Direct Track students interviewed (1/2)
Melanie Urallar, Department of Mechanical Engineering
2024/09/12
The Clean Circles Direct Track Programme is aimed at female Bachelor students who would like to do a doctorate on topics in the field of energy research or energy transition. During a two-year Master's phase, they are supported by mentors and prepared for the doctoral phase in the Clean Circles project. Here we introduce some of the new students.
Melanie Urallar
Subject: Mechanical Engineering
Entry into programme: Winter semester 2023/24
Mentor: Prof. Andreas Dreizler
Dear Melanie, you are in your third semester of a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, how did this all start? When was studying mechanical engineering an option for you?
I already had a strong interest in science and maths at school. I already knew that I wanted to study engineering after excursions on the subject of environmental and energy technology. I only came across mechanical engineering at a very late stage, as I had initially considered much more specialised engineering courses. For me, the wide range of topics covered by the mechanical engineering degree programme outweighed everything else, which is why I opted for this degree programme and am very happy with it.
Which research projects or specialisations in mechanical engineering are you particularly interested in and why?
I was interested in energy technology, renewable energies and the energy transition right from the start of my degree programme. During my bachelor's degree, I found topics such as thermodynamics and fluid mechanics exciting and, thanks to my experimental bachelor's thesis, I now also have a great interest in experimental work in the laboratory and the necessary measurement technology. Clean Circles combines all of this as a research project, which is why I am delighted to get to know the project better through the Direct Track programme.
How did you find out about the Direct Track programme? Why did you apply for it?
The programme was recommended to me by fellow students who were already being supported. I was also already familiar with Clean Circles from my bachelor's thesis in a participating subject area. I find the idea of the research project very exciting and through the Direct Track programme I can also get to know the possibility of a doctorate better, which is why I applied.
Melanie Urallar,
Direct-Track student since winter semester 2023/24
The Direct Track programme offers a very good approach not only to support female students, but also to network them with each other.
You've been in the programme for 10 months now. Are there any particular highlights or things or lessons learnt?
My participation in the Clean Circles retreat at the beginning of the year was a particular highlight. I was able to get to know the research project from a new perspective, delve deeper into the content during a poster session and better understand how a doctorate is organised as part of the project.
How can we improve collaboration and networking between female students in mechanical engineering?
The Direct Track programme already offers a very good approach not only to support female students, but also to network them with each other. We are now six female students who have been accepted onto the programme and we all know each other well. The programme not only offers professorial mentoring, but also a female network for exchange. One option to expand this is to offer similar mentoring and direct-track programmes purely for female students in other areas of mechanical engineering. In order to expand the programme with additional perspectives, it would also be possible to bring alumnae into contact with the new direct-track students and encourage an exchange.
