Netherlands Scholarships
How a scholarship led to a career in mathematics
Glen Wheeler is a mathematician who lives in Australia. However, in Germany he took a decisive step in his career, when he stayed first in Berlin and later in Magdeburg with . “For me it was a logical choice, since Germany is famous for some of the best work in my field, which is geometric analysis,” he said. information.
His first contact with Germany began through a contact from his mentor at the Freie Universität Berlin (FU), back in 2008. “I wrote to him and asked if he had space for me for a three-month stay. scholarship for young researchers,” says Glen Wheeler. After receiving the green light from Berlin, Glen Wheeler visited the DAAD office in Sydney and soon received a letter confirming his scholarship. The FU found him accommodation in the capital of Germany, which made his start much easier.
“In Berlin I came into contact with some world-class talents in my field. This made me grow so much that I didn't want to leave again,” recalls the mathematician. When his visa expired after three months, the Australian returned to Sydney, where he completed his . However, at the same time he also looked for a way to return to Germany for another research stay. In 2010 he requested a research grant thanks to the contacts he had established in Berlin. This application was also successful and Glen Wheeler was able to spend two years at the Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg.
“It was a great moment for which I am very grateful,” says the DAAD alumnus and Humboldtian, reviewing his scholarships. “I learned from acclaimed experts and attended conferences where I was able to network and present my work. “It was a wonderful springboard that launched my career.” He is sure that it would have been much more difficult for him to establish himself professionally without these opportunities. “Maybe I would have even given up math.”
Glen Wheeler enjoyed Germany, also beyond mathematics: “I found the people incredibly friendly and open-minded.” He has particularly fond memories of the : “I loved how entire districts of the city become Christmas markets with small stalls selling delicious food.” When it started snowing, too, it felt like I was in a Christmas movie, he remembers.
Glen Wheeler is now a senior lecturer at the University of Wollongong in Australia. His time in Germany has had a lasting impact on his career. Collaborate with colleagues in Germany, attend conferences in Germany and participate in organizing joint events. To this end, he stays up to date on the latest developments in his area of research in his former host country. “I have to do it, because Germany is still at the forefront,” he says.
After taking classes at his It was good enough for “a decent conversation,” says Glen Wheeler, adding that it had since become quite rusty. His advice is this: “Keep it up and continue using your language skills, even after leaving Germany. I certainly wish I had.”
