On his way to earning his doctorate, Andreas gained experience in several fields of research, such as diamond-like carbon coatings and permanent magnets. However, his main focus was metallurgy. In the following interview, he discusses what fascinates him about metals, his experience with dissertation defense day, and the personal lessons that have shaped him.

Your Personal Drive:

• Do you remember a particular material or component that fascinated you as a child?

I was just a big fan of Lego technology as a child! I always wanted to build the most complicated machines and found the construction and functioning of moving parts extremely exciting. I could spend hours on them. I didn't care what materials the individual parts were made of.

• What about materials fascinated you so much in school or at university that you said, "That's exactly what I want to study"?

At the time, it wasn't so obvious to me. I came from a grammar school where science and math were emphasized, while technical subjects were not. I almost studied mathematics! However, since I was also comfortable with chemistry and physics, materials science was a good fit. The prospect of learning about many exciting technologies based on material properties and being able to further my studies in other engineering disciplines confirmed my decision.

• Was there a particular moment or project when you knew, "This is where I want to stay!"?

Honestly, I didn't follow the noble path of the scientist who found their passion and curiosity in a research niche and wanted to deepen their knowledge endlessly. Instead, after completing a project, I thought, "What now?" I just wanted to explore more. So, I always ended up with a new focus. The common denominator was that it had to involve materials enabling sustainable or innovative technologies and protecting resources. You could say metallurgy captivated me the most. However, even metallurgy is an incredibly broad field, so there was always a new area to explore.

“Aha” Moments Along the Way?

• Was there a moment during your doctorate or time at the ESA when you thought, "This is what I want to work on for the next few years"? "This is what I want to work on for the next few years"?

During my time at ESA, I learned about materials and manufacturing technologies that are no less challenging than producing components that can withstand extremely adverse conditions, such as pressure, temperature, and corrosive media. However, they rely on vast quantities of critical and expensive raw materials, such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni), to improve their high-temperature properties. This is crucial not only in aerospace but also in aviation and gas-fired power plants, where turbines must run at high temperatures to be efficient. At an EIT Raw Materials 2019 summer school, I learned about the resource aspect and helped students develop new, resource-saving business ideas. All of this fueled my interest in iron aluminides, an exciting class of materials made up of three parts iron and one part aluminum. They exhibit high-temperature mechanical properties similar to those of high-alloy steels, even with a small amount of alloying elements. However, they have only been used in a few applications so far. I wanted to understand this better, so I made it the subject of my doctoral thesis.

The Day of the Defense:

• How did you feel the morning of your defense on 09 April? Were you nervous or relaxed?

I was actually rather relaxed and was able to eat breakfast as if nothing were happening. That was a bit suspicious. However, I felt well prepared, and I was particularly pleased that my family was with me that day. Even my former master's thesis supervisor came.

• Was there a ritual (music, coffee, or conversation) that helped you stay calm?

I used to fail oral exams occasionally because I would break out in a sweat or couldn't think clearly because I was too focused, even though I was well prepared. During one exam, I tried a different approach. I closed my eyes in front of the exam office, took several deep breaths, and cleared my mind for a moment. Then, I aced the exam! This has been my go-to strategy ever since.

Emotions and Gratitude:

• Who have you relied on the most in the last few months when things got tough?

My wife, who was also doing her doctorate at the same time. We supported each other as best we could. She was an incredibly stable anchor for me, especially during the days when I worked at the DGM during the day and wrote my dissertation in the evening. I am endlessly grateful to her for that.

• How did you celebrate your success with your family and friends?

We ended the day with a relaxed gathering in Karlsruhe. There was certainly no shortage of delicious snacks!

Life Lessons From Research:

• Have you experienced a mishap in the lab or an unexpected experiment from which you gained a valuable insight?

I remember when, after months of waiting for procurement, production, and post-processing, we finally put the very first tensile specimen into the testing machine, and it broke after only a few tenths of a stretch. "That was quick," said my colleague. This had a direct impact on our test campaign, which had been carefully planned beforehand. I had already lowered my expectations and realized that test plans are temporary and that you should be prepared for anything. Of course, that's when the adventure of exploring the circumstances began—an elementary part of research!

• Away from the papers: What have you learned about yourself when an experiment went completely differently than planned?

I like thinking through problems when the unexpected arises. However, it's important to accept things as they are at a certain point. Talking to my peers promptly has always helped me either record explanations or draw up action plans. That's how you transition from soul-searching to taking action.

• How do you ensure you gain enough distance from your research when your mind is overwhelmed?

For me, it's dancing. During my promotion, I tried many things, from jazz dance and West Coast swing to hip-hop and contemporary. The style doesn't matter. When I return home, I have a catchy tune and tired muscles in my luggage.

Finding the Balance Between Depth and Comprehensibility

• You stand for "science for everyone." How do you present complex research ideas in a way that inspires everyone?

It's important to me that the audience leaves my talks knowing more than when they arrived. That's only possible if you engage everyone with the topic, regardless of their level of knowledge. You need a simple introduction, clear messages, and enthusiasm! You can introduce complexity once the audience is ready to ask questions.

• Who is your role model when it comes to presenting difficult topics in an entertaining and clear way?

Without a doubt: Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim. She has demonstrated in a number of entertaining ways how much science affects us in everyday life or how science helps us to think in a more differentiated way, with all its strengths and weaknesses. In this way, she reaches many outside the world of science. I hope that it reaches and inspires scientists in equal measure to jump over their shadows and incorporate a little more pep into their lectures. In any case, I am already convinced!

Outlook and Wishes

• What advice would you give to other young materials scientists who are planning their Master's thesis or want to pursue a PhD?

Of course you have to be enthusiastic about a research topic if you are looking for a place for your Master's thesis or PhD. But the drive to persevere to the end depends just as much, if not more, on the human factor. If your gut feeling tells you that you are better suited to a research group or that you have more trust in your future supervisor, then you should take this into account. It will still be a rocky road, but a little company never hurt.

We would like to thank Andreas for his candid insights and congratulate him again on successfully completing his doctorate. With his tireless commitment, enthusiasm for research, and ability to explain complex topics clearly, he will undoubtedly continue to contribute to the DGM and the BioTrans project. We look forward to taking the next steps together and invite you to engage with Andreas and share your ideas — because it is precisely this dialogue that strengthens our community.