NETWORKSecondment travalogue
To enhance skills and foster collaboration, participating researchers in the MASKED project engage in interdisciplinary, international, and intersectoral secondments across the beneficiary organizations and the associated partners.
What our researchers say
"During my nearly month-long secondment at San Francisco State University, I had the opportunity to work closely with colleagues involved in the MASKED project and to strengthen both professional and personal connections within the research team. The stay allowed me to engage in focused discussions about methodology, data analysis, and future collaborative directions, which significantly enriched my understanding of the project’s broader aims."
Markéta Dančová, Mgr.
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"A central part of my secondment was completing formal training in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). I am currently preparing for the FACS certification exam, which will further expand my methodological expertise and allow me to integrate multimodal analysis more systematically into my own research."
Markéta Dančová, Mgr.
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"The secondment also provided valuable space for reflection on my own work and opened new perspectives on combining linguistic, clinical, and multimodal approaches. Beyond the professional development, this experience strengthened my sense of belonging within an international research community and reinforced my motivation for continued collaboration within the MASKED project."
Markéta Dančová, Mgr.
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
“My secondment at Palacký University Olomouc in the Czech Republic focused on advancing research within Work Package 2 of the MASKED project. I leveraged my specialized expertise as a biosemiotician to bridge the gap between semiotic theory and the clinical study of facial hypomimia. During this period, I initiated the preliminary development of a biosemiotic framework to analyze facial expressiveness, demonstrating the utility of this methodology to the host institution.”
Nicola Zengiaro, PhD
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
“This allowed me to begin drafting initial models for comparative analysis using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) and the Neuropsychological Gesture Coding System (NEUROGES), which remain in an active state of further refinement. I have begun the foundational work of gathering audiovisual data and, more importantly, preparing the necessary protocols for archiving information about these videos. This includes establishing reference lists to ensure sources are clearly re-constitutable and traceable, clearing applicable copyrights, and implementing storage solutions that meet high standards of technology and confidentiality.”
Nicola Zengiaro, PhD
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"These efforts represent the first steps in structuring a transdisciplinary approach that will be validated in subsequent project phases. Professionally, this experience has been instrumental in testing theoretical concepts within a practical, evolving research environment. Ultimately, the secondment provided the momentum needed to advance the project's technical objectives while maintaining the flexibility required for ongoing model development."
Nicola Zengiaro, PhD
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"During my MASKED secondment at Toronto Metropolitan University, which lasted 14 days, I gained my first experience of an international research secondment."
Libuše Kormaníková, MA
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"I participated in several project meetings where we discussed the overall structure of the project, defined objectives, and planned future activities. Through these activities, I developed both my technical knowledge and soft skills, such as communication and collaboration in an international environment."
Libuše Kormaníková, MA
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
What our researchers say
"Experiencing academic life and culture across the ocean was personally enriching and broadened my perspective. This secondment will directly support my future research and dissertation thesis."
Libuše Kormaníková, MA
COLLABORATING RESEARCHER
© 2026 MASKED Consortium. All rights reserved. This project is funded by the Horizon Europe / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange under Grant Agreement No. 101236781.