Scholarship for a Chemistry Student

Katja Klötzer is the first student to have secured a scholarship from the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) for Zittau. These scholarships are awarded each year to approximately 20 students throughout Germany. She stood out among 120 applicants from the 60 local chapters. The key factors in her successful application were her grades, a letter of recommendation, and the required letter of motivation. She will now receive a scholarship for two semesters. For the 22-year-old, this is a real stroke of luck, as it significantly eases her financial situation.

Prof. Klaus Seibt from the Chemistry Division of the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences had posted the August Wilhelm von Hofmann Foundation’s scholarship announcement outside the faculty’s laboratories, and Prof. Dieter Greif, who serves as the local chapter chair for the Lausitz region, provided encouragement and support to the applicants.

Katja Klötzer is from near Rochlitz. She submitted an application to the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in 2012 because it offered her the opportunity to pursue a degree in chemistry with integrated vocational training. She felt that training as a chemical laboratory technician could only be an advantage. And so she came to Zittau from a region with a strong chemical industry. She has never regretted this decision. Thanks to her training, she is able to support her fellow students—especially during their many internships—for example, by helping set up equipment and providing background knowledge; because of the experience she gained through her vocational training, she approaches many things with greater foresight. She feels at home in her degree programme, and she has an almost family-like relationship with the professors and staff. She also really enjoys participating in the chemistry students’ showcase lecture, which takes place every year before Christmas at the University.

She is currently completing her work placement semester at Deutsche Amphibolin-Werke SE (DAW SE) in Nerchau near Leipzig, a manufacturer of paints and coatings, where she is able to put the knowledge she acquired at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences to a good use.

To balance her studies, she plays sports and enjoys student life. From the University’s wide range of sports offerings, she has chosen Thai-Bo aerobics and badminton. In addition to exploring the city, the occasional student party and social get-togethers are also high on her list.

Precisely because she grew up in a small village, the young woman feels very at home in the compact city of Zittau with its wonderful surroundings. “Zittau is just the right size for me, and I think it’s wonderful that everything is within walking distance,” she says. Otherwise, she takes advantage of the opportunities available in Zittau and the surrounding area: During the warmer months, she enjoys going for walks, for example, to the nearby Olbersdorfer See or in Oybin, which she often combines with photographing the landscape and architecture. In addition, she takes advantage of the activities at the TRIXI-Bad Großschönau and enjoys visiting one of the charming cafés in downtown Zittau from time to time. She thinks the Music Night and the Spectaculum—both regular events on Zittau’s cultural calendar—are simply fantastic.

After completing her Bachelor degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in cooperation with her current employer.