From Kenya to Hof at ibp: “And suddenly there was winter!”

Denis Kiragu is a research fellow at the ibp. He summarizes his impressions of the country and the university for “campuls-digital”.

“My name is Denis Kiragu, I come from Kenya and I am currently studying for a Master’s degree in Food Chemistry at Benue State University in Nigeria – fully funded by the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD). Due to limited research opportunities at my home institution and the desire for international research experience, I came across Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Nase from Hof University of Applied Sciences during my search. He agreed to supervise me as part of my Master’s thesis. As my research is interdisciplinary, I was also supported by Prof. Dr. Katharina Neumann and Prof. Dr. Thomas Meins.

Biopolymers, supervision and enthusiasm

I was very lucky to receive a research grant from the DAAD for a six-month stay in Germany to carry out my Master’s thesis on biopolymer applications in food packaging. The three lecturers who supervised me worked together to ensure that my trip to Germany went smoothly. It has to be said: it was my first trip outside Africa, but I was immediately impressed by Germany when I arrived here on January 3, 2025.

As a scholarship holder at the Institute for Circular Economy of Biopolymers (IBP), I received a level of support that I have never experienced in my educational career to date. The staff – some of whom I honestly still don’t know the exact names of – were very helpful in assisting me with my research. That made a lot of things easier, as I was still very inexperienced in practical research at the beginning.

Snowflakes, walks and study successes

I have really taken Germany, and Hof in particular, to my heart – from my accommodation in Westendstraße to the university and the city of Hof as a whole. The peace and quiet and the beautiful, natural surroundings, where you can take a wonderful walk and refresh your mind – all this made my stay in Hof a very pleasant and unforgettable time.

Overall, research at Hof University of Applied Sciences is very different from my home university – on the one hand because of the modern facilities and on the other because of the intensive personal support. Hof University of Applied Sciences is outstanding in both respects and I can only recommend it to anyone.

The biggest challenge for me in Germany was getting used to the cold – as I came to Hof in winter and experienced my very first winter with snow. But even that was very exciting and I took lots of photos just for the sake of the memory.

“Very good” and “very practical”

Together with my supervisors, we have already published one scientific paper from the research and are planning another – this is a great success for me in the early stages of my scientific career. And so I’m looking forward to completing my Master’s degree next September. If the opportunity arises, I would very much like to return to Hof – for a doctorate or perhaps even for a position. Hof University of Applied Sciences and the IBP have had a decisive influence on my development as a scientist, researcher and person.

To conclude my stay at Hof University of Applied Sciences, I would like to use two German words that I have learned: “Sehr gut und sehr praktisch.”

Thank you for having me here!”