Josefine Metzkes-Ng

Scientist at the HZDR Institute of Radiation Physics / Junior Research Group Leader Application-oriented Laser-plasma Accelerators

What is special about your job for you? What excites you about it?

I work as a physicist in the field of laser-driven particle acceleration. What excites me most is the opportunity to use high-power laser systems to explore new scientific questions at the interface of plasma physics, optics, and particle detection. The fact that this fundamental research can also lead to concrete applications — for example in understanding ultrafast irradiation processes — makes my work particularly rewarding.

What made you decide in favor of science?

There wasn’t a single defining moment. My enthusiasm for science developed during my studies and grew steadily through my diploma and doctoral research. By that point, it was clear that this was the path I wanted to continue. Having the opportunity early on to pursue a long-term career perspective in science certainly made that decision much easier.

Who or what has particularly encouraged you in your career?

I have been fortunate to receive strong support on many levels: from my family, from colleagues who motivated and supported me, and from supervisors who placed their trust in me and helped me gain visibility within the scientific community.

What do you think is needed to get more young women interested in science?

Visible role models are very important. For me, encountering a female professor during my studies was a formative experience — it allowed me to envision a future for myself in academia in the first place. On a very practical level, reliable career perspectives and long-term planning are essential — not only for women — so that science is seen as a viable career path that can be harmonized with personal goals.

What goals or wishes do you have for the future?

I hope that fundamental research will continue to receive the recognition it deserves. In my own research environment, I have seen how far-reaching and impactful it can be. Scientifically, I am particularly driven by two questions: Which new research questions can be addressed using the unique beam properties of laser-driven accelerators, especially with regard to ultrafast irradiation processes? And how far can laser accelerators be further developed, scaled with new laser generations, and ultimately made suitable for applications? I would like to actively contribute to answering these questions.