iMAT's PhD & Postdoc Seminar Day Showcases Interdisciplinary Research

Held in the iNANO auditorium, the day featured talks from seven research departments, showcasing the diversity and depth of materials research within iMAT. The topics ranged from fundamental science to industry-relevant applications, reflecting the center’s unique role in bridging disciplines as well as bridging the natural and technical sciences faculties.

Building the Materials Community at AU

The seminar day was also an opportunity to highlight iMAT’s mission: fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary materials reseach at Aarhus University. The program included contributions from PhD students, Postdocs as well as talks centered around applications in industry. The topics showcased the center’s commitment to both curiosity-driven science and mission oriented collaborations with industry.

Introduction to the seminar day by Anders Bentien from the iMAT leadership.

We had an interesting talk by former iMAT member Hazel Reardon, who is now working at NIRAS on power-to-x in industry.

Morten Linding Frederiksen (AU & HydrogenPro) presented his results on porous nickel foam electrodes for large-scale alkaline electrolysis.

A live Mentimeter survey showed the variety of materials being studied by the participants. Common themes included nanomaterials, catalysts, semiconductors and electrode materials. Of course, it also showed all the niche areas that make the iMAT network so special. Naming just a few such as molecular magnets, hydrogels and we know that of course this also includes a lot of coffee (and cake).

Result from the live survey:

This playful yet insightful survey helped both speakers and attendees connect across fields and research approaches.

Participant Feedback

Feedback collected after the event showed strong overall satisfaction. While most participants found the content moderately relevant to their own work, the high interest ratings suggested that the event succeeded in sparking curiosity and new perspectives. Several attendees noted that the open atmosphere, quality of the talks, and iMAT’s transparent communication about its direction were key highlights.

Suggestions for future editions included adding poster sessions, moving networking activities earlier in the day, and incorporating more structured ways to connect across disciplines.

Looking Ahead

Encouraged by the positive response and suggestions for improvement, iMAT will organize another PhD & Postdoc Seminar Day later in the year with an even greater focus on networking and interaction!

Stay tuned on the iMAT LinkedIn page and our website for updates on upcoming events, research highlights, and opportunities to get involved.