What an achievement! Bremen Thesis Award for Tanuja Seervi and Dr. David Ernst

In recognition of their outstanding research, two Constructor University students were awarded the Bremen Thesis Award. Handed out by the unifreunde (society of friends) of the University of Bremen and Constructor University in recognition of outstanding theses, Tanuja Seervi won the prize for the best master's thesis at Constructor University, while Dr. David Ernst received the award for his doctorate. It was the first time that Constructor University students were included in the award.

“For me, the award is confirmation that I am tackling real challenges with innovative solutions. It motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my field,” said Tanuja Seervi, who completed her Master's degree in Data Engineering. Her work focuses on improving the robustness of deep learning-based methods for assessing waste quality in the recycling and circular economy, as the data sets available are often inadequate. This is due to conventional deep learning approaches typically relying on large, labeled data sets collected in controlled environments and not in dynamic ones, such as recycling plants.

“I chose this topic because of its relevance to sustainability and the urgent need for efficient solutions for waste management,” said Seervi. “It fascinated me as it combines the technical complexity of deep learning with environmental sustainability. Innovations in this area can lead to real benefits, which is interesting not only for researchers but also for industry.”

Dr. David Ernst was recognized for his doctoral thesis. “For me, the award is a great honor and at the same time motivation for my further scientific work,” said Dr. Ernst. His thesis analyzed marine sedimentary rocks that are more than 2.5 million years old and led to new findings about the early oceans and provided new tools for interpreting rocks from the time that our planet was formed. One of the highlights of his work was the first analysis of a banded iron formation, a special rock, from the eastern Antarctic. “We were able to prove that this is a pristine and reliable archive of the ancient marine environment.”

The research focused on the two geochemical partners gallium-aluminum and germanium-silicon in the rocks, which are also used in numerous high-tech applications. “An in-depth understanding of their behavior in natural environments is of the highest scientific, economic, ecological and sociological interest,” said Ernst.

According to the two award winners, the excellent research conditions, the interdisciplinary approach and the multicultural environment at Constructor University played an integral role in their work. “What I take away most is the collaborative spirit of the university, where teamwork and critical thinking are paramount,” said Seervi, who now works as a Senior Data Engineer in Osnabrück.

David Ernst has a similar view. He initially worked in Prof. Dr. Andrea Koschinsky's working group and later in that of Prof. Dr. Michael Bau, who also supervised his doctorate. “Everyone helps everyone, it's a wonderful working atmosphere,” Ernst said. The young scientist will remain at Constructor University as a postdoc until at least the end of 2025. Until then, the research project that he developed during his doctoral thesis together with a colleague at TU Dortmund University and which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will continue.