First-Person Report: Dr. Heather Evans     

What project are you currently working on?

I'm presently investigating organic materials with the aid of microfluidic techniques. Put simply, I'm looking at how proteins in a controlled environment co-react, and at their reactions to networks. My approach has a strong interdisciplinary aspect. Physics, chemistry, biology and even engineering can all be found in my work. It's particularly interesting for me to see how my research results could find their uses in other fields too, for instance, medicine.

How did you end up in Germany?

I graduated in Santa Barbara, at the University of California. One of my friends and colleagues, a German, became head of a project at a research institute in Göttingen and offered me a job there. During a conference in Scotland, I decided to take the opportunity to take a trip to Germany. I liked it very much, right from the start, so I took up my friend's offer.

What speaks for Germany as an research and development location?

The level of education in Germany is extremely high. All the students I got to know so far have a really wide range of knowledge. On top of this, Germany is famous for precision engineering, so famous that most of my laboratory equipment in the States came from Germany as well.

What's the best idea ever to come out of Germany?

The "Maßkrug" - a whole litre of beer in one glass!

What do you find fascinating in Germany?

What I really like about Germany - I only have to travel about an hour to be in totally new surroundings. Food, music and cultural life are so different in the various parts of Germany. A lot of towns and cities have managed to preserve their original cultural integrity and are still so authentic. I just love going to parties in Germany: the people are really crazy!

research-in-germany» :: March 2008