For my bachelor’s thesis at the Vienna University of Technology I analysed the emission characteristics of a cylindrical cathode for a magnetron sputtering setup, closely observed by Miba AG. This piqued my interest in industry, leading me to spend nine months in R&D of a Swiss sensor manufacturer, where I was responsible for development, design, simulation, construction and testing of measurement benches, software and components.
To further develop my knowledge in the field of applied physics I continued my postgraduate studies in Applied- and Engineering Physics at the Technical University of Munich. During my first year I was employed in parallel as a working student at Infineon, where I performed tests and data analysis on cutting-edge high-power transistors. Prior to my subsequent research project, I spent time as a management consulting intern to fulfil my interest in gaining insights into managerial tasks and requirements.
In my Master’s research project, which I undertook at the Max-Planck-Institute for Physics, I commissioned and supported the installation new particle detectors for the world’s largest particle detector, ATLAS, at CERN in Geneva. The main part, however, was the successful design, construction and installation of a test setup at the Gamma Irradiation Facility at CERN (GIF++), which houses three prototype muon detectors and newly developed electronics. The results, which I presented at the 2021 IEEE NSS MIC conference, provide guidelines for the design of a new readout chip, capable of operating at very high counting rates.
In my first year of my DPhil at Oxford worked on pixel detectors for the HL-LHC ATLAS inner tracker upgrade, characterizing performance of bump bonded hybrid modules under thermal stress. In parallel I developed a FPGA based hardware interlock system for a pixel module test stand, which will be used for electrical qualification of approximately 1000 detector modules during the production phase. For this work and passing my transfer of status exam, I received the John Adams prize for outstanding performance in the first year of the particle physics DPhil program.
My main research interest lies with the development of particle detectors and accelerator technology, fast readout and control systems, and corresponding data analysis software. Ultimately my plan is to seek a career path which allows me to combine my profound interest in research with leadership ambitions, steering the technological directions and growth of a large-scale institution or company.
I am now focusing on silicon-based particle detector research for future collider experiments, motivated by my interest in the development of cutting-edge technology, which has potential applications beyond academia.
Currently I am performing fieldwork for one year at CERN (Geneva). This exciting opportunity allows me to work at the forefront of a project, developing a cylindrically bent semiconductor particle tracking detector, which is the first ever of its kind, and will be installed at one of the 4 large LHC experiment. This research is the main focus of my DPhil, while a contribution to a large-scale data analysis, honing my skills in statistics, machine learning, and data representation is an option to explore at a later stage.
Particle physics technologies often find applications in industry, one example medical technology. New innovative imaging technologies often have their origin in particle detectors and accelerator technology finds application in cancer therapy. While I am considering multiple career paths in and outside of academia, developing pioneering medical technology is one path I can see myself pursuing.