Vihang Vidwans from IIT Bombay, India spent two months at the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Fuel Cells
Personal & Academic Background
I’m Vihang, an Electrical Engineering student at IIT Bombay. When I saw the opportunity to spend my summer at TU Braunschweig, it felt like the perfect excuse to combine engineering with adventure. Germany’s rich history, vibrant culture, and reputation for welcoming international students made it an easy choice. I was excited to step outside my comfort zone, experience a completely different way of life, sharpen my technical skills, and collaborate with people from around the world. And if I could contribute something meaningful through my work while collecting unforgettable memories along the way, that would make the experience even more rewarding.
Project & Research Experience
The work done by us focused on Optimizing Frequency Selection for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)-based fault classification to reduce diagnostic time while maintaining classification performance. Using permutation-based frequency importance, greedy forward frequency selection, and other optimization techniques, we were able reduced the required measurement frequencies to 27% of original size, significantly decreasing diagnostic time while achieving performance comparable to models using the full frequency range.
Support & Collaboration
The entire application and arrival process, from securing housing to support from the International House and completing city registration, was remarkably smooth, thanks to the incredibly helpful and responsive coordinators. Their guidance made settling into a new country much less intimidating.
I’ve learned something from everyone I met here, but my biggest mentors have been my supervisor Pankaj and Sunil. Sunil helped me develop academic rigour in literature review, while Pankaj helped me develop a solid foundation in machine learning through our engaging group discussions. I’m also deeply grateful to Nadine and Guang, whose advice and practical tips made navigating both work and life in Braunschweig much easier. Bhav helped as well by teaching me and pointing me towards resources to learn a bit of basic German, which made everyday interactions more enjoyable and helped me feel even more at home.
Living in Braunschweig
I’m living at Rebenring 64, which I like because it's close to the TU Braunschweig main campus and the city centre. The public transport in Braunschweig is punctual and efficient, I never had a single instance of complaint with the local trams and buses (the contrast between Deutsche Bahn and BSVG couldn’t be more stark :)
Challenges & Learning
The biggest challenge for me at the beginning was simply adjusting to a completely new environment, especially since I knew almost no German when I arrived. Even simple tasks like grocery shopping or reading signs could be a little intimidating. But I quickly realized that people were always willing to help if I just asked. My colleagues were incredibly supportive, and even locals were patient and friendly. Once I got over the hesitation of asking questions, everything became much easier. Looking back, I think being open, curious, and willing to learn made all the difference.
What surprised me the most about working in a German research environment was how seriously people take work-life balance. Everyone works hard and is highly productive, but there's also a strong culture of respecting personal time. Flexible working hours, a healthy work environment, and the emphasis on mental well-being create a space where people can do their best work without feeling constantly stressed. I was also impressed by the level of investment in research, the excellent facilities, and the collaborative atmosphere. It was refreshing to see that high-quality research and a balanced lifestyle can go hand in hand.
Impact & Future Plans
I would definitely consider coming back to TU Braunschweig for further studies or work. The work culture, student-friendly environment, and opportunities here are excellent.
Tips & Shout-Outs
My advice to the next group of interns would be simple: be curious, ask lots of questions, and don't be shy about talking to people. Whether it's discussing research with your colleagues, asking for recommendations from locals, or simply starting a conversation over lunch, the connections you make will become one of the best parts of your experience. And don't forget to travel! You're in Europe! Visit the cities you've always dreamed about, explore different cultures, try new food, and say yes to spontaneous weekend trips. Some of my favourite memories came from exploring places beyond Braunschweig, and those experiences were just as valuable as the internship itself.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made my stay so special. Prof. Michael created such a welcoming environment and was always approachable and open to feedback. I'm incredibly grateful to my supervisors, Sunil and Pankaj, for their constant guidance and support. A big thank you as well to my colleagues, Guang, Nadine, Jannes, Ines, Bhavjyot, Johann, Lennart, and everyone else in the group who made every day enjoyable and helped me feel at home from the very beginning.
Fun Fact
I’ve now been on more trains in Europe than in India! (Yes, this is a flex)