Peter Miedaner

At MIT, I am doing my Ph.D. in physical chemistry, and my main research revolves around developing new methods to use x-rays for controlling and probing various types of materials. These methods are built on nonlinear interactions between light and matter and therefore require very intense radiation to be observed. In the last decade, x-ray free electron lasers have emerged as a source of intense x-ray pulses, which are generated by accelerating bunches of electrons to relativistic speeds using kilometer long particle accelerators. Currently 6 x-ray free electron lasers exist, and are located all over the world, many of which I have had the privilege of working at for short term experiments.

The DAAD-Stiftung scholarship, Respekt & Wertschätzung, allowed me to conduct doctoral research at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (EuXFEL) in Hamburg, Germany, for six months. As one of the most advanced light sources in the world, EuXFEL placed me at the forefront of multiple scientific fields. X-ray free electron lasers generate extremely bright and ultrashort pulses of X-ray radiation, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. Nearly all scientific disciplines are finding unique ways to use these X-ray pulses - to study, for example, the structure and function of proteins, the movement of electrons in materials, or the creation of nonequilibrium material phases. My research has focused on studying magnetic materials, with the prospect of developing spintronic devices for spin-based computing or dynamic memory technologies.

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XFEL research facility

Under the outstanding supervision of Dr. Luca Gelisio, I developed and adapted advanced numerical methods to automate and analyze the vast amounts of data generated during EuXFEL experiments. These experiments are notoriously data-intensive, often producing terabytes of data - far more than humans can process manually. To manage this, we employed machine learning techniques to uncover patterns, trends, and anomalies in a fast and computationally efficient manner.

During my time there, I focused on developing a method for analyzing time-resolved X-ray scattering data using Koopman’s operator theorem - a powerful framework for studying dynamical systems, widely used in fluid dynamics and, more recently, in the development of large language models. This method outperforms traditional techniques like principal component analysis by assuming an underlying time-series structure in the data. With further refinement throughout the next year of my Ph.D., we hope this methodology can become a standard approach for analyzing X-ray data quickly and insightfully.

European XFEL

Aerial view of DESY

Immersed in the world’s leading X-ray science hub, I became deeply familiar with the nuances of conducting research at large-scale facilities. This experience gave me a new perspective that will significantly shape my future academic path - not only in my scientific approach but also through the connections I made with an international network of researchers. My colleagues came from many diverse regions, from South America, Asia, America, and Europe and from different technical backgrounds, with some more experts in computer science, while others in physical and biological science. This includes those in my team directly, those I met through collaborations with other groups, and even totally different facilities. I also had the opportunity to share and discuss my research with many other colleagues at a conference on x-ray science at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) also in Hamburg.

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At a café in Hamburg

Outside of research, I fell in love with the people, culture, and city of Hamburg. While living in a studio apartment in Altona, I was at the heart of a lot of what the city has to offer. Beyond its beautiful architecture (Grüner Bunker in St. Pauli was my favorite), trendy cafés, and candle-lit pool bars, the people I met were warm, thoughtful, and full of fresh perspectives.

At first, I was very nervous about trying to meet people in a new country but quickly found my way thanks to the number of activities and options in Hamburg. As a skateboarder, I was able to meet a handful of fellow skaters by going to the skateparks and spots around the city. Some of the skaters were local while others were transplanted from the other sides of the globe like me. I additionally met a number of people by joining a local basketball league, and just by sparking up some conversations at my local pub, Aalhaus. A number of these people I would now consider life-long friends and look forward to seeing them when I return for more experiments!

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My pastime in the city

The weekends in Hamburg hosted too many options to count, including going to movie theaters that were in old converted warehouses, intimate DJ sets at local bars, and supporting the local Bundesliga soccer clubs.

Beyond Hamburg, I explored much of northern Germany - from the edgy streets of Berlin to the historic heritage sites of Lübeck.

Coming from the United States, the difference in culture was jarring - in all the best ways. I admired the German dedication to socializing and the strong work-life boundaries embodied in the concept of Feierabend. I was inspired by how both the young and the elderly led active lifestyles, fostering early maturity in the young and youthful energy in the old. Hamburg’s charm encouraged me to explore the city by walking, biking, or running - rain or shine.

Overall, my time in Hamburg was unforgettable - academically enriching and personally transformative. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and hope to return soon.