chemical analysis group
Whole team `imported' from Münster
The Chemical Analysis Group at the UT is quite unique. Almost all members are graduates of the University of Münster. Speaking with these German members of the group about their studies and differences between Dutch and German culture presents an exceptional perspective at the UT.
If you want to see real teamwork and colleagues who enjoy spending leisure time together, a short visit to Chemical Analysis Group is just what you need. The whole team has been `imported' from the University of Münster by their advisors, Prof. Dr. Uwe Karst and Dr. Martin Vogel. According to Sebastian Gotz, chemical analysis is not very popular for Dutch students whereas a Phd is almost a `must' in Chemistry for German students to be competitive in the labor market. That tendency also explains the density of German members in the group. Although most started working around the same time, Sebastian Gotz, Christel Hempen and Hartmurt Henneken have been here the longest, since 2001.
The Chemical Analysis Group mainly deals with developing methods to analyze dangerous compounds in the air, especially in industrial areas. The group aims to improve existing methods for analyzing compounds, but also tries to find new ways of analyzing. The development of derivative agents for various fields of applications is another key issue. Their research also focuses on development of detection schemes for enzyme assays and immunoassays, which are of major importance in clinical chemistry.
Since most of the group is German, they cannot tell clear differences between the Dutch and German way of working though Revermann and Gotz mention the more flexible approach of the Dutch in terms of rules: `Germans are more strict and organized, but here it is possible to get around the rules and do what you want in the end.'
Their relation with the Dutch language is similar to most foreign students living in the Netherlands. As Christel Hempel puts it, `We are not forced to learn the language, so this stops our willingness to learn the language a bit.' They communicate with their Dutch colleagues in English, but since German and Dutch are similar, they can understand each other's mother tongues as well.
German members of the group live in Gronau because of the estate problems of Enschede. Bettina Saiwert complains about the Dutch housing system: `Trying to rent a flat is like a lottery, none of us wanted to wait that long, so we moved to Gronau.' Some other comments about Dutch houses come from Hartmut Henneken, `I wouldn't want to buy a house here; the quality of Dutch construction is not even comparable to German construction.'
Some qualities of Enschede are attractive to them: the diverse structure of the city, restaurants from different cuisines, and the chance to watch movies in the original language are all factors group members enjoy. `The market place is really nice on Saturdays, so I do my shopping in Enschede' says Henneken.
Most of the members will finish their Phd this year or the next year. Their future plans involve the UT because they all agree that the combination of working life and leisure is at an optimum level here. They are not, however, very optimistic about future job opportunities because of the economic status of the university and region. `Jobs are scarce in this region. There is no chemistry industry here. Post-doc positions are very rare and short term in this field. I guess we all have to take the first opportunity and not to be too picky about it' states Henneken hopefully.
Deniz Karakaya |
登录
