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Can you describe the path that led you to your doctorate?
Being a German citizen, I began my academic career at Offenburg University. After completing a master’s degree in industrial engineering, I theoretically understood all the concepts, methods, and technologies used in the design of manufacturing systems. I was able to apply them and felt ready to start a job in industry. However, I had the sense of merely scratching the surface, unaware of the hidden links and dynamics. This led me to validate my theoretical knowledge in an industrial position. Therefore, I worked for 18 months in production and logistics planning at BMW. This industrial experience was fruitful for several reasons: first, it confirmed my ability to apply theoretical knowledge from my master’s classes; second, it exposed me to practical problems and industrial needs; and third, it reinforced my initial feeling of lacking a deep understanding of manufacturing systems' behavior and dynamics. Ultimately, I decided to return to academia and pursue a doctorate.
To start this journey, I sought support from my former professor. After explaining my motivations and objectives, he significantly helped me secure funding for the doctorate. The funding came through a research project, “VIRTfac,” supported by the European Union and involving industrial partners and universities in Germany and France. Since the project’s research questions closely aligned with my own, participating in VIRTfac not only secured funding but also strengthened my doctorate with the resources and expertise within the project. Additionally, it gave me access to the research landscapes of both Germany and France.
How did you experience your doctorate?
The doctorate was an extremely exciting phase, marked by significant personal and professional growth. On a personal level, I benefited greatly from the international foundation of the program. Spending extended periods in France improved my language skills and allowed me to interact with French and international colleagues from around the globe. These exchanges provided fresh insights, ideas, and friendships that continue to enrich my life today. In my view, modern research laboratories represent a microcosm where people, regardless of nationality, religion, political beliefs, or other differences, can collaborate and learn from one another.
Professionally, working with my colleagues was an incredibly inspiring experience. In research, most colleagues are experts in highly specialized fields and problems. Despite operating within the same broader domain, they employed diverse methods, techniques, and approaches to address questions related to my doctorate. Discussions with them consistently provided valuable input that helped me refine my ideas. These interactions not only advanced my doctorate but also significantly expanded my repertoire of methods and tools, which I continue to use to solve problems in my professional life.
Can you please briefly describe your PhD thesis work?
My thesis focused on the design and optimization of dynamic flow systems, particularly manufacturing systems. Dynamic flow systems are an integral part of our daily lives, from the flow of people in cafeterias and hospitals to the flow of suitcases at airport baggage claims and the flow of materials in manufacturing systems. Managing these flows is crucial not only for ensuring the efficient delivery and production of food, packages, and products in cafeterias, airports, and factories, but also for reducing waiting times and potentially saving lives in hospital emergency departments.
In industry, the simulation of such flows using discrete-event simulation models is widely employed to study and improve them. However, simulating flows comes with two major challenges. First, building models requires gathering simulation data and manually constructing the model, which demands significant time, knowledge, and effort from simulation experts. Second, even after a model is built, interpreting simulation results, understanding system limitations, and overcoming them through optimization and innovative solutions can be difficult, even for experts.
In my thesis, I addressed these challenges by focusing on two main aspects: developing simulation models and improving systems through simulation. I created methods to extract simulation data from mined event data, historical data automatically recorded during operations and developed approaches to generate models from this data. These advances allowed for instant model creation, greatly reducing the time, effort, and expertise required. I also implemented methods that helped experts understand system limitations more effectively and guided them in developing innovative solutions to address these challenges.
What is your current position and what has your doctorate brought you to this position?
After completing my doctorate, I spent an additional year in France as a postdoc at the DISP laboratory at INSA Lyon. This extra year in research allowed me to further develop my ideas and apply them to a new case study. During this time, I realized that my methods, which in my own perception were very simple, could bring big added value in other domains and environments. With this confirmation of their validity, novelty, and practical benefits, I decided to return to industry to transfer these methods to companies and enable a broader audience to benefit from the scientific advancements.
When transiting from academia to industry, I chose to work in a consulting company, applying simulation to support companies in designing their systems. This role allows me to work on both research and client projects, where my academic background proves invaluable. Projects share similarities with my doctoral research: as a consultant, I need to understand clients’ questions and challenges, gather data, develop models to address these issues, conduct systematic experiments to find solutions, and present the results. At every stage, I benefit from skills I developed during my doctorate. Moreover, due to the alignment between my research focus and my current role, I was able to contribute to the company’s business processes from day one.
If you have to give Ph.D. students one tip, what would it be?
In the beginning, when you start your PhD, you will likely feel very small. You’ll enter your laboratory and meet your fellow PhD students, who may seem very clever because they have already worked on their topics for months or even years. You’ll discuss your first drafts and ideas with professors who are experts in their fields, and sometimes they may fundamentally criticize your work. At times, you might struggle with your decision to do a PhD. During these moments, it always helped me to remember that all of them started with their own first small steps and simple ideas. They all walked the same path and faced similar struggles. Much of their knowledge came from years of dedication to their fields. As you progress, you will grow more confident, your ideas will evolve, and you’ll learn to defend your work. Eventually, you will become the experienced PhD who seems so clever to the new students, and you will successfully defend your thesis. My advice is to simply stay on your path, take one step after another, even if you do this sometimes more slowly, don’t question your decisions, and try to enjoy your journey as best as you can.