Why did you decide to write your doctoral thesis at Fraunhofer UMSICHT?

Katja Buß: It actually all started with my master’s thesis. Back then, I took the initiative to apply to Fraunhofer UMSICHT for a thesis project and ended up in the battery lab. The topic – electric vehicles and range – was very exciting and had a strong practical component.

While working on my master’s thesis, I realized how much I enjoyed research and how much I loved diving deeper into a topic. The battery lab continued to grow during that time, and new topics like redox flow batteries and lithium-ion batteries were added. At some point, it became clear: there are still so many unanswered questions surrounding lithium-ion batteries – I want to pursue this further. That’s how the decision to pursue a PhD came about.

 

What was your topic and what was the most important result?

Katja Buß: My dissertation focused on stationary battery storage in renewable energy systems. For example, batteries designed to temporarily store wind and solar power. Simply put: I developed a statistical method that allows real-world load and power profiles – which often span an entire year and are highly complex – to be condensed in such a way that standardized cycles can be derived from them. I applied these cycles to real lithium batteries in the lab and compared and analyzed the resulting stresses on the batteries. Based on my results, it became easier to assess which applications place particularly high demands on batteries – such as off-grid systems, uninterruptible power supplies, or grid balancing.

 

How did the UMSICHT Research School support you in your work?

Katja Buß: Specifically, through a PhD and writing coaching program that we helped launch back then. Together with a colleague, I met our future coach at an external seminar – and we immediately thought: This is exactly what we need for our dissertations. We brought him to the institute and established a dedicated group for the doctoral students. What made it special was the structure: clear goals, fixed deadlines, regular meetings, and very honest feedback. It was demanding, but extremely helpful.

 

What were important experiences you gained during your doctoral thesis?

Katja Buß: One of my most important takeaways was that structure and accountability are crucial. The coaching process made everything transparent. How far along are you with the introduction, main body, and publications? What have you set out to accomplish by the next meeting?

I also learned how to handle feedback. Texts were literally taken apart in the group. That takes some effort, but in the end, the texts were significantly better. I still use this approach – breaking down tasks, making progress visible – to this day.

 

Are there any anecdotes that you still like to tell?

Katja Buß: One of my favorite stories is actually that we, as doctoral students, were the ones who initiated the doctoral coaching program ourselves. We simply asked the coach after a seminar if he’d be interested in doing the same for us. I think it’s pretty wonderful that this turned into a long-term program that still exists today. And I also fondly remember the evenings after our regular work: three hours of writing coaching, critiquing texts, lots of laughter – and still going home feeling motivated afterward.

 

Where have you ended up professionally?

Katja Buß: I’ve been with Voltavision in Bochum since January 2018; it’s a large testing laboratory for electric vehicle batteries. I work in the module testing division – right at the interface between the battery cell and the complete battery pack. What started as a small startup with about 25 employees has since grown to around 160 people. Today, I’m in charge of a department with 16 employees and about 40 test benches. Looking back, this fits perfectly with the topics of my master’s thesis and my dissertation.