Interview with Junior Researcher Ebrahim Norouzi

Ebrahim Norouzi is a Junior Researcher at FIZ Karlsruhe with Prof. Dr. Harald Sack. He holds an M.Sc. degree in Materials Science and Simulation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Materials Simulation (ICAMS) at the Ruhr University Bochum. After completing his master’s degree, he worked as a scientific researcher at the Materials Informatics group of Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM). Ebrahim Norouzi acquired a deep understanding of material characterization techniques from his previous work at the Max Planck Institute for Iron research. 

What do you find most exciting about the MaterialDigital initiative?
What excites me most about the MaterialDigital initiative is how it brings together experts from both the industrial and academic sides of materials science. For example, experts meet every two weeks in the Ontology playground meetings to talk about and solve problems. It's a great community where you can bring an issue you’re facing, discuss it, and come away with a solution.

What do you like about your work for the initiative?
I work on the evaluation of ontologies in Materials Science and Engineering. My work in the MaterialDigital initiative allows me to use many of my skills. For example, my solid knowledge of the Python programming language and various data science techniques help me to extract valuable insights and knowledge from data. I can also use my front-end development and database management skills to create user-friendly websites that simplify complex back-end processes for domain experts.

Tell us about your research focus that interests you.?
My current research interests include machine learning, semantic web, and modelling and simulation in materials science. There are significant gaps in knowledge that we can address by integrating technologies from semantic web and computer science, opening the door to new ideas and improvements in how we approach materials science problems.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
I was inspired to pursue a career in science because I'm always looking for something new to do. I never get bored with science because there's always the chance to create something new, and it's about doing what I'm interested in, not what I'm forced to do.

What activities do you like doing the most?
I really enjoy bike packing, being outside, running and camping. It's relaxing and fun. When I'm not doing that, I like to paint with watercolors. It's another activity that I find enjoyable and fulfilling.

You are an expert in your field. What are your dreams for the future?
For the future, I dream of a world where everyone has easy access to scientific information. By sharing what we learn and achieve, we can all move forward and create a better life and a healthier environment. It's about working together, not against each other.

More information on MaterialDigital at:
https://material-digital.de/

More information on the research group of Prof Dr Harald Sack at:
https://www.fiz-karlsruhe.de/en/forschung/information-service-engineering

This interview was conducted by Material Digital.