#FaradayPathways Alex Morscher

Dr. Alexandra Morscher’s #FaradayPathway explores her remarkable international career journey and inspiring drive for scientific discovery. After completing her PhD at the University of Liverpool as part of the SOLBAT project she has continued her research on solid-state batteries as a post-doctoral research assistant at the University of Münster. Alex highlights the value of mentorship in shaping her journey, pivotal training experiences and the importance of identifying your ‘why’.

Early aspirations

Alex’s childhood dreams were far removed from the path she ultimately chose, with initial interests leaning more towards sports and languages.

“I’m originally from Austria, where I attended a school focused on languages. I definitely didn’t see myself going into battery science or chemistry in school. Both of my parents were teachers, so I wanted to become a teacher!”

Alex developed an interest in chemistry through a visit to New Zealand in high school.

“I took a semester abroad and had a great chemistry teacher there. The problem-solving aspect of chemistry appealed to me. It’s like a puzzle, and I really liked that.”

Undergraduate years and international experiences

After high school, Alex decided to pursue chemistry seriously and was eager to study abroad. She enrolled at the University of Aberdeen to undertake a master’s degree. While studying there, she expanded her international experience with a brief stint in Bordeaux, France.

“I wanted to continue to explore new places and cultures and had the opportunity to spend a few months at the Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry of Bordeaux (ICMCB) collecting data for my master’s project. It was a great time. I enjoyed having the opportunity to go abroad again; it was challenging being in a new environment and meeting new people, but very exciting.”

Her master’s project focused on the magnetocaloric effect in Heusler-type materials (which undergo a temperature change when exposed to a magnetic field and have potential applications in cooling technologies) introduced Alex to research on green technologies. While not directly linked to batteries, the project laid the foundation for her future research and introduced her to mentors who encouraged her to pursue a PhD.

“My project was on solid-state chemistry, which I also worked on during my PhD. My supervisors, Professor Abbie Mclaughlin in Aberdeen, and Dr Olivier Toulemonde in Bordeaux, were so encouraging, and played a huge role in my decision to pursue a PhD.”

Alex’s PhD journey

After graduation, Alex started a PhD at the University of Liverpool on the Faraday Institution’s SOLBAT project, working towards the discovery of novel materials for use as solid-state electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries. However, Alex’s transition to battery research was not initially deliberate.

“It was an accidental transition really. My master’s was in solid-state chemistry, so I was looking for PhDs in that area. The project at Liverpool looked interesting, and happened to include battery work. As I worked on the project, I realised I really enjoyed working with batteries.”

During her PhD, Alex was guided by Professor Matthew Rosseinsky, who helped shape her research direction, and her mentor, Dr Luke Daniels.

“Matthew was very helpful with project direction. Luke’s guidance was incredibly important to my PhD success. I wouldn’t be doing a postdoc now without his support.”

 

Professional growth with the Faraday Institution

Alex was part of cohort 2 of the Faraday Institution’s PhD programme, which she describes as providing crucial training for her development.

“The soft skills I gained, such as presentation training, were invaluable. I was terrified of presenting before, but the techniques and coping mechanisms I learned were so helpful. It made me feel much more comfortable.”

Alex has since presented at international conferences such as the Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting in San Francisco. She has even won a prize for one of her presentations at a Royal Society of Chemistry Solid State Chemistry Group Meeting.

“Presenting at conferences has been one of the highlights of my career. I never would have imagined that at the start of my PhD!”

During her PhD, Alex had the opportunity to undertake a three-month internship at WMG.

“The internship was quite different from what I was doing in my PhD. Working on scaling up battery technology was fascinating and gave me a new appreciation for the broader implications of our research, from a tiny lab experiment to powering an electric car.”

Alex credited the collaborative environment of the Faraday Institution with playing a key role in her growth as a researcher.

“I made several close friends in my PhD cohort who I’m still in touch with. The exchange of ideas with people from different backgrounds was incredibly valuable; the sense of community was fantastic, and I always came back with new ideas and perspectives after meeting with my cohort. Everyone was so supportive, which isn’t always the case in academia; it can often be very competitive. It was refreshing.”

Current role and future aspirations

After completing her PhD, Alex took another step in her international career and is now working as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Münster, Germany. The opportunity to learn from leading researchers has been a key motivator in her move.

“Here, my work is on solid-state chemistry but purely the battery side of things, which I’m really enjoying. I also partly chose this group because I wanted to work with Professor Wolfgang Zeier. He’s a renowned expert in the field, and I’d heard great things about him. I’m really happy with my decision. I’m already learning a lot.”

Reflections on an international career

Alex’s journey has taken her from Austria to New Zealand, Scotland, France, England, and now Germany, teaching her invaluable life skills.

“Moving around has taught me resilience and perseverance, which are crucial traits for a PhD, and life. It’s made me more adaptable, which is essential when you’re constantly working with new people, in new cultures and with new languages.

“It’s not for everyone, but I’d highly recommend travelling when you have the opportunity. It really broadens your perspective. I hope to start my own research group in the next few years. My experiences so far will hopefully make that easier.”

Reflecting on her career so far, Alex encourages early career researchers to identify their ‘why’.

“It’s easy to lose motivation when things get tough, but I never lost that excitement for what I was doing. Awards are nice, but enjoying what you do is more important.

“It can be really frustrating when you spend months working on something and it doesn’t work, but these failures are part of the process. If you’re considering a PhD, make sure you know why you’re doing it. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing it really helps to carry you through the tough times.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help; seek out mentors and build a support network around you. It’s okay to struggle, and to take time off.”

Read more:

• Read Alex’s paper on Control of Ionic Conductivity by Lithium Distribution in Cubic Oxide Argyrodites
• Discover The Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme
• Read more about the Faraday Institution’s SOLBAT project

#FaradayPathway written by Rebecca Dawes, Science Communications Intern, and published September 2024.