Hello Max, you have already completed your Bachelor's and Master's degrees at TU Ilmenau. What made you decide to come to Ilmenau and stay for your doctorate?
I studied a lot of engineering courses after graduating from high school, but at the same time I always had a soft spot for mathematics and physics - especially the theoretical concepts behind them. Then I discovered that Ilmenau has a technical physics course that combines engineering with a solid physics education. That sounded exactly like the challenge I was looking for.
I was already in contact with the research groups during my Bachelor's degree and was allowed to look at laboratories and equipment - that was really impressive. I knew then: I wanted to do basic experimental research. In 2021, a new scanning tunneling microscope, the Cryo STM, was purchased here and I was one of the first to work with it.
What exactly are you researching?
I work on experimental physics at the molecular level. To do this, I use the Cryo STM at extremely low temperatures. The main aim of this Cryo STM is to investigate the interactions of individual molecules with light. To do this, I will combine optical spectroscopy methods with the atomic spatial resolution of the Cryo STM as part of my doctoral thesis. The idea of being able to measure light from individual molecules just grabbed me and I absolutely had to try it myself!
In your opinion, what are the advantages of doing a doctorate at TU Ilmenau?
As a student here, you already have great opportunities to get involved in research in the departments during your Bachelor's degree. For example, as a student assistant I was responsible for a sample heater that is intended for use in an ultra-high vacuum.
Of course, it doesn't stop at the actual task alone. You discuss with colleagues in the specialist area or present the latest publications from all over the world at group meetings. This quickly gives you an overview of current research questions and your own initial research ideas emerge.
Once I arrived at this point, I was particularly attracted by the specific research focus of our university, solid state physics, which is directly related to the electronics of the future. In addition, the state-of-the-art equipment, coupled with the local infrastructure such as helium recovery and the Cryo STM that we have here, speaks for itself.
