- Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Name: Pardis Nooshmehr
Country: Iran
Graduated: 2023

Now working at:
SMS Group GmbH, Germany as research and development engineer

What I liked about MSS:

ICAMS felt like home to me. Everyone in ICAMS are willing to help if you like to learn and grow. What I really found amazing about ICAMS is the combination of materials science, physics, chemistry, artificial intelligence and so on. To me mostly, data driven course, fracture mechanics, computation crystal plasticity and CALPHAD were quite beneficial were I use them also in my every day tasks at work. These variety of courses enable the students to be educated not only in one major but also in different aspects where nowadays we call it materials informatics. ICAMS is also active in holding excursions every year to see the real application of our studies in the industry and academia which is quite practical if you want to make connections.

Name: Fernando Valiente Dies
Country: Spain
Graduated: 2022

Now working at:
ANSTO, Sydney (also enrolled as a doctoral student at The University of Sydney, Australia since autumn 2022)

What I liked about MSS:

The interdisciplinary nature of the MSS program provided a strong foundation in materials science and simulation, covering multiple length scales from quantum mechanics to continuum modelling. The Quantum Mechanics course was particularly fascinating, offering deep insights into how materials behave at the atomic level and how fundamental principles shape our universe. Additionally, the Programming course introduced me to languages like Python and Fortran, which became essential tools for my research. These skills were instrumental in my master’s thesis on 3D-printed components and their microstructural evolution, ultimately leading to my acceptance into a PhD position in Australia.The ability to explore different simulation techniques and apply them to real-world materials challenges was invaluable for my academic and professional growth.

Name: Lobna Saeed
Country: Egypt
Graduated: 2018

Now working at:
I’m working as a PhD student at the University of Bremen, Germany (Crystallography and Geosciences group), and I am teaching a course each semester

What I liked about MSS:

Studying at ICAMS at Ruhr-Universität Bochum was one of the most enriching experiences of my academic journey. The interdisciplinary environment, world-class research, and supportive community provided me with not only a deep understanding of materials science but also the tools to think critically and work across disciplines. Some of the courses that left a lasting impact on me were Quantum Mechanics in Solid State Physics with Dr. Tilmann Hickel and Quantum Mechanics in Materials Science with Prof. Ralf Drautz. Both courses sparked my passion for the quantum-level understanding of materials. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Thermodynamics course by Dr. Reza Darvishi, which deepened my appreciation for the fundamental principles that govern materials behavior.
What I learned at ICAMS continues to shape my work today. The solid foundation I gained during my Master’s studies is still central to my PhD research at the University of Bremen. I often find myself drawing upon the knowledge, methods, and mindset I developed at ICAMS. Moreover, so many people I know think that it is one of the best master’s studies in Germany. Beyond academics, I have many fond memories of my time in Bochum. ICAMS remains a special place to me—not just for what I learned, but for the people, the atmosphere, and the passion for research that continues to inspire me.

Name: Khausik Narasimhan
Country: India
Graduated: 2018

Now working at:
Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht, Germany

What I liked about MSS:

The MSS program had a lot of diverse specialization options. I had the opportunity to learn many different things, at the same time keeping my focus on a few specialized subjects. I never had any pressure during the course nor pressure of finding a phD position after the graduation. In my batch, we were just 12 students and it helped to have a perfect learning atmosphere. All my friends from MSS now have found a PhD position and some have got into industries too. I would strongly recommend this course especially for those who would like to do research in Materials science. I wish the prospective students good luck and I hope they would enjoy the MSS program the way I did.

Name: Dr. Bonny Dongre
Country: India
Graduated: 2015

Now working at:
After his PhD at Technical University of Vienna Bonny Dongre worked there as a postdoctoral researcher.

What I liked about MSS:
Exposure to the methods of simulating materials right from macroscale, through mesoscale, and all the way to the atomistic and electronic scale. I think this course is one of its kind, globally. Secondly, ample opportunities to apply and work as a student assistant which helps the students not only to get an insight into actual research but also to manage their finances.

Name: Dr.-Ing. Ankit Gupta
Country: India
Graduated: 2015

Now working at:
After his PhD at Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Düsseldorf/RUB, Ankit Gupta now works as a data scientist at Lidl Digital, Heilbronn, Germany.

What I liked about MSS:
The interdisciplinary nature of the courses appealed best to me. Simultaneously offering courses targeting multi scales under the same hood provides students a nice overview of how one can study materials? properties at different time and length scales. I also adore the idea of having specialized optional courses which allows students? to explore various research areas of their interest. For me, the MSS course laid a perfect foundation for pursuing a Ph.D in computational materials science.

Name: Anna-Lena Kauws
Country: Germany
Graduated: 2015

Now working at:
TRIMET Aluminium SE, Essen (also enrolled as a doctoral student at the TU Freiberg, Germany since spring 2022)

What I liked about MSS:
The MSS programm offered a unique combination of subjects, which made this program so interesting in comparison with other programs. It made you think ‚outside the box‘. Moreover, it offered great possibilities to study (theoretical) and work (practical) at ICAMS. The special environment and the benefits of a worldwide knotted network with students and professors make the MSS program complete. The possibility to spend a semester abroad in your own country was a plus as well.

Name: Dr. Chanbum Park
Country: S. Korea
Graduated: 2015

Now working at:
After his PhD at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin/Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Chanbum Park now works as a PostDoc at the Faculty of Chemistry, RUB, Germany.

What I liked about MSS:
As ICAMS is devoted to research on multi-scale materials modeling, students in ICAMS have many chances to learn various subjects which are related multi-scale modeling. Those experiences have extended my viewpoints on the modeling challenges for my PhD project which is „Modeling of Li/S batteries“. Hence, after the MSS program, one can access different approaches, from quantum mechanical calculations to continuum theories, to solve the modeling challenges.