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

Alina Gawel: For me, the decisive factors were the research topic and the location. I come from North Rhine-Westphalia and wanted to return there after completing my master's degree at Leipzig University. In addition, it was important to me to work in an applied manner in my research so that I could potentially contribute to a better society.

 

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

Alina Gawel: My research focused on electrode development for carbon dioxide electrolysis. Electrolyzing CO₂ is relatively complicated because it is a gas and you have to somehow bring it into sufficient contact with the electrode and the liquid electrolyte that conducts the electric current. Until now, expensive and unstable carbon materials have been used for this purpose. In my doctoral thesis, I worked with colleagues at Fraunhofer UMSICHT to develop electrodes based on steel meshes and Teflon membranes.

 

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

Alina Gawel: I found the doctoral coaching very helpful, where we regularly reviewed the progress of our work together with other doctoral students. This enabled us to identify early on if something was running behind schedule. In addition, the Research School connected all doctoral students at the institute with each other. This exchange is extremely valuable: someone always has a good tip when you are facing challenges.

 

What were important experiences you gained during your doctoral thesis?

Alina Gawel: It is inherent in science that you are moving into unknown territory and, accordingly, things will go wrong. Many things. And that's okay. So a certain tolerance for frustration and patience are part of it. I also had to let go of the idea that there is a fixed approach and a certain way to do things right. Science is pioneering work, and it's only through this work that you discover how a certain structure or process works best. And: The closest friendships are formed during long evenings in the lab, when nothing seems to be working, with fellow doctoral students.

 

Are there any anecdotes that you still like to tell?

Alina Gawel: Actually, I had the brilliant idea of how to design my electrodes so that they would work while I was asleep: I dreamed it, tried it out the next day – and it was a success! I also still fondly remember the story of how a group of doctoral students and I were kindly asked not to dance on the tables in the marquee at the Oberhausen Christmas market. Not all researchers are introverts.

 

What were the challenges? And how did you overcome them?

Alina Gawel: Science is a hierarchical system, but your research and your decisions belong to you. It sometimes takes a lot of assertiveness when you disagree with one of your supervisors or superiors. Fortunately, you are never alone, and in addition to exchanging ideas with fellow doctoral students, Fraunhofer UMSICHT also provides more help in finding a solution to such a difficult situation that everyone can live with – for example, through the Research School.

 

How has the UMSICHT Research School influenced your career path?

Alina Gawel: Scientific excellence is one thing, but in both science and the private sector, that alone is not enough. The Research School also teaches necessary soft skills such as project management and leadership qualities, which benefited me after my doctorate.

 

What tips do you have for current and future doctoral students at Fraunhofer UMSICHT?

Alina Gawel: Start organizing your data right at the beginning of your work (especially cataloging your literature neatly from the outset with the help of suitable software) and create the document for your doctoral thesis. Here you can enter your interim results and describe your approach as you work. This greatly reduces the inhibition threshold at the end, because ultimately the doctoral thesis is already finished, you just have to polish it up a bit.

 

Where have you ended up professionally?

Alina Gawel: I was lucky enough to get a job in technology development at Evonik right after completing my doctorate. My career at Evonik has since taken me to the Netherlands, where I work in production management at a hydrogen peroxide factory.