Five young researchers started their research projects at HTW Dresden in 2025 with the ESF Plus doctoral scholarship. In this interview, scholarship holder Hedvika Maxová talks about her career steps.

HTW Dresden supports doctoral candidates in financing their cooperative doctoral project, for example with an ESF PLUS doctoral scholarship as part of the “Kooperative Landesinnovationspromotionen” programme. In 2025, five young researchers have already started their doctoral project at the university as part of the programme. One of them is Hedvika Maxová, who is supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing.Uwe Kühsel (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering). We asked her a few questions to find out more about her and her research work.

Tell us briefly about your PhD topic.

My PhD topic “Development of modular microsystems for long-term tissue culture and strategies for the digital production of these microsystems” is a continuation of my diploma thesis. I wrote this at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and it deals with the development of microsystems. My doctoral thesis is now about the further development of microsystems and their production.

How did you come up with the idea of doing a doctorate and what motivated you to do it?

My employer actually came up with the idea and showed me the ESF PLUS programme. He said: ‘Look, there are scholarships that you can use to do a doctorate’. I was very interested in the topic I was researching as part of my diploma thesis, but it wasn't possible to stay employed at Fraunhofer. The doctorate was therefore an opportunity to continue working on my topic.

What resources and networks help you the most during your doctoral studies and research?

My colleagues at the Fraunhofer IWS help me professionally and the HTWD supports me organisationally. For example, there are numerous offers from the Graduate Service of the HTW, which I use to further my education and to take the courses required in my doctoral contract. I also use the resources of the HTWD library for research.

What does your typical day look like at the moment? 

I officially started in February this year and have organised my week so that I do my mini-job one or two days a week. Then I spend one or two days at Fraunhofer. There I discuss the topic with my colleagues or workpractically on my doctoral project. I'm currently writing a paper, for example. The rest of the time I'm in the library.

What would you have liked to have known earlier or before the doctorate?  

Above all, I would have liked to know more about the whole procedure, because it is a cooperative doctorate and therefore has to go through both the HTWD and a university, in my case the TU Dresden. This means that I have to fill out all the forms twice and there is a lot of documentation. 

do you already know what you want to do afterwards? 

Well, first I have to see that the doctorate works out and only then will everything become clear. I would prefer to work on a similar topic in the industry near Dresden. I've grown fond of the city over the years of my degree programme.

About the ESF PLUS doctoral programm

The EU and the Free State of Saxony use the ESF PlUS programme to fund projects in areas such as doctoral studies. The aim of the ESF doctoral scholarships is to utilise the individual educational potential of academic specialists, especially women, by expanding their skills with regard to a stable, green, sustainable and digital economy in the Free State of Saxony. Eligible projects are state innovation doctorates, industrial doctorates, projects to reconcile family and academic career, combination of industrial doctorates and projects to reconcile family and academic career with a duration of up to four years. A basic scholarship, for example, is funded with 1,700.00 euros.