“When you move to Dresden, you cry twice ...”
(interviewed in the year 2024)
Thomas Scheufler
For his Master’s degree, Damiano Cacace was looking for a university with an excellent reputation in a city with a high quality of life. He found both these things in Dresden. So, he came, he saw, he stayed, and was always close to water. Because as Group Leader of the DREWAG drinking water laboratory, he monitors the quality of Dresden's drinking water.
Profile | Dr. Damiano Cacace |
Degree program | Master: Hydroscience and Engineering Promotion: Hydrobiologie |
Faculty | Environmental Sciences |
Study period | Master: 2010 - 2013 Promotion: 2014 - 2019 |
Current work | Group Leader Drinking Water Quality Assurance |
Why did you decide to study at TU Dresden?
I chose Dresden because my girlfriend at the time (now my wife) was looking for a German city where we could continue with our studies, somewhere that offered an exceptional university level and an international program. Choosing Dresden and TUD was easy.
What made you choose this degree program?
I studied Environmental Biology in Italy and was looking to deepen and expand my knowledge in the field of water management. And the international Master’s program Hydroscience and Engineering offered everything I was looking for.
Who from research and teaching influenced you the most during your studies?
I’m not able to name a single person, but definitely all my fellow students on the Master's program in Hydroscience and Engineering have had a huge positive influence on my time at the university. And during my PhD, I would say that the atmosphere and enthusiasm at the Institute of Hydrobiology was a huge motivation during my research period.
Where are you employed today, and what are your responsibilities?
Since 2022, I have been working for DREWAG Stadtwerke as a Group Leader of the drinking water laboratory at the Coschütz waterworks. We're responsible for monitoring the quality of drinking water in the city of Dresden.
What advice would you give to our current first-years?
My biggest piece of advice – especially for international students – is not to give up. Even if it can be a big culture shock, Dresden is such a beautiful city and TUD is a fantastic university. You just need a bit of time to adjust. And then you won't want to leave the city. In Italy, we have a saying for Naples, but I think it applies very well to Dresden too: “When you move to Dresden, you cry twice: once when you arrive and once when you leave.”
6) What do you remember most fondly about your time as a student?
I always found the level of lecturers and researchers to be very high and stimulating. And of course I have fond memories of the time I spent with my fellow international students outside of my studies.
What was your favorite place on campus?
One of my favorite places at the uni is the lawn on the roof of the SLUB. I loved taking breaks there when I was studying for exams and relaxing in the sun on the deck chairs.
8) What still has a lot of value for you today/would you like to have had more of?
The Master’s degree program was comprehensive and gave me the opportunity to gain an overview of all areas of water, which helped me a lot in choosing my future field of study. And the contacts I made during my PhD have proved to be very useful in my day-to-day work. It’s really important to have personal contacts!
What tips do you have for hitting the ground running in your industry?
I would recommend that all students get in touch with the company working in their field of interest, even if it's just for a short internship. It’s a good opportunity to get to know yourself and to find out whether what you are studying has a good chance on the job market.
What connects you to TU Dresden today?
A lot. The experience and knowledge I was able to gain at TUD will be of great benefit to my future career. I will cherish all the good memories I made here all my life.
Contact:
Dr. Damiano Cacace