DAAD-scholarship holder from Argentina wants to improve the corrosion resistance of surfaces using laser-based technologies

Since October 1^st, 2021, M.Sc. Eng. Lis Geraldine Zschach is Ph.D fellow at the Chair of Laser-Based Methods for Large-Area Surface Structuring leaded by Prof. Andrés Lasagni.  M.Sc. Zschach was awarded with a three years Research Grant for Doctoral Programmes in Germany from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). She is now pursuing a doctorate on the topic: “Fabrication of laser textured surfaces with hierarchical features for enhancing corrosion properties of metals”. 

Lis Geraldine studied Chemical Engineering at the National University of Misiones (Posadas, Argentina). There, she focus on Corrosion and Materials Science at the Laboratory of Materials Science under the Materials and Physiochemistry Program (ProMyF). In 2018, Mrs. Zschach got the first place in the International Mobility Scholarship from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal), where she obtained also a Master Degree in Chemical Engineering.

“I got in contact with Prof. Lasagni during the Materials Science and Engineering Congress in Darmstadt, in September 2018. After I got my Master degree, we started to develop a research program, for applying to the DAAD”, said Lis. “Because of my previous experience in corrosion, we thought that by changing the surface topography and chemistry of surfaces using laser radiation, it would be possible to enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminium alloys”.

The procedure to obtain a DAAD scholarship is not easy. First, the applicants must present a research proposal at the DAAD, in the application country (in this case, Argentina). After that, all submitted proposal are evaluated and a few students are interviewed. In case of DAAD Argentina, only 19 students were selected to conduct research in Germany. “I applied to the DAAD program in August 2020. Because of the pandemic situation, the German course that is normally dictated locally in Germany in September was this year online”.

The DAAD scholarship holder is very impressed by the architecture and the history of the city as well as for the entire country: “I consider myself a curious person and scouting Dresden is something that I am looking forward to. In addition, my grandparents come from Thuringia which make this experience very important for me”. She recognizes Germany as a leading country in Material Science as well as Laser Technology: “I have been working in Materials Science since my early days at my home University. Germany was always my reference nation in that field. Coming to Germany to work in a highly recognized surface engineering team that allows me to strengthen my knowledge and boost my professional career, is a dream come true”.