Sheikh Asadi Narjes, winner of the Shadowing 2025 grant

The Equal Opportunities Service offers the Shadowing Grant, aimed at PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers enrolled in the USI Mentoring Program. The grant provides the opportunity to spend one month at a university or research institution abroad, with a temporary reduction of regular duties at USI, allowing recipients to focus exclusively on research activities that can enhance their academic profile and increase competitiveness in the academic job market.

In 2025, the grant was awarded to Sheikh Asadi Narjes, PhD at the Institute of Argumentation, Linguistics and Semiotics (IALS) at USI, who completed the Shadowing period at the University of Liverpool. Below is her interview.

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain why you applied for the Shadowing Grant?

I am a PhD candidate and teaching assistant at the IALS at USI, under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Rocci. My research analyzes the argumentative strategies of native and non-native English authors in scientific articles, with particular attention to the introduction section. My dissertation is an independent project funded by the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (ESKAS/FCS).

I applied for the Shadowing Grant because it offered a rare opportunity to enrich this independent research through an international collaboration, while remaining compatible with my family commitments. Unlike long-term mobility programs, which often require extended periods away from family, the one-month format allowed me to immerse myself in a new academic environment and benefit from meaningful scientific exchange without compromising the balance between research and family life.

2. How did you choose the host university, and what factors influenced your decision?

I chose the University of Liverpool for the opportunity to collaborate with Prof. Elena Musi, whose expertise in computational approaches to discourse and argumentation closely aligns with my project. Another important factor was the academic connection: Prof. Musi has collaborated with our institution and completed her PhD at USI. This made the collaboration both innovative and grounded in shared scientific traditions.

3. How did you decide what to focus on during your Shadowing period, and what advice would you give to make the most of the experience?

During my month in Liverpool, I focused on using ChatGPT for a specific task related to the classification of my corpus, which remains a key challenge in my research. Although the project evolved significantly through discussions, it expanded the methodological scope of my thesis, provided a promising solution to this challenge, and opened possibilities for joint publication.

My advice to future participants is to start the Shadowing period with a concrete project in mind, while remaining open to new directions that may emerge through dialogue with the host institution. Balancing planning and flexibility makes the month productive and stimulating.

4. What skills or benefits did you gain from the Shadowing experience that influenced your career or future plans?

During my stay, in addition to the main collaboration with Prof. Musi - who acted as a mentor during the Shadowing period - I held a seminar within the Discourse, Data and Society research cluster of the Faculty of Communication, receiving valuable feedback from professors, department heads, and colleagues on my thesis.

I also participated in mentoring sessions with Prof. Rudi Palmieri, adjunct faculty at our Institution, who provided useful guidance for my PhD path, and with another mentor I had previously interacted with only online.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the one-month academic break from my regular university responsibilities allowed me to finalize and submit a long-awaited article and prepare another submission for a conference.

5. Would you recommend the Shadowing Grant to others, and why?

Absolutely. The Shadowing Grant offers researchers the opportunity to engage in international academic dialogue without the structural barriers of long-term mobility programs. It provides dedicated research time—often difficult to obtain alongside university responsibilities—fosters meaningful collaborations, and acknowledges the diverse realities of academic life.

I strongly encourage colleagues to apply, as the grant not only promotes research but also embodies the values of inclusivity and equal opportunities in academia.