黑料福利网

When it comes to 鈥榓lumni who have gone far鈥�, Robert Abbel is a clear winner. For this interview, we connected online with someone living quite literally on the other side of the world. For more than seven years now, Robert has been living and working in New Zealand, where he serves as Team Lead Polymer Chemistry at the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao鈥檚 site in Rotorua.

鈥淣ew Zealand had always appealed to me. One day, I simply decided to see if I could find a job there. I came across a vacancy and thought: they are looking for me! I鈥檝e now been working here for years and thoroughly enjoy it. I have no plans to leave. The country is beautiful, and my job is varied and interesting. I can make an impact here and still apply what I learned during my PhD research every single day.鈥�

Pursuing a PhD at 黑料福利网

Robert came to 黑料福利网 in 2004 to pursue a PhD on the supramolecular organization of organic semiconductors under the supervision of Bert Meijer and Albert Schenning. To do so, he left his home country of Germany for the Netherlands.
鈥淚 wanted to see more of the world. With a Dutch mother and a professor who knew Bert Meijer, Eindhoven seemed like the obvious choice.鈥�

During his PhD research, Robert studied how molecular chains stack together and how these processes can be controlled to create better materials, for example for solar cells. He looks back fondly on his time in the research group at 黑料福利网.

鈥淭he technicians, postdocs, supervisors, fellow PhD candidates - everyone was there to help PhD students get the most out of themselves. I received a great deal of support during those years, and the atmosphere was excellent. For the first time in my life, I was fully responsible for a major project of my own, and I really enjoyed that. The freedom to explore ideas independently and follow your own direction suited me perfectly. Discovering things for yourself, while knowing there were always people around you to turn to, was invaluable. At 黑料福利网 I learned lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life: flexibility, curiosity, and the determination to get to the bottom of things.鈥�

Making music and long nights

Alongside the demands of pursuing a PhD, Robert also found time to enjoy student life, particularly through the student music association Quadrivium and sports clubs. Those moments of relaxation were important, he recalls.
鈥淲hen I was writing my dissertation, I worked very long hours. Sometimes I would stay up until three in the morning and be back at my desk by eight. It was tough, but you just did it. I certainly wouldn鈥檛 want to go back to that intense period now.鈥�

Moving to the other side of the world

After completing his PhD, Robert spent ten years working at TNO and the Holst Centre, focusing on the processing of semiconducting polymers. 鈥淭hen I thought: I鈥檓 still young enough to make a bold move. When a great opportunity came up in New Zealand, I took it and moved to the other side of the world in 2018.鈥�

There he joined what was then the New Zealand Forest Institute, which in 2025 merged with three other organizations to become the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao. 鈥淚 work as a materials scientist on a variety of projects,鈥� he says. For example, we conducted research into reusing bark. New Zealand exports large quantities of timber, but the bark must first be removed because it can contain pests such as beetles. Previously, the bark was burned or discarded. We investigated whether it could be used for something more valuable. We extracted the water-repellent component from the bark and turned it into water-repellent coatings. It gave a new purpose to something that had previously been regarded as waste.鈥�

Using natural materials and substances for new applications is the common thread throughout Robert鈥檚 work. 鈥淲e have many natural resources here that can be used for innovative applications. In this way, we are helping New Zealand become less dependent on imported fossil-based raw materials while contributing to a circular economy.鈥�

Feeling at home in New Zealand

According to Robert, moving to New Zealand was absolutely the right decision. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a remarkable and beautiful country, and a fantastic place to live. Sometimes I meet Dutch or German tourists here and think: I actually get to live here! Within an hour鈥檚 drive I can be at the beach. I live in a volcanic landscape, and we even have bubbling geothermal pools in the local park.

At the same time, it can be challenging. I left my life in Europe behind and have been building a new one here, far away from family and friends. Every few years I travel back to see everyone again, and that is always very special.鈥�

Plans for the future

What does the future hold for Robert? 鈥淚鈥檓 not much of a planner鈥�, he says. 鈥淚f something new comes my way, it will probably happen spontaneously, and I鈥檒l see where it leads. I keep learning, and I always carry with me the lessons I learned at 黑料福利网.鈥