Events 2023

14th ECR Workshop

14 February 2023

MAPEX and the MAPEX Doctoral Qualification Programme organised the 14^th ECR Workshop, which was held in February 2023 under the motto 'Science meets Industry'.The focus of the workshop was to provide Early Career Researchers an opportunity to come into contact with graduates who are now successful in their careers in industry and business. A particular highlight of the workshop was the focus on the aspect of spin-offs from the academic research.

In two interesting and impressive career talks two experienced scientists gave a very personal view on their professional development. Dr. Mar Fernández-Méndez introduced her innovative project and idea of aquafarming the open ocean with the aim to reduce pressures on coastal natural ecosystems and their biodiversity and also contributing to reduce Carbon Dioxide at scale. As co-founder of "Seafields", she shared her personal challenges and necessities of being an academic researcher and a company founder at the same time.

Prof. Dr. Jan-Henning Dirks from Hochschule Bremen - City University of Applied Sciences gave an insightful talk about his personal career trajectory, highlighting his professional and personal experience in the private sector as well as in academic research. He explained why it was exactly the right decision for him to return to academia after a short time in industry, which eventually led to a professorship. He presented his interesting scientific work on the biomechanical properties of the cuticle exoskeleton.

Two panel sessions gave an opportunity for direct discussion and exchange with the invited panellists. In the panel discussion “moving from academia to industry”, Dr. Valentin Baric (ArcelorMittal Bremen) and Dr.-Ing. Mirko Christ (OHB System AG) gave insights into their individual career paths. They have successfully started a career in industry after being a scientist in the MAPEX community. The focus of the discussion was on important skills and competences necessary in their current professional work as well as on the differences in the daily work routine between the academic and the private sector.

“Starting a company from academia” was the second panel in which Dr. Marin Holi (TOPAS Industriemathematik) and Dr. Andreas Grund (GCP-Service International Ltd. & Co. KG) shared their unique perspectives and expertise on starting a business from academia. What does it take to turn ideas into a successful business model? How to deal with possible setbacks along the way? This were only some of the questions the participants discussed with our guests. In this context, Jeroen Langejan introduced BRIDGE’s broad range of services as a central contact point for start-up support for members of Bremen’s universities.

Finally, the workshop featured two presentations on scientific and applied work by Early Career Investigators at MAPEX. Dr. Tim Radel from BIAS gave an overview of different laser procedures for surface modification, including laser polishing and laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). Dr. Manuel Alonso-Orts from the Institute of Solid State Physics presented his scientific work on Gallium Oxide. His goal is to overcome technical challenges related to the UWBG system by developing and applying novel fabrication methods and designs for visible and near-UV optical cavities based on epitaxial Ga₂O₃.