Around the world in 16 fellows: Dr. Evangelos Favvas

Name: Dr. Evangelos Favvas

Home institution: Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR “Demokritos,” Greece

Hosting faculty at TH Köln: Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences

Fellowship title: In Our Time: Embracing science and sustainability transformation, understanding the microstructure evolution during membrane preparation through digitalization tools

Duration of stay: October 1, 2025–March 31, 2026

I was interested in the International Fellowship because…

it offered me a unique opportunity to combine my long-standing research on membranes, porous materials, and water treatment with an international and interdisciplinary environment at TH Köln, while also contributing to a broader discussion on science, sustainability transformation, and digitalization in materials research.

Specifically, during the fellowship I wanted to…

advance research on the microstructure evolution of membranes during preparation and to explore the use of digital tools in this process. I also wanted to build new collaborations that connect membrane science with sustainability-oriented research and teaching, something which was done.

During my time in Germany, I wanted to find out…

how different academic and research cultures approach the integration of digital tools into experimental science and how interdisciplinary and application-oriented research is developed and integrated into academic practice at TH Köln.

I think international exchange is…

essential for promoting scientific excellence, innovation, and long-term institutional collaboration. In fact, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NCSR “Demokritos” and TH Köln, under which academic staff, researchers, and students from both institutions are eligible to participate in short-term visiting stays.

Something that is different at my home institution than at TH Köln is…

the institutional context, as NCSR “Demokritos” is a national central research center, while TH Köln combines strongly applied research and innovation with teaching.

What I take back to my home Research Center is…

that close interaction between research, digitalization, and international cooperation can significantly enrich both scientific work and academic culture, as in TH Koln teaching activity is also a main priority.

What I like about TH Köln is…

that it combines an international outlook with a strong applied-science identity, creates space for meaningful collaboration across disciplines, and welcomes visiting fellows in a way that makes them feel both academically challenged and personally integrated into the university community. Working with Prof. Stéphan Barbe’s research group has given me a strong sense of being in my own laboratory, while at the same time making each day a genuinely new and enriching experience.

What I really wanted to experience in Cologne is…

not only the academic life of TH Köln, but also the city’s open and international character, its vibrant scientific and cultural atmosphere, and the opportunity to live and work in an environment that connects local identity with a strongly European perspective. The short distance between Cologne and Brussels has enabled me, through visits to the European Commission and various companies, to strengthen my professional network with scientists, advisors, and other professionals who live and work in the European capital.

About PLan_CV

The International Fellows program is part of the project PLan_CV („Professur-Laufbahn an Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften neu denken: Collaboration und Vernetzung“). Its goal: Finding excellent candidates for professorial careers at TH Köln and achieving greater permeability between the academic world and the business sector. The project’s budget of 12.4 million Euros is funded through the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space program “FH-Personal” (staff for universities of applied sciences).