»30 um die 30«: Ekaterina Shabratova

The Leibniz Association is turning 30 — but instead of looking back, we’re looking ahead. To mark the anniversary, we’re speaking with researchers at the very beginning of their careers. What determines their attitude towards life? What are their experiences as early-career scientists — and how might their findings help shape a better world 30 years from now? In Episode 18, we hear from physicist Ekaterina Shabratova, who is working on fabricating metallic microstructures for terahertz technologies at the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik.

LEIBNIZ How would you explain your research topic to someone at a party?

EKATERINA SHABRATOVA I work on fabricating extremely tiny antennas that can operate in the terahertz (THz) frequency range, which is a very special part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic waves already shape our daily lives: at the low-frequency end (radio and microwaves), we use them to call friends or reheat restaurant leftovers, and at the high-frequency end, we rely on visible light to see, while X-rays and gamma rays are used in medicine and food sterilization. However, one region remains very hard to access. This region, also known as the »THz gap«, is especially interesting because THz waves can penetrate clothing, plastics, and even certain biological tissues, making them appealing for security screening and high-resolution medical imaging. Beyond that, THz technology could enable other exciting applications, such as material analysis with THz spectroscopy and ultra-fast wireless communication. The challenge is that developing devices that work at these frequencies is extremely difficult. In our group, we try to bridge this technological gap by fabricating antennas that can transmit and receive THz radiation. This is not easy, as the structures must be made of metal while being as small as the thickness of a human hair. But if we succeed, our research could help bring THz technology out of complex laboratory systems and into compact on-chip devices that may one day find use in the real world.

And what would you say to a colleague?

We are developing fabrication protocols for free-standing 3D antennas operating in the terahertz range. To function at these frequencies, the antennas must have sub-millimeter dimensions. While 3D printing of ceramics is already well-established, direct micro-printing of metals remains a significant challenge. Current metal 3D printing technologies typically cannot achieve feature sizes below several tens of microns, making them unsuitable for the required precision. To address this limitation, we employ localized electrochemical deposition (LECD) technique, which is capable of fabricating metallic microstructures with micrometer-scale precision. In LECD, a metal-ion-containing electrolyte is locally dispensed through a hollow tip. The positively charged metal ions recombine with electrons supplied by a negatively charged substrate, resulting in localized metallic deposition. This process, however, requires a highly conductive substrate to deliver the necessary excess electrons to the nucleation site. Our work focuses not only on establishing the printing protocols, but also on developing methods to make this technology compatible with semiconductor substrates that will ultimately host the antennas.

What has been the most important moment in your life as a researcher so far?

To be honest, it is difficult to choose one moment as the most important in my scientific career. The path that brought me to where I am now feels like a complex weave of hard decisions, fragile planning, persistent work, and, at the same time, a fair share of accidents and luck. When I think about the most beautiful and fulfilling moments, I remember the days when I finally managed to find an answer to a question that had been troubling me for a while. Searching in directions I had never considered before was difficult but discovering that one elegant model that made everything fall into place, fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together, was deeply rewarding. I think this is what first drew me to physics as a teenager and what continues to inspire me despite the challenges: the beauty of new theories and ideas I encounter in this community, the joy of solving small mysteries about how things work, and the delight of bringing those elements together to create something new, always with the hope that it may one day improve people’s lives, even if only a little.

How could your research have made the world a little better in 30 years? (It's okay to dream big.)

I imagine a future where, during a routine medical check-up (even though I intend to be in perfect health in 30 years), I might see a compact, affordable THz diagnostic system in a doctor’s office. Such a device could enable safe, non-invasive health screening without exposing patients to harmful ionizing radiation, while also bringing advanced diagnostics to regions where expensive and bulky equipment is inaccessible. My dream is to see such a device helping patients around the world, including those with limited resources, living in small rural communities or low-resource countries. I would be genuinely happy if my research made even a small contribution toward making that possible.

In which era would you have liked to have been a scientist? Or is now the best time?

