Laura Scheuer
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Advised by Lars Gundlach & Benjamin Jungfleisch
Interview submitted in Summer 2024.
CHARM Interviewer (CI): Where did you grow up and go to school for your undergraduate degree?
Laura Scheuer (LS): I grew up in a small village in the southwest of Germany, near the French border, and I studied Physics at the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany.
CI: What got you interested in materials science?
LS: The seemingly endless possibilities for shaping your sample with often very small changes in procedure. A slight variation in temperature or pressure can make a big difference in your results.
CI: In technical language, what is the research you do here at CHARM?
LS: I am interested in developing and using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to investigate excited state dynamics in solid state materials and hybrid materials.
CI: What is a skill you would like to build on while being a part of CHARM?
LS: I’m interested in developing my mentorship skills. I really appreciate the opportunity to participate in the general and culturally diverse mentorship workshops offered by CHARM.
CI: Tell us about your career goals and aspirations.
LS: My goal is always to work in a lab, either in academia or industry.
CI: Are there any other student/campus organizations you belong to?
LS: I do not volunteer with any organization in Newark yet, but in Germany I was involved in a fruit and horticulture club that encouraged and helped people to grow food in their own gardens in a sustainable and biodiverse way.
CI: What do you enjoy doing on your downtime outside of the lab?
LS: I find balance by spending as much time as possible in nature.
CI: What advice would you give to undergraduate students and first-year graduate students?
LS: The interested undergrads should not be shy and talk to several professors and their graduate students before making a decision; even better if you can work in several labs. This will help you better understand your interests and strengths. Research topics and lab cultures can be very different, and you want to make sure it is a good fit overall.
The first year graduate students know already how much effort goes into research. Just keep in mind that a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint. Continue to work at a steady pace, but be mindful of your health and well-being. Taking your time will save you time.