Student - Mare Dijkstra

Name: Mare Dijkstra
Student: Master Applied Physics
LinkedIn

“I met a lot of different people during my Master's degree, many of whom were really passionate about physics, which also inspired me.”

Hi, I’m Mare Dijkstra. I’m graduating in about a month with a Master’s in Applied Physics from TU Delft. Within my programme, I followed courses within the track: Physics for Energy, and also did a minor in Management of Technology. 

After getting my BSc in Applied Physics in Groningen, I decided to expand my knowledge and learn more about renewable energy and the physics behind it. I decided to do the SET programme at TU Delft, but during orientation I realised that it didn't have the in-depth and mathematical approach that I enjoyed in studying physics. So, the energy track within the Applied Physics Master was just what I was looking for. It let me explore different types of renewable energy while getting a deeper understanding of the physics behind them. I liked that there were lots of electives to choose from, so you could tailor the programme to your interests, as well as some set courses.   

I have to be honest and say that I thought the programme would be challenging, and it definitely was. For me, it was mainly the combined workload of all the courses that I found difficult. However, there's a real sense of community within the group of students. Assignments are something you work on together, and you can often work things out together. I met a lot of different people during my Master's degree, many of whom were really passionate about physics, which also inspired me.

I did my master's thesis with Tom Savenije, who works on perovskite solar cells. Perovskites are semiconductor materials that have made great strides in the last 10 years, with lab efficiencies almost matching traditional technologies. My project is about studying how charge carriers move within perovskite solar cells and understanding how combining them with transport layers affects devices. The project was a great mix of different things for me. I got to work in the lab and cleanroom, helped set up a new measurement setup and helped in extending the model to also work for my experiments.

I don't know what I'll do after my master's yet. There are lots of possibilities, but I'd love to work in solar energy and find a job that lets me make an impact. However, before that, I’m also thinking about doing a PhD and staying in academia for a few more years.