“Five coffee machines… Five!” The first thoughts of the first day had stuck in my head for a while. “How much do these people work?”. I was looking through the office window, staring at the fresh green leaves of the neighboring chestnut tree. I tried to gather my thoughts, excited about what was coming. The answer to my unasked question was simple: a lot. Funnily enough, this short phrase quite accurately foreshadowed the upcoming days, weeks, and months.
A lot of kind, welcoming people who never made me feel bad for asking way too many questions.
A lot of knowledge, a lot of reading and coding, a lot of hours spent in the office in front of the computer, trying to figure out the meaning behind endless mathematical symbols and lines of code.
A lot of cakes and even more coffee, seasoned with the humor of after-lunch breaks.
A lot of troubled “Whyyyy?”s and ecstatic “Oh, that’s why”s.
A lot of sheep and bunnies on the meadow by the university canteen.
A lot of captivating conversations and consumed cookies during the conference poster session.
A lot of inspiring talks, subtly reminding me how little I know and how much more there is to learn.
A lot of late-night walks around Aachen — the city of salsa music echoing in Elisengarten on Sunday evenings, of people dancing and laughing on the streets despite the pouring rain and where time seemed to slow down after the sun had set — walks that felt more like a movie scene than the reality.
A lot of unexpected connections that grew beyond the harsh three-month deadline and will hopefully last much longer.
And, above all, a whole lot of physics.
On my last day, the leaves of the chestnut had turned brown, marking the end of summer, as I walked out of the office for the last time. “Coffee was great today,” I thought to myself. I have mastered the coffee machines quite quickly. Yet, I still have no idea how the office printer worked.

Maria Hadam, BSc student in Quantum Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Intern in 2025 in the Müller group, Aachen

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 weeks I spent in Cologne working with Josephson Junctions – it was an incredible first step into experimental physics. The group’s warm and welcoming atmosphere made me feel at home straight away, and the patient guidance I received from my supervisor and other group members was invaluable.  I learned so much from them – both about physics and life in academia! The ML4Q retreat was a fantastic chance to connect with other interns and researchers, and I had a great time learning about all the amazing work going on in the cluster. Cologne is a wonderful city, and I loved exploring it along with other places in Germany. The ML4Q internship is an incredible opportunity and I would highly recommend it to other students fascinated by the world of quantum technology.

Manya Bhargava, BSc student in Physics, Imperial College London, UK
Intern in 2025 in the Bocquillon group, Cologne

Before coming to Cologne, my knowledge of the Quantum Hall Effect was mostly theoretical. Although I had some laboratory experience, I always considered myself more inclined toward theoretical physics. However, after reading about the work of Prof. Erwann Bocquillon’s group, I became so fascinated that I decided to give myself a chance in the experimental field.
I am deeply grateful to everyone in the group. Thanks to their guidance—especially Torsten Röper’s—I not only gained invaluable experience but also discovered a passion for experimental work that I had never felt before. Bridging theory and experiment, and realizing how much experimental practice enriches theoretical understanding, was truly eye-opening for me.
Beyond the scientific aspect, the internship was also a wonderful social experience. I had the chance to meet many inspiring people from the ML4Q cluster, to learn about their research and career paths, and to build friendships that I will always treasure.
I leave this internship with invaluable knowledge, a growing enthusiasm for quantum transport, and the amazing friends I met along the way.

Jagoda Zawisz BSc student in Quantum Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Intern in 2025 in the Bocquillon group, Cologne

Coming to Cologne, I knew nothing about superconductivity—let alone Majorana fermions, cryogenic techniques, or Josephson junctions, the latter of which formed the basis of my project. This unfamiliarity, however, turned out to be the perfect opportunity to explore the subject with a fresh, independent perspective.

Thanks to the invaluable guidance from my supervisors, the warm, collaborative atmosphere within the group, and insightful conversations with fellow students and researchers at conferences, seminars, and outings, I found myself, for the first time, genuinely considering a shift from theoretical to experimental physics. I thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on work, the computational tasks, and the challenges of optimising the experimental setup and understanding the results. I truly hope my path will cross again with the wonderful people of ML4Q, and I’m sure that when I look back in the future, I’ll remember Cologne as a cornerstone of my research career. To anyone unsure about applying, I wholeheartedly recommend just doing so—you have nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Doğa Solmaz, Bachelor Student in Physics, Imperial College London, UK
Intern in 2024 in the Bocquillon group, Aachen

Working on building the laser system for the Strontium MOT in the Stellmer Group at the University of Bonn as part of the ML4Q internship programme was a transformative experience that has shaped my academic and professional aspirations. Throughout the summer, I had the privilege of working on impactful research in quantum technology, where I gained hands-on experience with experimental setups and computer modelling/simulations and deepened my understanding of the field. The mentorship I received was unparalleled – both from my supervisors and colleagues – their support and guidance extended beyond the lab!

What made this internship truly special was the sense of community within the research group and within ML4Q as a whole. The opportunity to engage with experts from various institutions, and attend insightful workshops and talks broadened my perspective and inspired me towards further research. Beyond the academic enrichment, I formed lasting friendships and felt genuinely welcomed into the vibrant scientific community at Bonn.

This experience not only enhanced my technical skills but also deepened my passion for pursuing a career in academia. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic program and would highly recommend it to any student eager to delve into the fascinating world of quantum technology. The lessons learned and the connections made during this internship will undoubtedly stay with me throughout my career.

Maanas Kishorekumar Bysani, Master Student in Physics, Imperial College London, UK
Intern in 2024 in the Stellmer group, Bonn

The ten weeks I spent in Bonn were a delightful mix of hard work, skill development, invaluable mentorship, and great fun. I investigated quantum process tomography techniques to compare time-evolution simulation circuits, which I ran on superconducting chips available through the cloud. Besides learning how to conduct an extensive literature review, how to program a quantum computer and to relate experimental results to their physical origins, I underwent a true scientist’s process of overcoming difficulties in a research project. This is a priceless lesson I will always build on: how to think about the problem I am facing, to understand the reason why I am stuck, and to come up with promising methods for solving the issue. I am grateful to my supervisor and all the group members for taking the time to teach me both Physics and academic life hacks, as well as for being so friendly and welcoming. ML4Q is such a rich resource for anyone who wants to learn about quantum technology – I hope as many students as possible discover it!