In an exciting development for 2024, our colleague Dr. Birte Seffert embarks on a nationwide tour to meet with the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Fellows across Germany. The Keeping Up with the Boost Fellows series aims to shine a spotlight on the journeys, challenges, and achievements of our Fellows. 

Birte Seffert arrived in Munich only a short train ride from the previous stop on the road trip. She sat with Renate Sachse at TU München to talk about interdisciplinary research and why getting involved in academia beyond research is worth it.

Renate’s interdisciplinary Boost-Funded project

Renate´s background as a civil engineer is somewhat unusual for the Boost Fund since the programme does not address the engineering sciences. Yet, her project is a wonderful example of interdisciplinary research which the Boost Fund seeks to support by linking engineering to biology and computational modelling.

Renate looked at soft robots and their potential to offer safer, more adaptable solutions than rigid conventional robots when interacting with humans. Soft robots are used in medicine & health care, search & rescue and agriculture, to name a few examples. But designing soft robots remains a challenge: How do you create a structure that moves softly and adaptive, without harming humans?

Renate´s approach: Learn from biological movements and use computational mechanics methods and machine learning in a bionic design process. Think of the Venus flytrap storing energy in its leaves and releasing it when snapping shut in response to a biological stimulus. Her approach not only helps optimize the movement of soft robots but also enables a fascinating “reverse engineering” perspective: By designing and studying optimal robotic motions, we gain new insights into biological movements themselves.

Why get involved in academic services such as scientific associations?

Renate is an active member of her professional society—beyond attending and presenting at conferences, but as someone who seeks to contribute to change, new perspectives and ideas. She sees this as both an opportunity and a responsibility:

Networking: “You meet peers at the same career stage, but also senior researchers who get to know your name.”
Influence: “If you want to change the system, you have to be part of it. If no one gets involved, nothing will change.”
Time commitment: “Active membership comes with meetings, emails, and discussions—so be mindful of how much you take on.”

Renate’s journey reminds us that research careers are not just about technical expertise but also about navigating networks, disciplines, and opportunities.

Looking back: What the Boost Fund changed for Renate

Renate started her project in 2022, two years after finishing her PhD, and is now completed. At the time, she expected it to run alongside her other responsibilities—perhaps leading to a publication. What she didn’t anticipate was how the funding gave her something beyond financial support: independence.

“I gained the freedom to pursue my own research ideas without needing approval at every step. It also boosted my confidence—my idea wasn’t just accepted, but funded. That changed my perspective on my own potential. It shaped my research profile and what I stand for as a researcher.”

With this in mind, Renate is now working on the next step in her academic career – and we are curious to see where it will lead her.

The KT Boost Fund is a joint program of GSO and the Klaus Tschira Foundation for postdoctoral researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. It offers flexible funding for risky and interdisciplinary research on the way to academic independence. Funding can be used to hire staff, buy equipment, or build collaborations – tailored to the research project.