🎯 Mission and Vision

Author

Peter Kraus

Published

February 4, 2025

About

ConCat lab is an independent Junior Research Group. The lab is focused on studying the link between electrical conductivity and catalysis by answering these 4 questions:

  • Can we use the catalytic behaviour of simple oxide materials to inform mechanisms for more complex materials?
  • Can we calculate and predict the measured frequency-dependence of electrical conductivity?
  • Can we predict or describe catalytic performance using electrical conductivity?
  • Can we model electrical conductivity and catalytic behaviour using a single mechanism?

ConCat lab has been founded in October 2022 and is led by Dr. Peter Kraus. The group is funded from the Emmy-Noether programme. ConCat lab is based at the Chair for Advanced Ceramic Materials led by Prof. Aleks Gurlo, which is a part of the Institute for Material Science and Technology within Faculty III - Process Sciences of TU Berlin.

Values

  1. Safe Environment.

    Safety is the key value for working at ConCat. We aim to create an inclusive culture, which means building a low-stress, safe environment, so that every team member can thrive.

    Safety applies both to lab work as well as to the general culture outside the lab. In practice, you are encouraged to:

    • ask as many questions as you feel are necessary;
    • flag and challenge any unsafe or abusive behaviour;
    • discuss any issues or suggestions with Peter, in confidence.

  2. Reproducibility.

    Reproducibility is what makes experiments scientific. At ConCat, we put a high emphasis on reproducibility by means of data provenance. To work towards this goal, you are encouraged to:

    • automate and digitally log as much as practicable;
    • keep thorough, ideally digitized, records of your work;
    • store a copy of all raw data in the electronic lab notebook;
    • avoid manual analysis in favour of scripts and/or notebooks.

  3. Communication.

    Being able to communicate the results of your work is a key skill for any competent scientist or engineer. During your time in our lab, you will be asked to write proposals and reports as well as present your work using posters or talks. The following apply:

    • present often, write more often;
    • use ConCat Team Meetings and later FGKW Team Meetings to gain confidence;
    • don’t be afraid of feedback and revisions, even the best writers have editors;
    • once you have mastered the basics: write like a journalist / talk like a caveman.