His voice becomes more intense when he talks about his area of expertise because Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahem Ali, PhD candidate at Constructor University in Bremen and scholarship holder of the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation, wants to make a difference with his doctoral project: improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy in cancer treatment.
"I love mathematics and firmly believe in its power to describe the phenomena around us. It can help make the world a better place", Ahmed said. The 35-year-old is breaking new ground with his interdisciplinary research involving physicists and computer scientists. "The process we are working on is complex. But it also has the potential to revolutionize radiation treatment," said Ahmed. More specifically, he is working on solving problems when transporting the radiation.
He uses the so-called "The Lattice Boltzmann method", a new numerical technique which facilitates modelling and simulation of the propagation of electrons and photons in the body. "We aim to develop software for applications in clinics," explained Ahmed. "It should help to minimize damage to healthy tissue during irradiation and maximize the patient's chances of recovery.”
Ahmed studied mathematics at Aswan University in Egypt, where he also taught and conducted research, particularly on computational fluid dynamics. "Even as a small child, I was fascinated by numbers and took part in many mathematics competitions," he said. His father, a businessman, did not support his passion: "Unlike me, he didn't believe that you could achieve anything with mathematics."
He followed his passion but soon realized that the prospects for Mathematicians in Egypt are limited. He learned German at the Goethe Institute and came to Bremen in 2019 to study at Constructor University, which had been recommended to him by friends. His wife, a chemist, and his two young children, who now attend elementary school, came with him. They are growing up trilingual, speaking German, Arabic and English.
"I'm happy here," said Ahmed. A scholarship from the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation has also contributed to this. "Together with Constructor University, we enable young talented academics to develop successfully regardless of nationality, religion and material conditions," said foundation board member Alexander Witte. "International doctoral candidates are supported in realizing international research projects and receive individual academic mentoring from leading scientists. This creates added value for young scientists and society."
"It's incredibly motivating for me to know that organizations like the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation are investing in my research," said Ahmed. This encourages him in his commitment and striving for excellence. Ahmed wants to stay in Germany and continue his research. "The country offers many opportunities, and its research institutes are among the best in the world." His next goal is to complete his doctorate. What comes after that? "We'll see!”
This text is part of the "Faces" series, in which Constructor University introduces students, alumni, professors and employees.
About Constructor University:
Founded in 2001, Constructor University is a top-ranked, English-language, private university, with a campus in Bremen, Germany. With its interdisciplinary approach, advanced digital learning tools and accredited programs, it equips students with fundamental knowledge, critical thinking and practical skills to build their professional career and address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The University emphasizes a synergetic and entrepreneurial spirit, offering program mentoring from top-tier professors and industry experts. Partner collaborations include the Constructor Institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Carnegie Mellon, the National University of Singapore, the University of Geneva, and industry references such as Anisoprint, JetBrains and ChemDiv.
Internationality and diversity lie at the heart of Constructor University, with more than 110 nations at its vibrant and close-knit campus community in Bremen. There, students enjoy active campus life, with access to clubs, professional networks and academic counselling, essential to their personal and academic growth.
Research-centric faculty projects at the University are funded by the German Research Foundation, the European Union's Framework Program for Research and Innovation, and globally leading companies.
The greater Constructor Knowledge ecosystem includes Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, and Constructor Institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It is a provider of education services with education tools, worldwide traditional and online educational services, as well as advisory and strategic services to education customers in the fields of student recruitment, communications, and marketing support.