You studied in Freiberg. What made you decide to study at the Bergakademie?

I had always been enthusiastic about the natural sciences and chemistry in particular, but I wanted to study something applied, which quickly led me to choose process engineering. I researched the process engineering profile at various universities and was convinced and impressed by that of the Bergakademie. In 2003, I was particularly fascinated by nanotechnology and particulate systems with all their interfaces, and I particularly liked the specialisation in particle technology with Prof. Klaus Husemann, who was also very involved in recruiting students at the time. My mother's degree course at the Bergakademie and the proximity to my home played no role at all.

What lasting memories do you associate with your time at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg?

My studies and doctoral period at the Bergakademie were characterised by learning, studying and researching in a compact environment, a campus with short distances and very close contact with fellow students, colleagues, professors and staff. I always felt very well looked after and supported, while at the same time having a great deal of freedom and many creative options. Thanks to the local IAESTE group, I was able to plan and carry out an internship in Brazil before my engineering internship (comparable to the Bachelor's thesis) in Heidelberg. As a student representative on the Process Engineering Study Commission, I had the opportunity to accompany the implementation of the university reform following the Bologna Process, which was a very exciting time. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to get involved in student life as I never lived in Freiberg, but I still have fond memories of great concert evenings in the EAC or the Alte Mensa.

What did you learn during your studies in Freiberg that is particularly helpful for your current (research) work?

My current research is concerned with processing technology and specifically with issues relating to interfacial physics and chemistry, and it is the process engineering and scientific fundamentals, especially physical chemistry and in-depth lectures in this area, that are currently helping me a lot. I also learnt a lot from the lectures, seminars and practicals in Mechanical Process Engineering, especially through the intensive interactions in my colleagues' environment in study and practical groups.

When you look back on your studies with the knowledge you have today: is there anything you would do differently or what you would pay attention to? 

I come to the conclusion that I would choose to study process engineering again, specialising in particle technology. As I studied in standard time and also completed my doctorate relatively quickly, in retrospect I would take an extra semester for another stay abroad.

What advice would you like to give to current students in Freiberg?

My tip is: during your studies and afterwards, don't let yourself be pigeonholed and don't live in them, always take the opportunity to look around you and remain open and interested in what is happening around you, be aware of the stories of your places of work and become a guest of the future.

From your point of view, what is particularly interesting about your current job?

As a scientist, I enjoy working in an international environment with colleagues from different professional backgrounds on important social issues in resource technology and being able to shape them with (hopefully for a long time to come) a great deal of freedom in research.

Do you still have professional or private contacts with TU Bergakademie Freiberg today?

Thanks to my work at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg and as a reader at the Bergakademie, I understandably have a wide range of contacts with the Bergakademie.

Finally, tell us your life motto?

I don't have a fixed life motto. In my dissertation, I wrote: "a (scientific) work can only be as good as the [constructive] criticism that is levelled at it", by which I mean that it is important for me to be and live constructively critical, to always have questions, not necessarily just to hear and learn answers, but especially to derive new questions from them. And, you should keep the child within you.