Marina Laurent: "Luxembourg offers a very international research environment"
What does your job consist of?
My job is very diverse, and I’m still discovering new aspects of it on a daily basis. It is best described as an interface position: between research objectives and their practical implementation, between academic and administrative fields, between the University and funding agencies, in short: between different parties whose interests don’t always seem to match – so it requires a lot of communication and diplomacy, and searching for pragmatic solutions to comply with various internal and external requirements and regulations.
What do you like most about your job?
It’s the diversity of my job. Being in touch with colleagues working in so many different fields - in research but also in a range of administrative functions. This is not only a great way of getting acquainted with new research areas, but also of learning how the University functions as an institution.
What does a typical day look like?
My typical day is a mix of responding to emails, attending various meetings, working on documents such as project descriptions or budget sheets, and dealing with unforeseen urgent matters. I also regularly have improvised meetings with colleagues who spontaneously drop by at my office to discuss future projects or current issues over a coffee. Remarkably enough, it’s mostly chatting with lots of different people that eventually leads to finding the most efficient solutions.
What makes doing research in Luxembourg special?
Luxembourg offers a very international research environment, where different academic cultures meet – which can be challenging, but is also extremely valuable, as new encounters tend to create new synergies and foster inventiveness and creativity.
What are your favorite places in Luxembourg?
The Philharmonie. And the lovely playground in Ahn, with a hedge labyrinth where the children can play hide and seek, while the parents enjoy a wonderful view.
What would you miss most when leaving Luxembourg?
Having conversations in four languages at once as I speak Russian, German, English and French.
When my husband and I first started working in Luxembourg, we chose to move to Luxembourg City. Later we discovered the Mosel region and decided that it’s the ideal place for our family. But Luxembourg city was perfect as a first vantage point for making new contacts and exploring the nice spots of the city and the country. And I would warmly recommend it to anyone newly arriving in Luxembourg.
What was your best experience in Luxembourg?
My PhD defense in 2021: It took place on campus after a whole range of lockdowns and contact restrictions due to the Covid pandemic. I had been working from home during the final phase of my PhD project, so it was very impressive, and even a little frightening, to find myself in an analogue room full of people. But it was a very inspiring experience to present the results of several years of work to colleagues, friends and family actually sitting in front of me and sharing their feedback and live reactions, instead of seeing them on a screen.
What has been the most rewarding experience in your job so far?
The Standing with Ukraine initiative launched by the FHSE in March 2022. I am part of the team coordinating this fellowship program, which offered 6-months stays at the University of Luxembourg to 14 researchers from Ukraine. This was, and still is, a rewarding experience not only on a personal level (given that the program provided a save work environment for researchers facing war), but also in terms of the program’s contribution to building new academic networks between Luxembourg and Ukraine which, I am convinced, will be increasingly important as Ukraine’s EU accession process moves forward. Some of the fellows already returned to Ukraine to resume their work at their home institutions, while keeping close ties with researchers of our Faculty. I do hope that this is only the first step towards fruitful long-term collaborations!
Discover more about Standing with Ukraine