Scientist at the Research Centre for Geosciences

1. What is your day like on a typical Tuesday at work?

"On a typical Tuesday at the Geoscience Research Centre, I arrive at Telegrafenberg at around 8.00 am. I spend the morning focusing on administrative tasks before our group meeting starts at 10.00 am – during which we give scientific presentations or sometimes just have a coffee. During the lunch break, there’s another opportunity for a chat. Then we move on to the active part of the day: project meetings with PhD students and hands-on support in the lab, such as with sample separation or methodology. It’s quite varied.”

2. How did you end up in your current job, and which skills from your degree help you in your day-to-day work? 

“My dissertation laid the foundations for what I still do today. It involved a lot of laboratory work, as well as the geomorphological and geochemical interpretation of data describing processes on the Earth’s surface, such as weathering and erosion. When my supervisor moved from Hanover to Potsdam, I was given the task of setting up the cleanroom laboratory for cosmogenic nuclides and stable metal isotopes at the GFZ. I still work there today, as head of the laboratory, and now have my own research group. I have never regretted it. I am able to conduct wide-ranging research into fascinating questions relating to surface processes.”

3. What is your favourite part of your current job?

I think it’s the variety that I enjoy. For example, last year I spent a total of three months in the field taking samples. I really enjoy getting out and about so much, and the brilliant team I work with. Even on a normal working day, I don’t just sit at my computer, and I get to attend meetings regularly. At the moment, we’re at a stage with two projects where our work is starting to bear fruit; in other words, my team is hard at work writing papers. I’m delighted to see how young people are growing through their tasks and contributing their creative ideas!"