Johanna Stadlbauer, Researcher Developer (Episode 79) – Johanna is on a mission to create a more fun and kind academia
For this episode of the Research Adjacent podcast Sarah welcomes researcher developer Johanna Stadlbauer. Johanna is Head of the Research Careers Campus at the University of Graz in Austria, offering development and support for early to mid-career researchers.
A more fun and kind academia
Johanna is on a mission. Having experienced the stress and burnout of academic life herself, she is now focussed on creating supportive spaces and opportunities for other. Johanna’s LinkedIn tag line is ‘Making a more fun and kind academia’ – an ethos which infuses all of the work she does for Research Careers Campus and in her previous role at the PostDoc Office (now recognised as an example of best practice).
“And we try to create the space where we assume the people have skills and knowledge and know what to do.
They just need like a sparring partner and they need a good pizza, and they need three nights in a hotel so that they can focus on their writing and they maybe need some sauna and yoga.
Johanna’s aproach is built on both her research interests (studying expats on short term contracts), taking part in women’s empowerment groups and formative experiences working on resource for people experiencing sexual harrassment on campus.
“So I took every opportunity that they offered and I also modeled myself a little bit after the person who was the main figure in our University of Graz equality office because she had this one-on-one interest in you and she would just also open her networks to you and she’d also take no shit.”
As with many people navigating a career change, Johanna started on a temporary maternity cover contract. In this role she was proactive (perhaps too proactive at times!) in making sure she got what she wanted from the role. This opportunity led to her first research developer role and ultimately to the role she is today – a role she effectively created for herself!
“I basically created this job myself. So it’s not a surprise that it encompasses everything that I like to do.”
Learning to love LinkedIn
I first crossed paths with Johanna on LinkedIn where she posts compassionate advice and the odd horse metaphor. It’s a platform she first embraced as a strategic move to raise the profile of the PosDoc Office.
“Although posting stuff on the internet isn’t probably the way to make a big impact on a structural level, but I think people who read it feel seen.”
If you don’t’ already follow Johanna make sure you connect with her there to brighten up your feed.
Room for everyone’s talent
With the Research Adjacent magic wand, Johanna would make academia more collaborative and less heirarchical.
“In the spirit of the Dutch universities, they have a slogan that’s called ‘Room for Everyone’s Talent’. That would mean, little bit of the loosening of the different staff categories and just thinking in terms of the shared mission of a university and how everyone can contribute.”
It sounds like the Dutch universities and Research Adjacent are kindred spirits!
Find out more
- Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn
- Find out more about the Research Careers Campus and Post-Doc Office including the Communities of Curiosity Festival in April 2026
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
