Testimonials from students

We offer interesting experimental Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. You have the opportunity to choose the topic and focus of your thesis based on your individual interests. If you are interested, please contact Prof. Thomas Giesen: t.giesen[at]physik.uni-kassel[dot]de

Here are some testimonials from students who completed their thesis (Bachelor’s, Master’s) in the Laboratory Astrophysics Group:

My Time in the Giesen Research Group
During my time inthe Giesen research group, I experienced what it feels like to be part of the scientific research process. By working with experienced scientists and having the opportunity to analyze physics problems on my own, I gained a sense of what my professional life might look like after graduation. During my time in the Giesen research group, in addition to gaining subject-specific knowledge, I learned how to create CAD drawings, conduct scientific research, and build my own experimental setup from scratch. The time I spent in the lab was also an interesting experience thanks to the practical application of theoretical knowledge and, not least, the helpfulness of my colleagues. Thanks to the positive work environment, I felt at home right away. So whenever I had questions about my work, the scientific field, or personal matters, there was always someone willing to listen.

Reflections on My Time in the Giesen Research Group
My time withthe Giesen Research Group was wonderful. All the employees—the students, the doctoral candidates, the postdocs, and Ms. Westermann—are incredibly kind and helpful. Interpersonal relationships are relaxed, and the atmosphere is excellent. This makes it easy to resolve almost any issue—whether you need help with something in the lab, with data analysis, or with any other small matter. In addition to regular meetings, there are plenty of opportunities to chat in the hallway or over lunch. The conversations cover everything that’s on the minds of young researchers—it’s not always just about science. ;)
The Giesen lab tackles exciting topics: How cool is it to make the universe tangible right there in the lab? For me, the most fun part was tinkering around in the lab itself, building things, and solving problems. But there’s plenty to do with data analysis, too—after all, several gigabytes of data are collected quickly, and their content needs to be examined. What’s exciting here is that the data doesn’t just come from our own lab; it can also be compared with data from ground-based and satellite-based telescopes. So you study the very small and draw conclusions about the very large. That inspires not only physicists but also me as a nanoscientist. And I would have loved to stay involved with the field. It was only my urge to learn something new and to research problems on Earth that led me to move to a different city after completing a research internship and my master’s thesis with the Giesen research group. However, I’m happy to stay connected to the group and am already looking forward to the next Christmas party. :)