Less individual than at the university, more like a team

What was the subject of your PhD research?

I conducted research at the University of Melbourne in cognitive neuroscience. My PhD focused on how the brain processes the time needed for its own functions. How can the brain act in a moving world without having information from the present moment? Using models, we mapped out how the visual cortex can predict its own input to synchronize information about moving objects in the brain with the object in the external world.

Policy research is quite different. Why did you choose to work at Dialogic?

I simply love doing research. The specific topic I research is less important to me. I still find the brain immensely fascinating (and definitely stay informed on all developments), but what I enjoy at Dialogic is the diversity of topics and the societal significance of our research projects. Some colleague PhDs at Dialogic have also obtained their doctorates in areas closer to policy research, such as innovation sciences or education.

What are the differences between research at Dialogic and at the university?

Essentially, both involve research; seeking answers to questions. However, there are some differences in approach. At Dialogic, we always work in teams of senior, mid-level, and junior researchers, dividing research tasks among us but working together to generate solutions and ideas. This makes the research more team-oriented and less individual compared to the university. Additionally, the research questions at Dialogic always originate from a client (often a ministry), and the research outcomes are intended to contribute to policy development. As a result, the research projects at Dialogic are current and align with societal issues. There is often an advisory component to the research: What should a policymaker do with the research findings? For me, this aspect makes the research projects at Dialogic particularly exciting and challenging.