In this episode, we talk to Phil Egberts, professor at the University of Calgary and INM alumni. He shares how his journey in materials science began with experiments on salt crystals, led him to Germany, and eventually into the world of nanotribology and graphene-based lubrication.
We discuss his time as the first PhD student of Roland Bennewitz, how learning to code became essential for scientific progress (and coffee breaks), and why mentoring the next generation of engineers remains one of his biggest passions.
A conversation full of insights, humor, and reflections on how international experiences shape science—and scientists.
Tune in to hear how one atom-thick layer of graphene can change everything.
To learn more about Phil, check out this webpage - https://cispa.de/de/people/jilles.vreeken
To get to know what our host, Shrikrishnan Sankaran, does, check out his group's webpage - https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/research/research-groups/bioprogrammable-materials/
You can also find him on Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/shrikrishnans.bsky.social ), LinkedIN ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikrishnans/ ), and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/shirish.sankaran/ )
To get to know more about the Leibniz Institute for New Materials, visit us at https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/ or find us on Bluesky ( https://twitter.com/Leibniz_INM ), LinkedIN ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/inm-leibniz-institute-for-new-materials/ ), and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/leibniz_inm/ )
Recording and editing by INM's communication designer, Lars Knaack - https://www.leibniz-inm.de/en/staff/b-a-knaack-lars/