Speaking as a woman in physics, I believe that throughout most of human history I would not have been able to come anywhere near science. While some extraordinary women did achieve remarkable scientific results in earlier times, those were extremely rare exceptions. Even after women were officially granted access to higher education (which is still not the case everywhere), they continued to face significant discrimination. In this sense, there are only a few recent decades in which I would have had the real possibility of being a scientist, so I don’t feel I have an earlier era to choose from. I am very grateful to have been born at the right time and in the right place, into a loving and supportive family that gave me access to a good education and the chance to pursue my dreams. At the same time, I think it is important to acknowledge that discrimination against women, as well as against certain ethnic groups and gender minorities, still persists around the world, including within the scientific community.

‘A life for science’ – could that be the subtitle of your biography one day? If not, what subtitle would you find appropriate?

A few years ago, I would probably have said »yes«, but recent experiences have made me think beyond this single life goal. For a long time, I devoted nearly all my energy to physics: at school, at university, and later during my PhD. Sometimes I became so absorbed in my work that I set aside other important parts of life: my family and friends, my hobbies, and even time for myself – the things that keep me grounded and make me who I am. I believe that work-life balance is important: it prevents us from turning into work-driven machines and losing the richness of our personalities. Today I see science not as my only purpose in life, but as one of my deepest passions. I love doing physics, and I want to use it as one of the tools to make the world a nicer place, making people’s lives, including my own, a little brighter and happier. Perhaps a more fitting subtitle could be »Science for Life«?

When you meet people your age who do not work in science: What is the biggest difference between you?

I think one of the biggest differences is that scientific training gives you certain tools, especially critical thinking and the habit of doing careful research before making important decisions. Without these skills, people can sometimes be misled by appealing slogans that play on emotions rather than evidence. In the educational system I grew up with, freedom of thought was often not encouraged outside the natural sciences, which I found worrying. At the same time, I don’t think it is fair to draw a strict line between scientists and non-scientists. I have met brilliant people in different professions who devoted their lives to beautiful goals and, often without realizing it, approached problems in a very scientific way. I have also met scientists who, despite their training, held beliefs that did not align with scientific ethics. In the end, everyone has a unique background and life experience that shapes who they are. Access to good education is a privilege that not everyone has. I don’t think this privilege should be used to set scientists and non-scientists apart. Instead, I see it as a responsibility to share our knowledge with others, not to lecture, but to help build the tools of critical thinking and encourage awareness of the challenges our world is facing.

When you meet older researchers in your discipline, what is the biggest difference between you?

I find it hard to generalize, still, I would say the biggest difference is that age brings a wealth of experience that younger researchers simply have not yet had the time to acquire. At the same time, people from older generations grew up in a very different world from the one that shaped me, and this inevitably influences the way we approach the same problems. I often cannot say which way is the ‘proper’ one, but I see beauty in bringing these perspectives together: the more settled, experience-based approach of years and the sometimes naïve openness to fresh ideas and methods driven by youth.

What quality do you consider most important for a career in science?

The ability to question everything around you, including your own beliefs. Asking the right questions can open new paths toward solutions, but it can also lead to even more uncertainty. Research is a constant battle with the unknown and with problems that no one has ever solved before. This can be overwhelming and frustrating at times. That is why I believe another equally important, and perhaps the hardest, quality is resilience, which helps you maintain hope, especially in moments when it feels as if no solution exists.

How are you perceived as a scientist in society?

I must admit that I am not entirely sure myself. Stereotypes in society can sometimes shape how people perceive scientists, and for me it is not always easy to distinguish which of my experiences come from that. I am an outgoing young woman with blue hair, and many people who meet me outside of work are often surprised to learn that I am a physicist. Even within the professional environment, I sometimes feel that I am not taken as seriously as colleagues who more closely fit the traditional image of a »physicist«. I am not sure whether those who fit this image face the same challenges in how they are perceived, so it is difficult for me to generalize my experience to the whole community.

And how would you like to be perceived?

