Electron microscopy is as much an art as it is a science, and both activities bring my mind to a level of focus that I have yet to find elsewhere.”
Carolin Wahl (she/her)
Candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Carolin Wahl is a PhD candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering. She is a joint student with the Mirkin and Dravid Research Groups and is interested in the high-throughput functional characterization of complex nanostructures and their applications in catalysis. Carolin is currently a Ryan Fellow and previously participated in the Hierarchical Materials Cluster Program (HMCP), which provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary student research and training.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
My work is focused on materials discovery—we aim to synthesize and characterize materials that have never been made before. To do so, we develop high-throughput nanomaterial synthesis platforms and characterization tools that help us discover what new materials and functionalities are out there.
Whom do you admire in your field and otherwise, and why?
My mentors, both past and present. I have had the chance to work with a few incredible people during my graduate studies who have been instrumental to the way I pursue my scientific career, as well as in becoming the person I aspire to be someday.
What is the biggest potential impact or implication of your work?
We could discover materials with properties we never know existed. Synthesizing and characterizing materials that have never been made before always has the chance of finding something completely new and unexpected, with the possibility of revolutionizing whatever field they find applications in.
Why Northwestern?
I was looking for the top research universities in my field and got a good offer here.
How do you unwind after a long day?
At home, on horseback. At NU, using electron microscopes, believe it or not. They are by design in dark and quiet rooms, so there are no distractions. Electron microscopy is as much an art as it is a science, and both activities bring my mind to a level of focus that I have yet to find elsewhere.
What books are on your bedside table?
Books about horses. Mostly nonfiction but occasionally novels as well.
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
A horse trainer. I ultimately decided against that career, but outside of my scientific pursuits, my life revolves around horses to this day.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I recently published a paper on integrating artificial intelligence with our materials discovery platform, which has spawned a new research direction in my group that I continue to develop. I get to see my own ideas come to fruition, get other people excited about them, and go after some of the most impactful challenges in my field.
Published: September 13, 2022
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