With their successful applications at Software Campus, Dr. Sonja Gerlach and Michael Bachhammer are among the youngest research group leaders at LMU. Both work at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications on the efficiency of the IT infrastructure of the ATLAS-3000 laser and its associated ion acceleration experiments. Here, they talk about their projects.
Dr. Sonja Gerlach and Michael Bachhammer are sitting relaxed in the control room of the Laser Center at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA) of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU). They have made themselves comfortable on a couch. Right next to them, large screens hang on the walls, and computers hum quietly. They monitor the functions of the lasers and experiments located one floor below. This IT infrastructure plays an important role in the work of the two young researchers. Not least, it controls the functions of one of the most powerful lasers in Europe, the ATLAS 3000, and the experiments connected to it. The particle acceleration technologies developed here could change the future of medicine.
“During my doctoral studies, I couldn’t let go of the problem of how to better automate our measurements,” says Sonja Gerlach. In the team of Prof. Jörg Schreiber at the Chair of Laser Physics-Medical Physics at LMU, the physicist is working on how to most efficiently accelerate ions with laser light to generate radiation that could one day be used in medicine, such as for tumor treatment.
The insights gained from these experiments are a treasure for the future of laser ion acceleration. But there is room for improvement in the collection and processing of raw data. That is where Sonja Gerlach's idea came in: Her solution was the development of special software that independently monitors the complex systems and automates many processes. This also allows the use of intelligent methods like machine learning to optimize results.
But how do you approach such a project? There were not enough staff or funds available. Sonja found a solution. She applied for the Software Campus funding program and was accepted. The program is aimed at doctoral students who want to be trained as IT leaders. The good thing is that once accepted, you can apply for your own research grant of up to 115,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Sonja did just that and was successful. She became the first doctoral student at LMU to secure her own third-party funding.
This is how her idea took off, and over the past two years, she has been able to implement her project “Data-Driven Optimization of a Laser Ion Source” with four team members. “We mainly divided the complex system into individual, motorized units and configured each so that we can control them separately,” explains the young researcher. “This allowed us to stabilize the system by making adjustments via specially developed software,” she continues. “Additionally, we are now able to generate more data through automation, resulting in more reliable outcomes.”
Michael Bachhammer (26) was also part of Sonja’s team. The doctoral student was also intrigued by the idea of further improving the IT structure of the experiment. So he applied to the Software Campus as well. Successfully. With his project “Modular, Automated Beam Stabilization on the ATLAS 3000 Laser,” Michael Bachhammer can now continue Sonja's software initiative.
“I’m curious about what’s ahead,” says Michael Bachhammer. Now, Michael first has to assemble his own team. Taking on leadership responsibilities in research at such an early stage as a doctoral student is unusual. It was also new territory for Sonja, who was 27 when she applied to the Software Campus. “We weren't left alone with the challenge,” Sonja says. The program includes training courses for junior group leaders, preparing them for team leadership tasks. Michael has already completed his first seminar. “A very valuable experience,” he emphasizes.
Thus, the funding program also opens up various perspectives on how one might shape their career. While Michael Bachhammer can well imagine working in the industry later, Sonja Gerlach is still undecided. But for now, both are focused on the data treasure at CALA. They aim to nurture and care for it as best as possible.
Thorsten Naeser
