What does success really mean in academia? Is it the number of papers you publish, the size of your lab, or the awards you collect or is the vision of success in academia biased?

In this final episode, Jonathan and Renaud bring together four scientists: Dr. Rachael Dangarembizi (South-Africa), Dr. Michaela Fenckova (Czech Republic), Dr. Harmit Malik (USA), and Dr. Srikanth Ramaswamy (UK), to challenge the traditional views of academic success.

Through their stories, they reveal the pressures of publish or perish, the invisible weight of systemic inequalities, and the cost of chasing recognition. But they also offer alternative compasses to guide you in this journey. From preserving your mental health to redefining how success is measured, this last episode invites you to rethink not just where you’re going, but how you choose to travel through the ocean of academia.

What does it take to handle power dynamics in academic life — not just within the lab, but in the broader institutional structures that shape a scientific career?

In this resonant episode, Renaud and Jonathan explore the complexities of academic hierarchies and institutional politics with three guests: Alicja Puścian (University of Warsaw, Poland), Dori Grijseels (Max Planck Institute, Germany), and Angeline Dukes (University of Minnesota, USA). Each guest brings valuable insight into how power is experienced, challenged, and negotiated at different stages of the academic journey.

This episode examines how broader power structures — toxic environments, institutional cultures, visa precarity, discrimination, lack of accountability — can shape the everyday experiences of researchers. It looks at the power of allyship, and how early-career scientists can navigate these realities while maintaining integrity and building healthy lab environments.

The ALBA-IBRO Diversity Podcast 'From Postdoc to PI' is organized with the support of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), a founding partner of the ALBA Network.