How does academic life in the United Kingdom compare with that in Czechia, and what can early-career researchers take away from both? And how can personal experiences and mentoring shape the journey of a postdoctoral researcher?

In this episode, we speak with Cristina Balaban about her path into palaeoglaciology, her PhD at Durham University, and her current postdoctoral research at Charles University. She also shares insights from her participation in CU's mentoring programme for postdocs and offers advice for early-career researchers navigating academia.

This episode is part of the Charles University's CHARLESTON programme, co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, and was recorded at the Hyb4City (Kampus Hybernská).