Timothy James Callow (on the left) from the UK and Bartosz Brzoza (on the right) from Poland have come to Görlitz to conduct research at the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS). In this interview, the two scientists explain how they came to Görlitz and what they like about working and living in the European city.
Where are you from and when did you come to Görlitz?
Timothy: I am from London. I studied Mathematics and Physics at Durham University for my bachelor's and master's degrees and stayed there for my PhD in Physics. Afterwards, in late 2020, I moved to Görlitz to work on machine learning in the field of materials design. More specifically, I try to employ neural networks to accurately and quickly characterize the state of matter in certain physical conditions. This is important for a variety of applications in the energy and materials sectors. CASUS is my first stop as a postdoctoral researcher.
Bartosz: I come from Radlin, Poland – a small city in Upper Silesia. I joined CASUS in February 2023, when I was in the final semester of my Master's program at the University of Wrocław. In the meantime, I am working here as a doctoral student.
Why did you come to the city?
Timothy: My motivation to coming to CASUS was because it seemed like a dynamic place for scientific research, with a strong focus on scientific computing and data-intensive science, which was appealing to me. Though CASUS was still in its early stages when I joined, it was already clear that it had an interesting mix of colleagues from different research areas and nationalities. As for Görlitz, I wanted to experience living in a different country, and the timing was good for me as I was just finishing my PhD and it was my last chance to move as an "EU citizen" due to Brexit. Görlitz looked like a pretty city with an interesting location right on the German-Polish border. Furthermore, I am a big fan of outdoor activities, and I could see that there were plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature in Goerlitz and in the surrounding region.
Bartosz: At the beginning I was commuting to Görlitz for 2-3 days a week, but I liked the city and work so much, I decided to stay here full-time. Since July last year I live in Görlitz.
What do you like about working and living in Görlitz?
Timothy: What I like most about living in Görlitz is the proximity to nature, because I like to go running, hiking and cycling. A special highlight for me is going swimming in the lake after work in summer – that's not easy to do in the UK! Because it's a small city, I find the pace of life quite relaxed and it's easy to get to know people. The festivals that take place in the summer months are also great fun.
Bartosz: The thing I like most about working here is the opportunity to immerse myself in the scientific community and the friendly and welcoming atmosphere present in the office. I deeply value all the interactions with like-minded people I meet here, especially since we come from such diverse backgrounds. Görlitz is very calm and has many beautiful historic buildings, which I like.
Where is your favorite place in Görlitz?
Timothy: Berzdorfer See and Bierblume pub in summer, King's Pub in winter.
Bartosz: Even though Görlitz is such a calm and quiet city, there are still cool places to hang out after work, my favorite being the Bierblume pub, next to the CASUS Untermarkt building.
This project has received funding from tax resources on the basis of the budget adopted by the members of the Parliament of the Free State of Saxony.
