Dr. Walter Düsing, fluxtec
Where do you work and what is your job?
I work closely with Anna Jentsch and Egbert Jolie, at the GeoforschungsZentrum (GFZ) in Potsdam, Germany, as a data analyst and app devoloper for the spin-off program fluxtec. Fluxtec specializes in exploration for geothermal reservoirs, as well as continuous monitoring through ground gas measurements. As part of a spin-off program at the GFZ, funds are awarded in various financing rounds for innovative business ideas, which should make it possible to move from research as a founder into the free economy.
What were your previous professional stations?
I previously did my PhD at the University of Potsdam and had a position as a scientific assistant. Between my Master and PhD, I did an internship at the Geophysical Institute in San Juan, Argentina. After a long period of self-discovery in South America, I got a job as a research assistant for a few months at the GFZ, which brought me to Argentina as part of an elaborate fieldwork campaign.
How did you get your current job?
I first got involved in the project through a time series analysis problem of my fellow student and friend Anna Jentsch, who, like me, was still doing her PhD at the University of Potsdam in 2020, but not on the topic of paleoclimate dynamics, as I was, but on the topic of exploration in geothermal energy. She asked me at that time to help her with the analysis of a time series that included hourly gas measurements of a geothermal reservoir. The collaboration developed well and eventually resulted in an interesting publication. When fluxtec won another round of funding from the GFZ spin-off program, Anna asked me if I could imagine writing a program for visualization and analysis of measurement data, which would greatly facilitate the work of the fluxtec team Egbert Jolie and Anna Jentsch in the field. When we successfully completed this project together, which was initially planned for only three months and half a position, it was clear that I would be given a full position in the next round of funding, and so it came to pass.
What attracted you to the job?
The job appealed to me because it contains the following elements, which I have learned are important for me to be successful and happy in a job in the long term:
- A profession that supports the transformation towards a more sustainable society
- A team that trusts me
- The opportunity to learn new things and develop myself further
- Being part of a start-up.
- A profession that allows me to travel the world.
What are the most important skills to have for this job?
I think you need stamina and the ability to draw attention to yourself, especially in the initial phase, and to approach potential customers. In my particular case, you also have to enjoy programming.
What does a typical work week look like for you?
There is actually no typical working week. I organize myself completely. Usually there is a team meeting once a week where we discuss everything new and briefly tell each other where we are at the moment. I spend a lot of time learning new programming languages. I write algorithms to simplify data analysis. Of course, when we have an exploration job, a workday looks very different. Exploration can take place anywhere in the world, but also within Europe or even Germany. You can then spend weeks on the road in pretty lonely areas. Once in the exploration area, we are usually busy measuring from morning to night, which can be monotonous. But being outside in the fresh air makes up for it!
What do you like about your job and what challenges you the most?
I like the fact that you get around a lot, see the world. In addition, I can do my job - when we're not exploring - from anywhere. So you're not necessarily tied to a specific location. Because we haven't done that many explorations yet, I can't say for sure, but I think if you're on the road a lot, it can certainly be too much.
How much of the knowledge you learned in your studies do you need in your job?
This may sound unbelievable, but you need just about everything all the time. It is good to have a broad education in the geosciences. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to specialize early on and then become very knowledgeable in one field. If you work as a geoscientist, you need, in my opinion, a very extensive knowledge of all sub-disciplines. Of course, this doesn't mean that you have to have all the knowledge at your fingertips, like an encyclopedia, but you should have already applied this knowledge, or at least have heard about it, then you will be able to make connections and actually develop better geoscientific hypotheses. In my studies, I always focused on taking something from everything. Although I also avoided data analysis, but that was made up for extensively during my PhD.
Looking back, how do you feel about your geoscience studies at the University of Potsdam?
The Master's program at the University of Potsdam has inspired me and opened new interesting doors for me. The institute is very well equipped and offers optimal conditions to immerse myself in various areas of geosciences. The lecturers are very helpful and have excellent networks to the non-university research institutes in Potsdam, such as the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), or the Geo Research Center (GFZ). The relative remoteness of the institute is of course a bit inconvenient, especially if you don't like to get up early, but once you are there the campus offers everything you need as a student, a library and a canteen, as well as sports facilities.
Do you have any tips for our graduates for a successful career start?
After my master's degree, I didn't immediately have the best job opportunities, which was frustrating at first. Geosciences is a degree program that doesn't come with a ready-made job description, like law or medicine. Finding the right job can take some time. But you should not give up and if the opportunity arises to do a doctorate, this can perhaps expand the method toolbox by the decisive tool.
