
Currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute for Physical Metallurgy and Materials Physics at RWTH Aachen, Lukas Berners spent six months at UBC as a visiting PhD student in Dr. Ben Britton’s research group, studying atomic changes in Nb-Ni and Nb-Co alloys using advanced Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD)-based methods.
1. Please describe your academic background.
I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Materials Science from RWTH Aachen, with a focus on metallic materials such as Al- and Mg-alloys and steels. My current research project at Aachen involves exploring the co-deformation of Mg-Al-Ca alloys and using EBSD in Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) to identify small or crystallographically complex phases.
2. What attracted you to UBC and the Department of Materials Engineering?
Dr. Ben Britton’s research group at UBC has strong expertise and support in advanced materials characterization techniques using SEM, and I am eager to further expand my knowledge and skills in this area. The strong collaboration and close ties between my home institution and UBC in the past also played a key role in my decision to visit.
3. Can you tell us about how a typical week is like to you at UBC and in Vancouver?
In our group, we have a rather flexible schedule for conducting experiments under a microscope or analyzing the collected data. Every Wednesday, we hold a group meeting, where group members present their research or dive into in-depth discussions of journal publications. We also follow a hybrid work schedule, and when I need to be on campus, I usually bike up the hill to UBC.
4. How has the RWTH-MITACS-NRC collaboration at UBC enrich your overall graduate experience? Can you share some of your fondest memories here?
“I had many insightful discussions with my colleagues about their research topics. It was fascinating to observe the wide range of materials being studied here, and the many methods used by the group.” I believe I’ve gained new perspectives on how to approach questions, and I hope to assist my colleagues at UBC as well.
“I particularly enjoyed the moments when either I or one of my colleagues here discovered interesting microstructures in our samples.”
Beyond the microscope
5. What advice would you offer to students coming from Europe planning to visit UBC? How can they be better prepared?
Personally, I had a great experience navigating my daily life at UBC or in Vancouver. The campus is very beautiful, with lots of trees and nearby parks, as well as a number of museums, and even a botanical garden!
“Some of the nuances I have noticed throughout my stay here are differing conventions for time, days, and the naming of building floors. It is also important to give time to your body to adapt to the new sleeping cycle due to time zone difference. You will also need to be aware of time difference while catching up with friends and family in Europe during your time in Canada.“
6. What tips would you give to other visiting students for making connections in Vancouver?
I would recommend checking out the student’s clubs at UBC and sports club available in the city. I joined the board games club at UBC regularly and was fortunate to meet some nice people. I was also living in a house with roommates, so it was convenient to get suggestions on where to visit and what to avoid around the city.
7. What’s one surprising thing you’ve discovered about Vancouver/ Canada since arriving?
“Everything is bigger than what I was used to back home – from packing units in the grocery stores to cars and serving sizes in restaurants.”
8. How would you describe your Vancouver experience in three words? And if you could take one aspect of Vancouver back home with you, what would it be?
“Lively,
Nature,
Versatile.”
The proximity to both the mountains and the sea! A one-hour bus ride can take you to the North Shore mountains, but you can also enjoy completely flat bike rides around Richmond and other areas of the Lower Mainland if you’d like.