Humboldt Stories

I was a Humboldt Senior Research Awardee and spent time at the Humboldt University (HU) in Berlin in 2018 and 2019. Collaborations have been central to my work and that of NREL. We collaborate with the Helmholtz Center and joint appointments among the three institutions are common.

In a speech I gave at the Humboldt University a few years ago, I proposed a formalized four-way collaborative enterprise on next-generation solar cells, which could serve as a template for other areas. This idea took shape in November 2023 in the form of a workshop attended by about 10-12 people from Colorado and twice as many from HU and the Helmholtz Center (HZB). Following the workshop, a German government official—who had previously met with HZB’s Scientific Director—requested a white paper summarizing our discussions. As a result, HZB was invited to submit a full proposal for 4M euros, including $360K for research exchanges, which began on March 1, 2024. Additionally, I submitted an NSF International Research Experience for Students proposal, funded at $450K, to send 5-7 students each summer to these institutions over three years. Numerous research exchanges have since occurred, and a second workshop at CU-Boulder last November attracted about 20 people from Germany.

I believe these events would not have happened without my time at HU as a Humboldt Senior Research Awardee. I am grateful to the AvH Foundation for enabling me to develop the deep ties that helped facilitate this high-performing network.

My Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany (1995–1996) was a transformative experience for both my career and my family. It shaped the course of my professional life and opened doors I hadn’t imagined.

From the moment we arrived, my family and I were welcomed into the Humboldt community, which became like a second family to us. Participating in the Humboldt study tour was a highlight, as we explored Germany, including Bonn, and immersed ourselves in its rich culture and history. Along the way, we formed lifelong friendships that not only helped us navigate life in Germany but also
remain an integral part of our lives today.

During this fellowship, I made the pivotal decision to pursue a career in academia. The Humboldt network has been invaluable, connecting me with a global community of scholars and creating opportunities for collaboration and growth. A standout moment was attending the North American visit of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation President, where I reconnected with fellow alumni and AvH staff, further strengthening these lifelong bonds.

My time as a Humboldt fellow was truly life-changing, giving me a sense of belonging to a global family united by a passion for discovery. For this, I will always be deeply grateful.

I spent my time as a Humboldt and Calder Fellow collecting and collating the second-century “Acts of Thekla” in the Syriac language. During my time in Germany, I collected thirteen manuscripts—nine of which had never been edited—and compared and translated them for a critical edition and study of the Syriac version of the Acts of Thekla. I have since submitted a complete draft of my upcoming book, Thekla in Syriac: The Acts of Thekla and Its Reception in the Syriac Traditions, which will appear in the “Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum” series at Mohr Siebeck (Tübingen). The funding I received via the William M. Calder III Memorial Fellowship in Classical Studies allowed me to purchase images of manuscripts from the “Scriptorium Syriacum” repository under the protection and preservation of the Chaldean Catholic Order of Ḥormizd in Erbil, Iraq, and enabled me to bring my wife Sarah and our two daughters Kora and Maryn to Germany with me. I firmly believe that integrating familial support into academic research is vital to success. I am grateful to the Humboldt Foundation and to the memory of Professor Calder and hope to continue his legacy of strong academic scholarship in Classics and Ancient History through my work. 

In honor of July’s International Day of Friendship, German Chancellor Fellow Rocío Guenther discusses the many international friendships she has forged through her Humboldt experience:

“My journey as a German Chancellor Fellow has been transformative. The opportunity to live and work in Germany for a year, immersed in its rich culture and dynamic academic environment, has been a cornerstone of my professional and personal growth. One of the most rewarding aspects of my time in Germany has been the friendships and collaborations with colleagues from around the world. I can now proudly say that I have a professional network in countries like Brazil, South Africa, India, and China—in addition to Germany. These relationships have not only enriched my understanding of global issues, but they have also provided a support network that transcends borders. Through joint research projects, collaborative workshops, and cultural exchanges, we have built bridges that connect our communities and pave the way for future cooperation.”

I spent my time as a German Chancellor Fellow investigating the differences between European and American beekeeping. I didn't want my bee journey to end after my fellowship, so I applied to graduate school at Arizona State University. I convinced Robert Page to take a chance on an unusual graduate student (an English major) with a fascination for bees. He allowed me into the graduate research program in biology on the condition that I pass the GRE Biology subject test within the first year. I succeeded and earned my master’s and PhD, focusing my research on how young honey bees use pheromone signals to manipulate their caregivers. After a postdoc at the University of Maryland, I returned to Germany as a Junior Fellow of the College of Life Sciences at the Wissenschaftskolleg in Berlin. There, I met Tim Landgraf, who had developed a tracking system to follow bees inside an observation hive. In April 2021, I became the head of the LAVES Institute for Bee Research in Celle, Germany, the institution that had hosted me during my BUKA year. In May 2022, I accepted the position of director of the State Institute of Bee Research in Stuttgart, Germany at the University of Hohenheim. It's a dream job that allows me to combine my love of teaching, research, and outreach with a great research group and phenomenal students excited about bees and biodiversity.

My Feodor Lynen Fellowship at UC Berkeley offered me the chance to conduct
research at a world-class university. As an urban and regional planner, I was able to
gain profound insight into a highly fascinating metropolitan area. My postdoctoral
research dealt with growth management in the San Francisco Bay Area. I met
fascinating people at UC Berkeley’s Institute of Urban and Regional Development,
including US experts and visiting scholars from all over the world.
This fellowship was highly supportive for my career, as it opened up the pathway for
a professorship in Germany at the University of Kaiserslautern.
I am still highly grateful for being part of the Humboldt network, and I always seek
to support young scholars in building their careers.