{"id":77951,"date":"2025-08-21T08:15:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T06:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/?post_type=kb_magazin&p=77951"},"modified":"2025-08-21T08:15:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T06:15:45","slug":"mail-from-braunschweig-9","status":"publish","type":"kb_magazin","link":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/en\/m-post\/mail-from-braunschweig-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Mail from … Braunschweig"},"content":{"rendered":"

General Information<\/h2>\n

This is what I did in Braunschweig:<\/h3>\n
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That’s me at work. Picture credits: IMT\/TU Braunschweig<\/p><\/div>\n

I am here for a collaboration on an project of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre that was awarded to my Ph.D guide Dr. Shrutidhara Sarma under WISER scheme. WISER stands for \u2018Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research\u2019 and aims to promote female researchers.<\/p>\n

The project is a collaboration of the Institute of Microtechnology (IMT) of TU Braunschweig and the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur.<\/p>\n

At the IMT I worked on flexible and stretchable strain sensors and explored how to design an electronics evaluation system that can extract a reliable output from the sensors. My work was focused on understanding the fabrication technique of the screen-printed sensors and designing a PCB to monitor them. During my stay at IMT, I have gained hands-on experience in bacterial handling and live-organism protocols, honed my skills in circuit design and microfabrication on silicon wafers, and observed clean-room processes such as lithography and wafer bonding. Beyond the laboratory, I made many new friends and had the pleasure of experiencing the warm hospitality of the people here in Braunschweig.<\/p>\n

Local Life<\/h2>\n

This is how I lived in Braunschweig:<\/h3>\n

I lived in a short-term rental apartment near the campus. It was really easy to find accommodation in Braunschweig. There were no problems. The flat was near the city center, so it had a good connection to the public transport.<\/p>\n

What are the differences between researching in Germany and in your home country?<\/h3>\n

In Germany, I enjoyed direct access to equipment and detailed guidance on how to operate it, which really enhances my work. In India, by contrast, access is often limited because centralized instruments must be reserved in advance. The availability of chemicals and specialized tools was also far better Germany\u2014for example, we could source all our materials from a single vendor, whereas in India one usually has to coordinate with several suppliers. Despite these differences in infrastructure and logistics, I find that the work ethic remains just as strong in both countries\u2014I\u2019ve noticed no real gap in dedication or productivity.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between everyday life in Germany and in your home country?<\/h3>\n

In Germany, there\u2019s plenty of space to roam and excellent city connectivity when it comes to public transport. The city center in Braunschweig and its parks are beautiful, and with a supermarket just steps from my apartment, grocery shopping was very convenient. Although the weather was colder than back home, I actually prefer it that way. I did miss Indian flatbread\u2014despite my best efforts, the local flour here changed the taste\u2014and, more generally, I often longed for Indian cuisine. That said, German sweets are delicious, and as a vegetarian I\u2019ve found plenty of great ingredients and meal options, so cooking at home was both easy and enjoyable. I\u2019d even say I\u2019m a pretty good chef now when it comes to my own meals.<\/p>\n

That is what I learned here in the first three days<\/h3>\n

When travelling by bus, you have to press the stop button for the bus to stop at a bus stop. On my first day, I didn’t know this and travelled too far. I then had to walk back. I also noticed that Germans really appreciate a quiet atmosphere in public and at work.<\/p>\n

The biggest challenges during my stay …<\/h3>\n