern philosophy, with a particular focus on theories of culture and the historical exchanges between philosophy and the social sciences in American and Europe.
.
Photocredit (Tullio Viola): © Eric Bleize
