Mimoza Hafizi (University of TIRANA, AL)
” Participation in the COST Action Training Schools during 2023 and 2024 has provided our two Albanian doctoral students with significant enhancements in their understanding of methodologies for the detection of dark matter. The workshops and sessions led by experts have not only refined their technical skills but also introduced them to innovative research methodologies. Engaging in this training has provided them with opportunities to interact with professionals in the field, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering connections that may lead to future collaborations. “

Keun Wu, Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
“The action organizes Training Schools with ECTs that offer advanced methodologies, technical skills, and effectively discuss with professional leaders”.

Ángeles Pérez-García, University of Salamanca (ES) 
” I appreciate the seminars being available off-line to watch them if not possible in live mode”

Arturo de Giorgi, Istituto de Fisica Teorica, Madrid (ES)
“The COST helped me connect with the European scientific community, and experts in my field of research. This would have been otherwise virtually impossible. 

The different Action groups cover very different aspects of particle physics, many of them previously not familiar to me. The periodic meetings with them in the form of Journal clubs, monthly colloquia and group meetings have allowed me to broaden my knowledge to previously uncharted territory.

I have met many new ECIs with whom I have exchanged many new ideas which helped my professional development. I have started a couple of projects with them which are expected to be available within the next year.

Finally, I have participated in the organization of the monthly Colloquia, developing organizational soft skills and giving me the possibility to get in touch with some of the world-leading experts in the field. “”

Giuseppe Lucente, Heidelberg Univ., (DE)
“The COST Action helped me in meeting new people and developing new ideas. In particular, I acquired soft skills as the ability of organizing Colloquia, which allowed me to improve my networking and get in touch with world-leading experts in our field. I helped in the organization of the General Meeting in Bari and the Training school in Lecce, understanding what is needed to be done for the organization of big events.” 

María Benito, University of Tartu (EE)
“The COST Action has considerably broadened my network and my international visibility, thus enhancing my career prospects. Through the online and face-to-face events organised by the Action, I have exchanged ideas with fellow researchers and initiated new research projects. In addition, my involvement in organising activities within the Action has enabled me to develop transferable organisational and leadership skills, greatly enhancing my employability beyond academia.”

Marta Fuentes Zamoro, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (ES)
“Thanks to the COST I have been able to expand my knowledge on axion physics by attending different seminars as well as the 2nd Training School organized in Ljubljana. The school gave me the opportunity to learn hands-on a lot of other aspects outside the scope of what I work on. It also allowed me to get to know other young researchers and interchange ideas and learn more from their areas of research, as well as getting to know some of the leading experts in the field. Additionally, the COST also gave me the opportunity to do a research stay in Padova via a STSM, where I started working on a project with researchers there.” 

Luca Marsicano, INFN (IT)
“The COST action considerably broadened my network of contacts, allowing me to meet both young talented researchers and leading experts in the broad research field of axions and WISPs. Thanks to the several colloquia organized by the COST, I could keep updated on the many developments in this dynamic field; also, by participating to the first General Meeting in Bari, I was able to promote my research work within the international community of  the COST, raising the awareness on my research field, triggering profitable discussions and improving my career prospects.”

Mathieu Kaltschmidt, University of Zaragoza (ES)
“Thanks to the COST action I had a  very smooth start to my PhD studies in a new research field as I had the chance to meet fellow young researchers and experts in this exciting research field via the different activities by the action in a very supportive environment. I was able to take  part in both training schools in Lecce and Ljubljana, where I could deepen my knowledge on the physics of WISPs while meeting a lot of interesting people from all around the world. Additionally, I was even given the chance to teach at the first school as a tutor. This year, I was able to acquire funding for a short-term scientific mission (STSM) to visit action member Amelia Drew in Cambridge for two weeks, a possibility I am very thankful for. I really enjoy working closely with other members of the action on some of the organizational parts, at the moment for example as one of the editors of the white paper section on Cosmology & Dark Matter. All in all, I consider myself very lucky to have the timeline of my PhD exactly aligned with the grant period of this COST action and I am looking forward to future activities and action-related collaborations.”

Amelia Drew, University of Cambridge (UK)
“The COSMIC WISPers Action has had a significant positive effect on my career. I received my first international speaking invitation from the organisers of one of the Working Groups, which led me to attend the kick–off meeting in Frascati. This came at a pivotal time in my career as I was undertaking my first postdoctoral position, which had been heavily affected by COVID. The Action and associated funding has allowed me to meet and form relationships with researchers from around Europe who I would not otherwise have met, which in turn helped me to secure my next postdoctoral position to work on a project that is of direct interest to several Action members. It also contributed towards giving me the confidence and experience to successfully apply for a Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, which I will begin in 2025. I hosted a PhD student from the Action for a successful research visit earlier this year, and I will edit and write part of the Action White paper and the Proceedings for the upcoming 2nd General Meeting, which I look forward to attending”

Alessandro Lella, Bari University (IT)
“The COST Action has been instrumental in expanding my network of collaborators as a young PhD student. In this regard, taking part to the Kick-off meeting in Frascati and the first General Meeting in Bari gave me the opportunity to get in touch to some of the experts of my field, while the Training schools in Lecce and Ljubljana have been fundamental for expanding my knowledge about the topics related to the Action. Moreover, I started valuable working relationships with many early-career researchers, helping me to share ideas with young researchers at the same stage of my career. 

A particularly important experience was my involvement with the IAXO experiment, where I am contributing to a project focused on the detection of supernova axions. Thanks to the support from the COST Action, I was able to travel to the Universidad de Zaragoza and participate directly in the project. This opportunity marked a significant milestone in my career, especially as a young theorist, since it allowed me to work closely with a renowned experiment on axions.

Moreover, the Action facilitated a successful collaboration with David Marsh’s group at Stockholm University, which has been a valuable addition to my research. During my short-term scientific mission in Stockholm funded by COST  we started a new project leading to a publication on Physical Review D. 

Finally, the COST Action helped me to develop soft skills, such as the management of the monthly newsletter of the Action or the organization of scientific meetings. In particular, I gave my contribution in the organization of the first General Meeting in Bari and the first Training School in Lecce.”