Doctoral anniversary: Reunion of former doctoral students at the DWI

As part of RWTH Aachen University's doctoral anniversary celebrations, the DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials and the Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC) also opened their doors to some of their former doctoral students and their colleagues. The reunion was a moving moment that impressively demonstrated how strong the connection between the alumni and their former institutes remains.
 

Insights into current research

Prof. Andreas Herrmann, Scientific Director at the DWI, was delighted to welcome the guests and began by giving them a brief presentation on the institute's latest developments. The visitors were then taken on a tour of selected laboratories to discuss ongoing research projects. The insights ranged from automated sample handling by a pipetting robot to developments related to an innovative research project called “TriggerINK” for cartilage regeneration using bio-ink. Afterwards, Dr. Florian Bourdeaux presented current work at the DWI Biotechnikum on innovative concepts with anchor peptides and coacervates as MultiGlue, which are being developed in close collaboration with the groups of Prof. Schwaneberg and Prof. Herrmann.

Exchange with former doctoral students

The guests took the opportunity to share their impressions of current developments and at the same time reminisce about their own time during their doctorates. Among them were Dr. Dirk Achten, Dr. Birte Achten, Dr. Markus Steilemann, and Dr. Daniela Vasen.

“Thank you very much for the inspiring presentation of your impressive research activities at the DWI. I wish you continued success and look forward to seeing how your projects develop,” concluded Dr. Steilemann, aptly summarizing the atmosphere of the visit.
The tours of the institute were thus a successful start to the anniversary celebrations. “It was a great pleasure for us to see some of our alumni again and to present the current research highlights and developments at the DWI,” emphasized Prof. Andreas Herrmann at the end of the visit. The reunion clearly showed that scientific curiosity and attachment to the alma mater remain strong even decades after graduation.

Further information on the doctoral anniversary can be found on the RWTH Aachen University website: RWTH Aachen University – Doctoral Anniversary