Never trust a sales pitch

What would you hope to get out of a fellowship at the NCCR Automation? Alpine adventures? Inspiration from world-leading researchers? New friendships and collaborations? Word is, the experience delivers on all fronts – with a few extra surprises thrown in. 

We sometimes find it hard to know how to encourage people to apply for this opportunity. The pitch is a bit too perfect: “Come to Switzerland to study with the best scientists in your field, and have a great time while you’re at it! We have the prettiest lakes and the nicest people and we’re the smartest!” Honestly, we wouldn’t trust that marketing either. So we asked our outgoing fellows to tell us honestly what their experience was like… but unfortunately, they all said the same thing: their time with us was simply amazing.  See for yourself. 

The big surprise: The NCCR Automation community!  

Almost everyone told us they were hoping to advance their research with world-class scientists, and enjoy the beauty of Switzerland as a side benefit. Absolutely everyone reported that the reality surpassed those expectations, especially thanks to the special atmosphere within the NCCR Automation.

Gösta Stomberg: “I’d heard from friends about trips to Switzerland that involved fun outdoor adventures, the beautiful landscape, and top-tier research opportunities.But even with all that, what I enjoyed most was the highly welcoming and sociable atmosphere in the lab, including the Thursday board game nights.” 

Zhisen Jiang: “The Fellowship was an incredibly transformative experience, and the biggest surprise was the warmth and openness of the people here. Group activities, communal lunches, and the NCCR annual retreat provided ample opportunities to bond with my colleagues.”

Xinrui Gao: “The biggest surprise for me was the tight connection within the NCCR Automation, thanks to some big events, the regular internal news digest, and social media.”

Enrico Sartor: “Coming from a small university, one of the best surprises was the many social activities organised during my stay. These events helped me make friends, work with others, and feel part of a community.”

Jiawei You: “The weirdest experience? Definitely the NCCR retreat. The unique blend of intense technical workshops and unconventional team-building activities was an unusual yet incredibly effective way to foster deeper connections and generate creative ideas.” 

Daniel Arnstrom: “I was very excited to get the Fellowship since some of the most exciting researchers in control are affiliated with NCCR Automation. I discovered that these were not only excellent researchers, but also very kind people.”

Well, thanks! But what was the work really like?

Daniel: “You never know whether a given research direction will be fruitful a priori (since you are pushing the frontier of knowledge into the unknown). In my case, the research I originally intended to explore turned out to be a dead end. However, being around excellent people gave rise to other exciting directions.”

Minda Zhao: “The biggest challenge I faced was deciding on a research topic. With the vast possibilities within the field of optimal transport, pinpointing a single area to focus on was daunting, especially in a tight time-frame. But despite the competitive and high-stakes environment, I found mentors and peers who were always willing to offer insights.”

Gösta: “I collaborated closely with Andrea Grillo, Roland Schwan, and Colin Jones to control teams of air hockey-playing hovercraft (custom robots that float on an air hockey table). It was very exciting not only to work with such a unique system, but also to apply the optimization and control methods I developed in my PhD. And even though I had tested some of these methods on real hardware before, integrating everything into a coherent code framework and successfully deploying the controllers in the lab still proved to be a big challenge.”

Jiawei: “The access to state-of-the-art facilities and the intellectually stimulating environment allowed me to push the boundaries of my research. And the people in the lab were incredibly motivated and helpful! Their willingness to assist with both academic and personal challenges made a significant difference.”

Zhisen: “The biggest challenge I faced was grappling with the unfamiliar territory of my colleagues' research; coming from a background with little overlap in control theory, there were moments when I felt lost. But the interactions with my supervisors, Saverio and Giuseppe, were invaluable. Their willingness to guide and mentor me through complex concepts made a significant impact on my learning curve, turning this challenge into an invaluable learning opportunity.”

That good, huh? There must be something you won’t miss…

Enrico: “I’ve really enjoyed my stay and there’s hardly anything I won’t miss. Perhaps the weather, but even that was not too bad.” (Editor’s note: On behalf of Switzerland we would like to apologise for the complete lack of summer in 2024!)

Zhisen: “The food! Despite Zurich's international reputation, I struggled to find food to suit my Chinese palate. And I certainly won’t miss the ordeal of searching for accommodation.”

Xinrui: “I will not miss the bureaucracy. It seems that no place on this planet is immune.”

Daniel: “I will never again complain about the weekend opening hours of stores in Sweden, after trying to buy something on a Sunday here. And how hard can it be to get hold of a garbage bag in Switzerland? A lot harder than you might think…”

So what’s next for you?

Zhisen: “My time here has opened my eyes to the incredible opportunities and resources available in Europe. The NCCR Automation has shown me how a lab can function as a close-knit community while offering top-tier research capabilities. This experience makes me really want to stay in the NCCR, especially my host lab.”

Enrico: “The skills and insights gained during my fellowship will be invaluable in my next step, a PhD position. The interdisciplinary approach and the emphasis on collaboration have equipped me with a robust foundation for my research career. Moreover, an exchange period in such a prestigious institution is a significant boost to my CV.”

Jiawei: “I hope to continue pursuing a PhD in the field of robotics, and I would love to start my PhD journey in Switzerland. The skills, knowledge, and resilience I developed during my NCCR Fellowship will undoubtedly be invaluable. The experience has not only honed my technical abilities but also equipped me with a collaborative and innovative mindset.”

Daniel: “For now I will continue as a postdoctoral researcher in Sweden. My biggest takeaway is all the connections I made while being part of NCCR Automation – both from the daily interaction with the people in my host group and from the awesome NCCR retreats.” 

So you’d recommend the Fellowship?

Xinrui: “For researchers in the automation area, NCCR Automation is a must-to-go, just like Switzerland is a must-to-go for hikers.” 

Minda: “Network extensively with peers and mentors, as their insights can be invaluable. Embrace the interdisciplinary nature of the work and be open to learning from fields outside your expertise. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take risks and push the boundaries of your capabilities.”

Jiawei: “The experience is intense but incredibly rewarding. Think carefully about what you want to do before you go, and make arrangements for where you want to stay in advance. The most significant challenge I faced was navigating administrative procedures – from obtaining permits to finding suitable housing and bank accounts. But overcoming these hurdles provided a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of Swiss culture and systems. And most importantly, be open to the unexpected – some of the most valuable experiences come from the least expected places.”

Feel inspired to apply for a place on our fellowship programme? Take a look at the application page.