At IMFAA, international students are specifically involved in research that addresses current social challenges. At the interface of machine learning and materials science, they work on solutions for resource efficiency, climate protection and digitalization, for example in the fields of energy storage, magnetic materials or data-based material analysis.
Sanchita Goswami (23) from Kalna and Prithu Banik (26) from Siliguri, both from the Indian state of West Bengal, are studying for a research master's degree in "Advanced Materials and Manufacturing" with a focus on machine learning. The path to Aalen began for them with an international internship in 2025. The decisive factors were the good reputation of Aalen University of Applied Sciences, the research focus in the field of Machine Learning and the opportunity to be directly involved in projects.
Research at the interface of AI and materials science
In contrast to traditional study programs, the research masters at Aalen University of Applied Sciences focus on a close integration of theory and application. Students work directly on industry-related projects and gain insights into real-life applications at an early stage. "It's not just about AI here, but about applied AI. I work on topics such as magnets and batteries and can generate data myself to detect defects at an early stage," says Sanchita Goswami. This combination of machine learning and materials research opens up new possibilities for developing materials more efficiently and making processes more sustainable. Prithu Banik is currently developing a generative language model, comparable to text-based AI systems such as ChatGTP, which is specifically tailored to materials microscopy and is intended to support the evaluation and classification of data.
"We provide international talents with targeted qualifications for future topics and at the same time offer them prospects in the region," explain Dr. Timo Bernthaler and Andreas Jansche, both responsible for AI activities at IMFAA. "The close cooperation with industry ensures that research results in concrete applications. This is exactly where these specialists are needed.
Bridging the gap between international talent and the regional economy
The close cooperation with industrial partners - from medium-sized companies to international technology groups - is a decisive factor here. Students work on real issues and establish contacts with companies at an early stage. This creates a direct link between young international talent and the regional economy. At the same time, there is a growing willingness to stay in the region after Studies. Sanchita Goswami and Prithu Banik can both well imagine spending their professional future in southern Germany. Prithu Banik believes that this is not only due to the technical components of the Studies: "For me, the IMFAA has become like a second home."
