What our Alumni think about the program:
Emma Brambila Tamayo (Graduated in 2026)
What are you most looking forward to during your time at MPSP?
I especially valued the closer connections I developed with colleagues working on fascinating optical technologies. Meeting someone briefly at a large conference is very different from seeing the same people twice a year, following their progress, and building stronger professional relationships over time. Since we often face similar challenges, we can motivate one another, exchange practical advice, and learn from each other’s experiences.
What have you been doing professionally since you graduated from MPSP?
I work as a research associate in the Quantum Superresolution group at Fraunhofer IOSB in Ettlingen. Although my current research differs somewhat from my PhD topic, it remains closely connected to quantum science and optics. I wanted to stay in a research environment where I could apply the knowledge and skills I gained during my studies to develop new technological solutions. I continue to attend conferences, learn about the work of others in the field, and support students pursuing similar paths at different stages, from bachelor’s level to PhD. I am also gaining experience in the administrative side of science, including writing research proposals and communicating the importance of advancing my field. I am highly motivated to contribute because the science is not only fascinating but also has significant practical potential. I want to help bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world applications.
What advice would you give to new MPSP students for their time at MPSP?
Do your best, but remember to enjoy the journey, not just the science. Take time at different stages to reflect on your progress, looking beyond formal achievements such as publications. Consider how your current work is preparing you for your long-term professional goals. This can be difficult when everything else feels more urgent, but graduate studies are only one phase of your career, and they should help you move toward the future you envision. If you are still figuring out your goals, reflect on that as well rather than simply drifting along.
Make the most of the opportunities offered by the MPSP, particularly those that help you develop skills beyond your scientific expertise. When applying for jobs, you will often compete with many scientifically qualified candidates, so a well-rounded skill set can make a meaningful difference. I also appreciated how the MPSP encourages early networking with companies and other research institutes. These connections can give you a clearer picture of the career opportunities available and how different organizations operate.
Finally, do not hesitate to seek support from the MPSP team. The organizers are highly approachable and genuinely committed to helping you succeed. They offer an additional source of guidance beyond your research group and supervisor, whether by acting as mediators or suggesting solutions to administrative challenges based on their experience supporting other students.
Thomas Arne Hensel (Graduated in 2025)
What are you most looking forward to during your time at MPSP?
I was especially looking forward to the freedom to explore ambitious ideas and to broaden my perspective beyond my original field. The MPSP network offered a rare opportunity to meet researchers across different areas of photonics and to find the scientific environment that best matched my interests.
What have you been doing professionally since you graduated from MPSP?
After completing my PhD in 2025, I continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences. In parallel, I co-founded a startup and secured funding from the Max Planck spinoff initiative „Maximize“ as well as an EXIST startup grant. My doctoral research was awarded the 2026 German Thesis Award, and I am now preparing to embark on a new scientific direction and transition toward quantum physics as a Schmidt Science Fellow.
What advice would you give to new MPSP students for their time at MPSP?
Use the flexibility of the MPSP actively. Talk to people outside your immediate field, visit different groups, and choose your research environment as carefully as your research topic. A PhD is long enough that mentorship and scientific culture matter enormously. And do not be afraid to pursue ideas at the boundaries between disciplines.
MPSP is also offering great workshop, engage actively and prepare to make the most out of the time for your personal and professional development.
Thea Moosmayer (Graduated in 2024)
What are you most looking forward to during your time at MPSP?
During my time as a PhD candidate at the MPSP, I particularly enjoyed the spring and autumn schools and the opportunity to interact with others who share my passion for optics and photonics.
What have you been doing professionally since you graduated from MPSP?
After a postdoc position following my Ph.D. in Stefan Hell’s lab at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, I began my training as a German and European patent attorney at the law firm LBP (LBP Lemcke, Brommer & Partner Patentanwälte mbB) in Karlsruhe.
What advice would you give to new MPSP students for their time at MPSP?
It's a great opportunity to learn something new and broaden your horizons.
Kim Alina Lammers (Graduated in 2021)
What were you most looking forward to during your time at MPSP?
The aspect I valued most was the chance to meet researchers from a wide variety of institutes that belong to the MPSP community. The annual Autumn School was a perfect illustration of this. It brought together PhD students from different sub‑fields, gave us an intensive “deep‑dive” into each other’s work, and broadened my own optics expertise.
What have you been doing professionally since you graduated from MPSP?
Following my PhD, I entered the industrial sector. I spent several years in R&D at Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH. Currently, I am working as an Optical Designer at Jenoptik Optical Systems GmbH.
What advice would you give to new MPSP students for their time at MPSP?
I would advise new students to enjoy the ride, explore widely, and make the most of the networking opportunities provided by MPSP. Attend the autumn schools and any other short courses or workshops offered, visit partner institutes, talk to as many people as possible. Take the time to understand your peers’ projects. While it’s essential to become an expert in your own niche, taking the time to understand neighboring fields will make you a more versatile scientist and, later, a more attractive candidate for industry or academia.
Heiko Knopf (Graduated in 2021)
What are you most looking forward to during your time at MPSP?
What impressed me most was the exchange and interaction with many impressive, inspiring, and open-minded young researchers, as well as with experts from a broad scientific community throughout Germany.
What have you been doing professionally since you graduated from MPSP?
After completing my doctoral dissertation, I initially worked briefly as a research engineer at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. Immediately afterward, I began serving as a politician on the executive board of a German political party. In this new role, the experience I gained from the highly structured environment of academic work, as well as the ability to engage in discussions on new topics, proved to be of great help.
What advice would you give to new MPSP students for their time at MPSP?
Take advantage of this time to think outside the box at every opportunity and engage in discussions that are both up-to-date and do not automatically perpetuate long-held assumptions. Our environment is changing so rapidly that we must reorient ourselves every day. This can only be achieved through open dialogue, a spirit of discovery, and a critical mindset.