Around the world in 27 fellows: Dr Jessica Gutiérrez González

Name: Dr Jessica Gutiérrez González

Home institution: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina

Host faculty at TH Köln: Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering Science

Fellowship title: Development of MXene-based acrylic coatings for improved tribological properties of melamine surfaces

Duration of stay: 1 February – 31 July 2026

I was interested in the international fellowship because…

I wanted to broaden my experience in advanced characterization of polymeric materials in an environment with infrastructure and expertise complementary to my group at INTEMA-CONICET, and because international mobility has always been a central part of my development as a researcher.

Specifically, during my research stay I wanted to…

Develop nanocomposite coatings based on polymeric matrices reinforced with MXene (Ti₃C₂Tₓ), and characterize them mechanically by nanoindentation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to identify the optimal nanofiller concentration.

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

how the incorporation of MXene into polymer matrices affects the surface mechanical properties and interfacial compatibility of the system, contributing to the fundamental understanding of these functional coatings.

I believe international exchange is…

 indispensable, and not only for access to infrastructure or technical knowledge. What brought me to Germany was the experience itself: immersing myself in another scientific culture, working with people with different backgrounds, and learning not only from the equipment but from the way others approach problems. The day-to-day with my lab colleagues — their willingness to share knowledge and help me — made this time both scientifically productive and personally enriching.

One difference between my home university and TH Köln is…

The relationship between research and the productive sector, at least from what I was able to observe during my stay. Here each group works with its own equipment and few users, which speeds up the experimental pace. What struck me most is that doctoral students have projects directly linked to companies — either simultaneously or as the basis of their thesis. This creates a very short cycle between scientific question and real application, a different model from my home institution, where basic research carries significant weight and maturation times are a natural part of the process.

What I am taking back to my home university is…

that facing the unknown is worth it. Coming to a country with a different culture and language was not easy — there was a lot of fear at the beginning. What I take back is the certainty that I could do it, and that makes me more confident about what comes next. The stay opened unexpected doors: an external collaboration with real publication possibilities, and the prospect of continuing to work with the TH Köln group through sample exchange. And above all, I take back people — colleagues of great human quality and patience — with whom I hope to maintain both a professional and personal connection.

What I like about TH Köln is…

that it combines technical excellence with a genuinely international and human environment. Working together with the laboratory team made it possible to advance a project further than I expected in such a short time.

What I really wanted to experience in Cologne is…

to be part of an international team and discover that, with the support of the right people, it is possible to develop a rigorous project far from home. The science we build together is the best proof of that.

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).