From September 15–17, 2025, doctoral and post-doctoral students of the CRC 1333 gathered for the annual Summer School. This year’s event took participants from Stuttgart to Rheinfelden and Rottweil, combining scientific exchange, professional development, and team activities in a dynamic three-day program.
The event was organized by the doctoral representatives Alina Bauer (Project B06) and Martina Paetsch (Project B05).
Photo Credit: CRC 1333
The Summer School began with a visit to Evonik Industries in Rheinfelden, where participants gained an in-depth look into the company’s research and production activities. After an introduction of the CRC 1333 by doctoral researcher Selina Itzigehl and a safety briefing by Evonik, company representatives provided an overview of their work on silane production, building protection materials, and research and development in functional materials.
A guided tour through the production plants offered fascinating insights into large-scale industrial processes, followed by discussions with employees from R&D and sales. The visit concluded with an open Q&A session about career opportunities for young scientists.
After traveling to Rottweil, Germany’s oldest town, the program continued with a series of talks and workshops. The morning opened with a lecture by Muneshwar Nandeshwar on “Cooperative Catalysis Under Confinement” and a presentation by Sofia Kolin on “Molecular determinations of solvent nanoseparation by nanoporous carbon materials.”
Two poster sessions provided opportunities for lively discussions, while Fabian Heck’s Sorption Workshop on “Gas Adsorption: Why We Do Not Measure BET” invited hands-on learning and debate. In the afternoon, participants explored Rottweil during an outdoor escape game or a photo challenge before gathering again for a quiz night organized by Liam Rautenbach.
Photo Credit: CRC 1333
Photo Credit: CRC 1333
The final day focused on career skills with an interactive CV and networking workshop by Rob Thompson. Participants discussed how to make a strong impression during job applications and how to build professional networks effectively — a session that received enthusiastic feedback for its practical advice and relaxed atmosphere.
The program concluded with a talk on “Electrochemistry Fundamentals & Applications” by Yannick Weidemann and the announcement of the poster prize winner, Amelie Heilmaier (congratulations!), followed by the election of new doctoral representatives – stay tuned for an extra announcement on this topic!
Photo Credit: CRC 1333
Photo Credit: CRC 1333
A huge “Thank you” to Alina and Martina for their enthusiasm and commitment as doctoral representatives and for organizing this wonderful summer school!