Chemical reactions activated with catalysts are often unpredictable, as the activation can start from different sites of the surface. Wackerow designs single-site catalysts that have active sites that are structurally identical; therefore, the catalytic reaction can be predicted.

"Industrial catalysts are optimized by trial-and-error catalyst discovery, whereas in our lab we follow the approach of catalysis by design," she explained. "By creating single-site catalysts, we can spectroscopically investigate the exact reaction mechanism and tune the catalyst as required. With the insight about the catalysis mechanism, the knowledge can be transferred to improve commercial catalysts, and that has an immediate impact of the industrial applications out there in the real world."

Life as a KAUST student

Wackerow values the many advantages KAUST has given her for her career⁠—these include participation in academic conferences and workshops outside of Saudi Arabia and the investment KAUST provides for students' personal growth.

 

The University's outstanding Core Labs facilities help Ph.D. student Wiebke Wackerow carry out her research in a quick and efficient manner. File photo.

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"I [received an award from] KAUST to attend a seven-day leadership symposium in Kuala Lumpur in 2019; [this] was the most rewarding and exciting experience of character development [I've had]," she said. "In addition, the [University's] research facilities [feature] state-of-the-art technology. I use a lot of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and due to the excellent [KAUST] Core Labs facilities, I am able to characterize my catalyst samples immediately."

"[During work hours,] I can take hands-on trainings for all devices and expand my technical expertise for all instruments related to my research," she added.

Knowledge and imagination: equally important

Wackerow noted that her time at the University has also nourished her personal life with experiences that continue to enhance her imagination.

"Imagination and knowledge have the same importance," she stated.

Wiebke Wackerow takes part in many activities on campus and in the Kingdom aside from pursuing her Ph.D. studies. She especially enjoys diving in and exploring the Red Sea. File photo.

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She advised her fellow KAUST students to balance their Ph.D. studies with activities outside of research.

"KAUST is a great place to develop new hobbies! [Compensate] your stress with other activities [and] learn how to recycle the negative energy into positive energy," she said. "[Develop] your character in multiple directions, [as] KAUST has a lot to offer in order to grow your personality."

The Kingdom has many places to pursue extracurricular activities, Wackerow noted, such as "[diving] trips and [off-road] adventures in the desert and mountains."

Saudi Arabia features many exciting places to discover for KAUST students, faculty and staff, such as the mountains of Taif (pictured here). Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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During her free time, she is a member of the University's Improvisation Theater Group and the Underwater Photography Group. These activities enable Wackerow to find like-minded people open to broadening their imagination skills.

"It is amazing to have the opportunity to borrow one of the [University's underwater] cameras and go diving," she said. "There are always very good [photo] opportunities...in the Red Sea. With diving, I release a lot of my research stress⁠—it calms me down and gives me a good connection with the environment. The Red Sea is so beautiful deep down."

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