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

When I was deciding where to study, I looked at the TU Dresden as well as Ilmenau on the recommendation of a friend. However, I was disappointed by the overcrowded lecture theatres. As Freiberg is not far from Dresden, I decided to give this university a chance as well. Once I arrived in Freiberg and at the TU Bergakademie, I knew straight away that I would feel at home here and that I wanted to study here. Another plus point for me was that TU Bergakademie Freiberg offers the Materials Engineering degree programme.

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

I associate my time studying in Freiberg with the fact that you reach your goal faster with teamwork and that it's more fun. I couldn't have imagined my studies without the study groups.

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

I learnt that it pays to keep at it and want to get to the bottom of things. This has enabled me to familiarise myself with areas and issues that I had no idea about and that I wouldn't have dared to do before.

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? 

However, I didn't find the industry-related practical relevance and therefore the opportunity to apply what I had learnt in some subjects to be enough. From today's perspective, I would communicate this or incorporate a voluntary internship during the semester break.

What advice would you give to current students in Freiberg?

Enjoy your time and student life in Freiberg.

What do you find particularly interesting about your current job?

I currently work in technical sales and demonstrate various optical microscopes to different customers in order to sell them. What I find particularly interesting about my job is that I deal with many different people from industry and research and gain insights into various technical procedures and manufacturing processes. It is also enriching that I can understand and assess the customer samples and therefore the requirements for the microscope thanks to my knowledge from my studies.

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

I still have contact with my fellow students and some of them still live in Freiberg, for example to do their doctorates. When I visit them in Freiberg, I still have direct or indirect contact with the TU.

Finally, tell us your life motto?

Giving up is not an option