That's the title of my podcast and here is why: according to the Internet, nerds spend inordinate amounts of time on unpopular and non-mainstream activities, which are generally highly abstract, or relating to topics of science fiction and fantasy. 

Isn't that the perfect description of a scientist? Isn't our research highly abstract? Aren't we spending inordinate amounts of our time and energy on realizing things that still are science fiction? 

I can definitely relate with this definition and proudly say: I am a nerd! This podcast is dedicated to all the amazing scientists and their great work out there. I am talking with other nerds about their research and their scientific journey, and what drives them to go out there every day and to do science!

If you want to share your research or other stories, feel free to contact me! ☺️

Shambhavi (her friends call her Sana) did her PhD at the Chair of Functional Materials at the Technical University of Munich and decided afterward to leave the academia for a new adventure in industry. In this episode, Sana tells us about the challenges she faced, the questions she asked herself, the pros and cons about academia and industry, and where to find help and support. We both hope, her experiences and insights might be of help for some of you out there, who are asking should I stay or should I go?

 The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Christian did his PhD in the Wood Materials Science group at ETH Zürich, where he used wood as sustainable bioreactors. Also after his PhD sustainability plays a major role in his life: since April 2022 he took on a new mission, which is all about the circular economy. As head of reserach and development at the cleantech start-up KUORI, based in Switzerland, he develops innovative materials that are produced from food side streams e.g., banana peels or nut shells. In this episode, Christian tells us what it is like to work in a start-up, how food waste might contribute to an improved circular economy, and why the first application of his materials is in shoe soles. 

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Gian studied physics and did a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics afterwards. His research focuses on holography, which is a mixture of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Right now, he is a postdoc at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Besides, Gian is very talented in explaining complicated things in a simple way. That makes him just perfect for this episode, which is all about the basics of quantum mechanics.

Quantum objects, particle-wave duality, superposition, entanglement, and Schrödinger's cat 🐈📦☠️

Tune in, if you want to understand what's behind these terms, why they are connected to quantum mechanics, and how they are shaping our modern way of life. Quantum mechanics? Yes, to-go, please!

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Mélanie is a scientist at the Institute of Material Physics in Space at the German Aerospace Center in Cologne. Her research is about the development of a 3D printer that is able to print metallic tools in space. This way, future astronauts are able to print their own tools and spare parts, either onboard space stations and spaceships, or potentially on the moon or other planets. In this episode, Mélanie and I are talking about how to realize experiments in space, what it is like to shoot rockets with scientific equipment and experiments into space, and why you always keep an eye on the locations of the reindeer herds in northern Sweden.

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Lennart did his masters in physics with a focus on astrophysics at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, before joining the Chair of Functional Materials at the Technical University of Munich as a PhD student. His research is about a special type of solar cells called perovskite. These solar cells are incredibly thin and light-weight while having an astonishing high efficiency.

Thin, light, robust, and efficient: that makes them perfect for space applications! And this is exactly what Lennart is doing. He prepares these perovskite solar cells, mounts them on a rocket, and shoots them into space 🚀🛰️⚡️

How are these solar cells performing in space? How are different types of solar cells shaping the future of our society? And what can we learn from space technologies to solve problems down on Earth?

Tune in for a nerd talk about solar cells, rocket flights, and space technologies! 🤓🚀⚡️ 

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Maria Kramer did her Bachelor of Science and her Master of Education at the University of Hamburg, where she studied the growth conditions of radiated tortoises and developed educational trails in the nature around Hamburg. After her studies, Maria moved to Munich for her PhD at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU). There she investigated how to support the diagnostic competencies of biology teachers. Today, Maria works as a nature mental training coach, where she uses nature as an environment to help people develop new visions and learn strategies to face their next challenges. 🐢🌲🐌🍁🌍

In this episode, Maria explains how her techniques can help academics to establish sustainable boundaries, develop inner resilience, and generally improve their situation in an increasingly demanding and energy-draining academic environment. 🏞️🌄

Tune in for a fascinating journey with Maria into nature, mental training, and the underlying scientific principles.

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Gian studied physics and did a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics afterward. His research focuses on holography, which is a mixture of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Right now, he is a postdoc at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Besides, Gian is very talented in explaining complicated things in a simple way. That makes him just perfect for this episode, which is all about the basics of general relativity!

What happens when you are near a black hole? Why do we need a 4-dimensional space-time? And where are the everyday examples of special and general relativity? 🚀🌍⏱️

Tune in for a fascinating journey to the wonders of relativity. Along the way, we will meet strange creatures like gravitational time-dilation, Einstein-Rosen bridges, and equivalence principles. Don't worry, Gian is an excellent guide, so you won't get lost!

The episode can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Academia often is a challenging, competitive, and energy-draining place. But there are plenty of tips, tricks, and advice that can change that. In this episode, I want to share my personal experience with the academic system, and what things helped me the most during my PhD and now my postdoc.

A big THANK YOU goes to my colleagues, collaboration partner, and the Academic Twitter Bubble for a lot of input and feedback on this episode.