In this episode of Euraxess Smart Talks, we speak with Anne‑Marie Jeannet, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Milan and Principal Investigator of the ERC Starting Grant project DESPO – Deindustrializing Societies and the Political Consequences. Anne‑Marie reflects on her journey into social science, her unconventional academic path from the humanities to quantitative sociology, and her experience applying for—and winning—an ERC Starting Grant. She shares candid insights into rejection, persistence, and how research ideas evolve through failure. The conversation dives deep into the political consequences of deindustrialization, challenging dominant assumptions that link economic decline directly to voting behaviour. Drawing on findings from her ERC project, Anne‑Marie explains why community, family, memory, and industrial nostalgia matter more than annual economic indicators—and why her project took an unexpected but productive turn when its central hypothesis did not hold. This episode is especially valuable for early‑career researchers, offering practical advice on ERC applications, proposal writing, interviews, project deviations, amendments, and the realities of managing a large grant—particularly during disruptions such as COVID‑19 and institutional mobility. ⏱️ Question & Segment Timestamps 00:00 – 01:50 | Introduction Welcome to Euraxess Smart Talks and introduction of Anne‑Marie Jeannet and the DESPO project. 01:50 – 03:35 | Academic background How Anne‑Marie transitioned from history and the humanities into social science and sociology. 03:35 – 06:50 | Applying for the ERC Starting Grant How she decided to apply, early rejections, persistence, and improving the proposal over time. 06:50 – 08:40 | What makes a strong ERC idea? Why ERC projects are about big ideas and new avenues, not small research gaps. 08:40 – 10:35 | Deindustrialization and politics How her project reframed the political effects of deindustrialization beyond jobs and unemployment. 10:35 – 11:55 | External shocks and project reality Political changes, COVID‑19, and whether the project followed its original plan. 11:55 – 14:20 | When the core hypothesis fails Why finding “no effect” changed the direction of the research—and why that matters. 14:20 – 15:30 | Industrial nostalgia The paradox of longing for factory work that people do not want to do themselves. 15:30 – 16:55 | Media, memory, and romanticizing the past How collective memory and media narratives shape perceptions of industrial history. 17:00 – 19:30 | Deviations, amendments, and ERC flexibility How to legally and scientifically manage changes to an ERC project. 19:30 – 22:55 | Advice for early‑career researchers Proposal writing, abstracts, mock interviews, and learning from ERC winners. 22:55 – 24:55 | Portability and institutional challenges Moving institutions with an ERC grant and why starting grants can be slower than expected. 24:55 – 26:15 | Closing reflections Final thoughts on challenges, transparency, and success in large research projects. Send us a message!
