MINDFUL CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIA, COMMUNICATION, and AI in MENTAL HEALTH ► What does it really take to stay mentally well in academia? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gábor Kismihók — a researcher at the intersection of learning analytics, career development, and wellbeing — for an honest, grounded conversation about mental health in the research community. From the early warning signs supervisors should watch for, to the role of institutional culture, personal career decisions, and the rise of AI, this episode covers the full landscape of what it means to be a whole human being inside a research career.
Guest
Dr. Gábor Kismihók Internationally recognized researcher working at the intersection of research careers, learning analytics, and wellbeing. His work focuses on understanding and improving mental health, skills development, and sustainable career pathways in academia and beyond.
Key Topics Covered
- Early warning signs of mental health struggles in researchers
- The power of communication and open lab culture
- Institutional responsibilities toward researcher wellbeing
- The deeply personal nature of a research career identity
- Onboarding and first impressions for joining a research group
- Dr. Kismihók's personal PhD journey between Budapest and Amsterdam
- How AI is reshaping research culture — and the risks it brings
- Whether AI chatbots can play a role in mental health support
- What it means to preserve human value in an AI-driven world
- Final advice for early career researchers struggling silently