Dr Kazem Zhour from Lebanon
I like Muenster, it’s the best German city I have visited so far because it’s neither too big nor too small. The layout and atmosphere here is very nice and it’s a great place to settle down.
Why did you decide to come to Muenster for your research?
I have visited a few European countries, and I found Germany is the the best for conducting research, as it offers excellent facilities. I decided to come to Münster specifically after I worked in a Spanish collaboration with the university’s centre for battery research (MEET), which demonstrated to me the importance of the research done in Münster in this field. After visiting Germany for a couple of short visits, I started my postdoc here in February of 2022.
How would you explain your research to a friend?
My research involves solid-state batteries, which are an improvement over the currently used lithium-ion batteries. I study the properties of various materials used in solid-state batteries based on their atomic structure. I am basically going deep into the building blocks of a material and analyse their electronic, thermal and optical properties, for example. I‘m a theoretician, which means that I am not involved in any lab-work, but I do use computers and software to run simulations, calculations and data analysis in general. I also write papers and present the results.
My work is part of a big German project including 12 universities and more than 200 members called “Festbatt2”, where we meet on a regular basis and share our research.
How has the research environment in Muenster affected your work? Would you recommend visiting Muenster to a colleague?
The research environment in Münster is really encouraging, the facilities allow us to work in a perfect way. Our team is very helpful and collaborative. It is also quite diverse, as we all come from many countries and many backgrounds. I have learned many things and improved on many skills during the 2,5 years I have been here. It was a big step forward!
The people that work at the university are very kind, I would of course recommend it to a colleague.
What do you think about Muenster as a place for research, considering especially that you don’t live in the city?
I like Münster, it’s the best German city I have visited so far because it’s neither too big nor too small. The layout and atmosphere here is very nice and it’s a great place to settle down. That is why I am considering moving to Münster, actually!
What does your work look like regarding the distance between home and the university?
I commute from Bergkamen most of the time, which is about a 45-minute car ride. Fortunately, the part of the Autobahn I use is rarely crowded. On Thursdays and sometimes on Tuesdays, I work remotely from home. However, I do prefer my office in Münster.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I wish bureaucracy in Germany would become a bit easier because it was hard for me to get my family here. But with the help from the university and the Welcome Centre, it worked out and my daughter is attending school in Germany now. I understand that the complexity of the bureaucracy has a reason, but I do wish it would be more streamlined.
Further information
Programmseite ReAl - Research Alumni Strategie