Arjoe Basak from IIT Bombay, India spent two months at the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Fuel Cells
Personal & Academic Background
Hello everyone, I am Arjoe. I hail from the state of West Bengal in India and am currently an incoming thirdie of the Electrical Engineering Department at IIT Bombay. I love to tinker with electronics, code stuff, watch movies and listen to music.
During my summers, I wanted to broaden my horizons and find a place where I could learn about something new as well as apply my existing knowledge. The summer internship in the fuel cell sector of TU Braunschweig seemed like a perfect place to apply. It offered the chance to use machine learning, a field that I have had previous exposure to, for the study of fuel cells. Apart from this, Germany is very accepting of international students and has a strong culture of technological progress, drive and development. I wanted to experience this culture first hand, and if possible, contribute to it in my own little way.
Project & Research Experience
I was selected to work at the NFF in the field of fuel cells. My project is titled on Evaluation of Porous Electrodes After the Utilization Phase by Means of Combined Electrochemical and Model-Based Analysis.
As a part of this task, I was required to first gain a good understanding of the scope of our research, which was to predict the amount of degradation in the cathode catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell based on the operating conditions and the material composition of this layer. To extract explainable features from the data collected from the fuel cells, we resorted to a method called Equivalent Circuit Modelling (ECM). I was tasked with developing a Python script for this approach and selecting the best physically explainable model for such a cell. The cool thing about this script is that it enables us to find the best circuit models for a wide range of conditions, thus making the approach versatile. Using these features extracted, we used the XGBoost Machine Learning framework to predict the cathode charge transfer resistance curve over time.
Support & Collaboration
Thanks to the extensive support system of TU Braunschweig and its International House, I didn’t have much difficulty in finding a nice place to live in. We only had to fill out a few forms on the Studentwerk portal before arriving here and the major headache was borne by the coordinators.
The support and understanding that I received from my supervisors and colleagues was also very wonderful. My supervisors, Nadine and Ines, would carefully try and understand how good of a grasp I had on a particular concept or point that we were discussing before giving me further tasks. I learned how to effectively communicate with others, because research is as much a personal pursuit into academia as it is a platform for effective collaboration of new ideas.
Living in Braunschweig
I’m living at 64 APM Rebenring, which is close to the Informatik building of TU Braunschweig. It is a quiet and calm place, something which I find very pleasant. Our student dormitory houses many international students, which means I get to encounter people from all over the world and learn a little bit about their way of life.
Something I really love in Braunschweig is its public transport system. The city itself sprawls around in different directions, but the transport system ensures that you have a smooth journey going from Point A to Point B. The city holds the charm of old towns that you often read about in books, and I had a lot of fun exploring its different spots.
Challenges & Learning
The biggest challenge that I faced initially was to get myself acquainted with the domain. It was something that I did not have that much experience in and I could not understand where exactly to start. However, what got me through this initial hurdle was having a proper communication with my supervisor regarding what I did and did not know.
Along the process, there were many occasions when I would have to explore different ways to approach a problem that would ultimately lead to a road-block. The key to overcoming this issue is to have lots of patience. I realized that research work is not something that can be done overnight, and the true joy you receive on getting your idea to work is much more meaningful after you have gone through that cycle of trial and error.
Something that I admired in my colleagues here were their emphasis on a healthy work-life balance. I was amazed at how they are able to deliver such high-quality work and yet take time to enjoy and relax on their weekends. This is a quality that I would very much like to emulate once I go back home.
Impact & Future Plans
This internship was my first foray into the world of research, and it was a truly wonderful one. I realized what research actually entails – to think critically, to ponder and question, to ask and communicate whenever in doubt and to deliver results clearly. The lessons that I learnt working here will forever guide me in the field of academia and I am truly thankful for that.
I would definitely consider coming back to TU Braunschweig if given further opportunities. I am particularly interested in continuing in the field of research that I was assigned to and I believe that there are still lots of other ways in which we can progress further in this aspect of fuel cell research. I would love to be a part of that work.
Tips & Shout-Outs
To all the future interns coming here next year, my main advice would be to communicate clearly with your supervisors about what you know and don’t know, especially in the early days. The people here are extremely helpful and would definitely give you the resources and ideas to approach any difficulties that might come your way. Making connections with people will help you out immensely in the long run.
I also want to give a big thanks to everyone here who has made my stay so special. Professor Michael ensured that we felt welcome here and was always open to any suggestions that we would make. My supervisors, Nadine and Ines, would always be understanding of my shortcomings, and they have helped me out of tough spots in so many ways. I would also like to thank my colleagues at work here – Guang, Bhavjot, Lenart, Johann and everyone else who has supported me whenever I needed help.
Fun Fact
I once tried to climb the hill in our college during the monsoon season (bad choice) and I realized halfway that my shoes were not gripping the soil well. I then proceeded to throw my shoes away, finish the climb and only then collect the shoes on my way back down.