Researcher Highlight – Marina Günthert from Project E
We hope to give a better insight to the program by introducing our PhD students. This time we asked Marina about her research and how she became a member of our IRTG:
How did you become a part of the IRTG program?
I did my Bachelor and Master at FAU on the subject of Molecular Nano Science and have always been intrigued with the idea of solar cells. Due to this I joined the Helmholtz Institute for Renewable Energies (HIERN), in particular the group High-throughput methods in photovoltaics, for my Master thesis. The IRTG was then forwarded to me by my supervisor Prof. Brabec as I envinced interest in continuing with my PhD there.
Why were you interested in this IRTG program?
Wanting to persue my career towards a PhD was kind of always in my vision for life. At first I only looked up to my fathers doctoral degree but already early in my school career I discovered my interest for science. During my studies I then just never felt done but instead always wanted to go on and here I am now. I was immediately taken away by the opportunity to combine theoretical and practical methods offered in the IRTG as here I have the chance to start working in the group of Prof. Meyer from project L and then continue from my theoretical results on to working in the lab again.
Tell us a little more about your current research for the IRTG.
My whole project is aiming towards an efficient high-throughput investigation of a class of new lead-free double perovskite materials. Therefore I am combining DFT (density functional theory) methods, Machine Learning approaches and robotic synthesis and characterization for a material characterization pipeline. The first step and what I am doing at the moment is automating the DTF calculations towards a high-throughput manner and then applying them to various perovskite compositions. That involves a lot of programming and testing to achieve various material characteristics including for example structural, electronic and optical properties.
What is one goal in your life?
It might sound a little romantic and naive but I would really love to make some kind of contribution to this world. Making it a better place even if it is only the tiniest puzzle piece. If that does not work out scientifically I will probably end up in a wildlife sanctuary saving injured animals.