From trainee to doctoral researcher – a career in Potsdam-Golm
Dr. Erdmann came to his workplace through an internship. During his study of materials science at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, he was employed for six months as an intern at the Fraunhofer IAP in Potsdam-Golm. He wrote his diploma thesis in Halle (Saale) and then began working as a doctoral student at the Fraunhofer IAP in Potsdam. “I was warmly welcomed here from the very beginning. I have committed and competent colleagues and around me, versatile and powerful technical equipment at my disposal and a wonderful boss. A very positive development was simply possible here,” concludes Dr. Erdmann.
He describes his work as varied. He is responsible for project acquisition, soliciting research funds and planning, conducting and evaluating experiments. In addition, he manages a machine park, where he takes care of maintenance, plant expansions and adjustments in order to keep up to date with the latest technical developments and to meet constantly changing requirements. He looks after graduates, writes publications, writes patents and presents results either to his clients or at conferences. His work is demanding, but also fulfilling, he says: “I simply like to get to the bottom of things and enjoy inventing, developing and improving novel materials,” he explains.