Blog

26th February 2026 · General
26th February 2026 · General

My first year of the PhD as an AI-assisted condition monitoring researcher

by Songhao Gao

I have just finished my first year of PhD life in the wonderful AUFRANDE project, and I would be very happy to share some of my nice experiences in this blog.

17th February 2026 · Events
17th February 2026 · Events

Beyond the Science: What I Learned About Research Emissions at the CBH Summer School

by Uzoma Nworgu

During the CBH Graduate School Summer School ‘Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Research’ I had to confront a truth I had never really considered before: the act of doing climate research itself has a carbon footprint.

12th February 2026 · General
12th February 2026 · General

From curiosity to research: My path into AI-enhanced cybersecurity

by Sara Pelinku

My interest in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence developed gradually, led by curiosity and a growing motivation to explore the field through research. It did not begin with a single moment, it grew through years of working closely with digital systems and the people who depend and learn from them.

11th February 2026 · General
11th February 2026 · General

Yes, All FOUR of My PhD Supervisors Are Women

by Josephine (Jo) Hoesel

…So what?

Have we not passed the endless tyranny of the obvious? And yet, the shock factor of telling people doesn’t wear off. This underscores the disappointing stereotypes and perceptions we still hold about who makes it in STEM.

10th February 2026 · General
10th February 2026 · General

From curiosity to capacity: My experience as a PhD fellow

by Pranoti Patil

This article reflects my journey from early curiosity in materials science to becoming an international PhD researcher in lithium-ion battery research, highlighting how mentorship, resilience, and global collaboration shaped both scientific and personal growth. It also emphasizes the importance of diversity, supportive role models and programs like AUFRANDE in empowering women and international students in science.

4th February 2026 · Events
4th February 2026 · Events

Stepping Into the Research World: Growing Through Three Conferences

by Huixin (Luna) Wu

This post reflects on my conference experiences in marine economics research and how attending conferences helped shape my academic confidence, research direction and identity as an early-career researcher.

30th January 2026 · General
Boyuan Yu featured image
30th January 2026 · General

My Journey Into Low-Dimensional Nanomaterials

by Boyuan Yu

This blog shares my journey into the world of low-dimensional nanomaterials, starting from a childhood fascination with nanotechnology. From studying MOFs as an undergraduate to researching nanoclusters in carbon nanotubes during my master’s studies, I gradually developed a strong interest in nanoscale materials. Now, as an AUFRANDE PhD student jointly supervised by Prof. Paolo Samorì and Prof. Liming Dai, I work on engineering MoS₂-based 2D hybrid materials for energy conversion and storage. After completing my first year in France, I will continue the next stage of my research in Australia.

11th December 2025 · General
11th December 2025 · General

Catching Atoms in Motion: First Beamtime Experience at ALBA Synchrotron

by Maryam Ikram

As a PhD student researching sodium-ion batteries, I’ve always been curious about how sodium ions move through the material during charging and discharging. This movement is key to understanding how the battery works. While I’ve been able to study this at a small scale in the lab, I wanted to see it on a larger, […]

21st November 2025 · Events
21st November 2025 · Events

Connecting with the AUFRANDE Community – Bordeaux 2025

by Hans Kieninger

During the annual event in Bordeaux, I had the chance to connect with the other AUFRANDE fellows.

29th October 2025 · General
29th October 2025 · General

Stepping Beyond Comfort: My First 10 Months as a AUFRANDE Doctoral Researcher in France

by Sravan Sangeeth Surendran

After 10 months of my PhD life in France, I would like to share my experiences so far.

27th October 2025 · Project news
27th October 2025 · Project news

Rooftop Photovoltaic Solar Panels: More Than Energy, They Shape Urban Climate

by Hamza Nisar

Cities are leading the clean energy transition, and rooftop photovoltaic solar panels are at the centre of this change… 

19th September 2025 · PhDlife
19th September 2025 · PhDlife

My Experience at La Nuit des Chercheur(e)s in Toulouse

by Felipe Quiroga-Suavita

Every year, researchers step out of their labs and meet the public on an evening of discovery, activities, and conversations.

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