Alina Wildenberg

I am a motivated group leader with over one and a half years' experience, and I am a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering. I hold a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Chemistry. I am an empathetic leader who maintains a clear focus on goals and timelines. I am passionate about sustainable research and approach challenges with dedication, a fast learning curve and the ability to adapt quickly to new topics and tools.

I am an interdisciplinary researcher and group leader with over five years' experience in combustion research and advanced spectroscopic methods. Since 2024, I have led a diverse team of six researchers at RWTH Aachen University, overseeing scientific strategy, setting project milestones and coordinating day-to-day operations. I am highly experienced in supervising and recruiting student researchers, and in fostering collaborative, goal-oriented work environments.

In my role as a scientific assistant since 2019, I have conducted experimental and computational research. This has included acquiring and developing an infrared dual-comb spectrometer with quantum cascade lasers, operating complex high-pressure experimental setups and creating Python-based tools for large-scale data processing. 

I have independently managed research projects, overseeing proposal design, budget planning, milestone tracking and coordination with workshops, as well as industrial and academic partners. I have published multiple peer-reviewed papers and given presentations at national and international conferences. 

I studied Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University. During my Master's degree, I completed two scientific internships: The first was at the Cat-Center in Aachen, Germany, where I investigated the polymerisation of 1,3-dioxolane using different catalysts. The second was at the Université Paris-Est Créteil in Paris, France, where I worked on microwave spectroscopy. I am currently finishing my doctoral degree in mechanical engineering at the chair of High Pressure Gas Dynamics at RWTH Aachen University.