Speaking personally, I would like to be perceived more for my ideas and less for my appearance. At the same time, I hope that unconscious biases about how scientists »should« look will continue to diminish so that more people feel encouraged to see themselves as part of science. Maybe this way, science could also become more approachable for society, and more people will rely on it.

Please complete the following sentences. You can express realistic wishes or let your imagination run wild. Question number one: My work would be so much easier if …

… more resources were invested in creating permanent research positions, rather than focusing only on scientific equipment. This would help prevent the loss of valuable skills and knowledge from universities and research institutes.

I would like more of:

Time and patience.

If I could stop doing something right now, it would be …

… stressing when something (or everything) does not work in the lab.

Everyone should know that …

… quality education should be among our highest priorities, both at the societal and personal level. By advancing both scientific knowledge and social awareness, we may find the path to living in peace with each other and with the planet we share.

To set the record straight once and for all:

Misinformation plays on our emotions and offers easy answers, while science reveals the whole truth, including the uncomfortable parts. That honesty may feel unsettling, but it is also what can guide us toward a brighter future.

What is your greatest uncertainty in relation to your career?

My greatest uncertainties, which are probably shared by many young researchers, are job security and career development. At times, it feels that even putting all your heart and effort into your work is not enough to ensure progress on the academic path. On top of that, certain expectations, such as enormous workloads or long-term stays abroad, can feel almost impossible to combine with a happy and stable life, especially when you have family responsibilities (which still tend to fall more heavily on women) or are limited by holding a certain passport.

How do you manage to stay calm despite this?

I focus on doing my work as honestly and as well as I can each day. I’ve learned the hard way that life can change overnight, and the best we can do is make the most of what we have while staying open to growth and change. I also feel very fortunate to have the strong support of my loved ones and colleagues, many of whom have become dear friends.

Do you sometimes dream about work? If so, are they pleasant dreams?

Yes, quite often. Science is a big part of my life, and it’s hard to leave it behind when I step out of work. When I’m struggling with a problem, it sometimes keeps cycling in my mind, even in my sleep. I wouldn’t call those dreams pleasant, but every now and then I wake up with a new idea.

Your favourite place to work?

Oh, I don’t think I have one. Once I’m drawn into solving a puzzling task, I can do it almost anywhere, whether it’s running an experiment in the lab, analyzing data in the office, or reading literature on the kitchen sofa.

A still life on your desk?

A doodle during a meeting?

I don’t doodle much, but my colleagues and I like to leave cute notes on the whiteboard and around the lab.

After waking up: How does your day start well?

For my day to start well, I need to be treated like a flower: with sunlight and water. On darker winter mornings, my partner has set up a sunrise-simulating alarm next to my bed to keep me a bit more alive.

What do you look forward to on a normal working day?

I feel fortunate to work in physics, which has always been my passion. On top of that, I’m part of an amazing group and share an office with friends. I genuinely enjoy coming to work, whether it’s running fun experiments, diving into interesting science, or simply sharing a chat with my colleagues.

What do you look forward to when your working day is over?

A big hug from my partner and some time in my little hobby corner, with drawing materials, a few books, and puzzles.

A helpful snack for in between meals?

Ice cream, no matter the season.

A little escape from everyday (working) life that helps you recharge your batteries quickly?

I like visiting a small petting zoo, where I can look for funny frogs and lizards hiding among the leaves and branches, and watch the runner ducks waddling around the benches.

What helps you come up with ideas?

I would say reading. Literature research helps me develop a deeper understanding of a topic and often sparks new ideas. And of course, discussions with colleagues can be very inspiring as well.

What helps you stay focused?

I begin by writing down all my chaotic thoughts and plans to bring them into order, and then I find a quiet place where I can carefully work through them. When I’m in the lab, I also listen to music that helps me stay grounded and maintain focus.

When do you forget everything else around you while you're working?

Sometimes I get completely absorbed in trying to solve an intriguing problem. I might find myself asking questions such as why an experiment produced an unexpected result or what could explain an unusual data set. When a question captivates me, I can spend hours searching for the answer, forgetting everything else around me.