MAP student received CRC 1452 Equal Opportunity Fellowship
Remarkable support for a young researcher
My name is Diana Bekenova and I am from Kazakhstan. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Koc University, Turkey. I am currently a first-semester student of the Elite Master’s Programme “Advanced Materials and Processes” (MAP) at FAU, Germany. I decided to apply for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1452 Equal Opportunity Fellowship because of its focus: The Catalysis at Liquid Interfaces (CLINT) research areas fit my future career goals and resonate with my interest in catalysis. During the application to the CRC1452 Equal Opportunity Fellowship, I was particularly drawn to gaining in-depth knowledge in catalysis through the training, meetings and seminars of the fellowship.
The CRC1452 Equal Opportunity Fellowship offers more than just financial support for students. Each week, I attend colloquia on the recent results of CLINT’s main research areas, such as SCALMS (Supported Catalytically Active Liquid Metal Solutions), Interface-enhanced SILP (Supported Ionic Liquid Phase), Advanced SCILL (Solid Catalysts with Ionic Liquid Layer), and Area M: Modelling and Simulation. In addition to the colloquia, I have already had the opportunity to participate in the CLINTiRTG Interdisciplinary Graduate course lectures, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy, Surface Tension Measurements, and Atomic Layer Deposition, which were helpful in understanding the fundamental concepts of the CLINT research presented in the colloquia. As a CRC1452 Equal Opportunity Fellow, I express gratitude for the invitation to the 1st CLINTiRTG Winter School taking place in Kirchberg in Tyrol, Austria, from 8 to 13 January 2023. There, Iwill attend the project presentations of the CLINT researchers and gain valuable insights, establish a network with the experts in the field of catalysis, and enjoy the picturesque winter scenery of Kirchberg in Tyrol! Additionally, I will be participating in the Equal Opportunities Workshop “Unconscious Bias – how our brain tricks us and how this influences our decisions” given by Dr. Iris Wangermann during CLINTiRTG Winter School.
I am incredibly grateful that I am granted the opportunity to experience the collaborative and supportive academic environment of CLINT, and it encourages me to get involved in research and contribute to the scientific community in the future.
By MAP student Diana Bekenova (matriculation group 2022)