Travel fellowship 2026

On behalf of the INTERDEM Academy executive office 

With great pleasure we announce that the special INTERDEM Academy Travel Fellowship 2026 has been awarded to Zsofia Szekeres, for her project “First steps towards an international citizen science active ageing programme”! This one month exchange aims to establish opportunities for knowledge exchange and future collaboration between researchers at the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR), Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the PROmoting FITness and Health through Physical Activity (PROFITH) Research Group at the University of Granada.

Zsofia: “This Travel Fellowship will enable me to undertake an exploratory project that strengthens my research network, enhances my methodological expertise, and facilitates collaboration with European researchers and public health teams. Ultimately, this experience will support my ambition to lead innovative, solution-focused research addressing dementia prevention and health inequalities through community-based and systems-oriented approaches.”

Our jury of three independent senior and junior INTERDEM and Academy members reviewed 4 applications for this round. The jury commented: “It was not easy to rank them; all candidates displayed a high level of skills and described a good project. The project/career stages were very diverse, and especially the potential outcomes and benefits, making it difficult to single out one person.” 

The jury shared about the winning application of Zsofia: 

“Their application was well written, making it easy to highlight the scientific importance and the benefits for all institutes involved and for INTERDEM. The applicant reported tangible, actionable outcomes from the visit, as well as the dissemination of the visit to their home institute and the wider INTERDEM. Through this visit, the applicant will be increasing the visibility of INTERDEM introducing the network to some researchers who are not currently part of the network.”

Zsofia: “I am very excited to start planning my stay in Granada. I look forward to making the most of the experience, sharing my research activities and ideas, and learning from the PROFITH research team and their innovative work in Granada.”

Once again, a huge congratulations to you, and INTERDEM Academy wishes you the best of luck on your visit to Granada!