A voluntary social year in research? The Voluntary Year in Science, School of Engineering and Sustainability (FJN) is a little-known opportunity to actively participate in Research and Development even before Studies. Lisa Tomaschko from Aalen is one of only a few volunteers in Germany to take advantage of this opportunity. Since September 2025, the 19-year-old has been working at the Department, Institute for Materials Research (IMFAA) at Aalen University of Applied Sciences. There, she is experiencing how 1. science and scholarshop (allg.) can make a concrete contribution to future topics such as the energy transition, resource efficiency and sustainable mobility.
While the classic FSJ has long been established in social services, the FJN remains a niche format: there are only a few dozen places of assignment nationwide, spread across institutions of higher education, research institutions and organizations in the fields of technology and sustainability. The IMFAA has been one of them since 2023. The aim is to give young people after leaving school a practical insight into scientific working methods, to involve them in research projects and to support them with their appointment for professors; appointment funds.
The IMFAA's research activities are closely linked to key social challenges. The focus is on magnetic and structural materials, energy storage systems and lightweight construction concepts for resource- and climate-efficient applications, for example in electromobility. Digital technology also shapes the work of the department, institute. It ranges from additive manufacturing to machine learning-based analysis of material data. Materialography, material testing and modern characterization methods form the basis for the further development of sustainable technologies and efficient mobility solutions.
Insight into day-to-day research
As part of her FJN, Lisa Tomaschko is involved in ongoing research projects and works closely with researchers and students. She takes on tasks independently, assists with measurements, sample preparation and evaluations and gains insights into different analysis methods.
She was already particularly interested in natural sciences and technical questions at school. "Before embarking on Studies, it is enormously valuable to not only learn about research from textbooks, but to stand in the laboratory / lab and staff it yourself," reports Tomaschko. The FJN offers the opportunity to further develop interests, discover strengths and make informed decisions about their future educational path.
Orientation and promotion of junior researchers
"For us, as one of the strongest research universities of Applied Sciences in Germany, it is important to get young people interested in natural sciences topics at an early age and to give them real insights into academic research and writing," says Prof. Dr. Volker Knoblauch, Vice President for Research at Aalen University of Applied Sciences and member of the IMFAA Management. The decision is not only to support the volunteers, but also to give them space for independent work and their own ideas.
The FJN is accompanied by supra-regional educational seminars organized by the Federal Association of International Youth Community Services (ijgd), where the volunteers exchange ideas and learn about other perspectives from the fields of 1. academic (allg.), School of Engineering and Sustainability. In this way, the year combines practical experience with personal and professional development.
Further information on the FJN can be found at www.ijgd.de.
