back

Applied research ignites a passion

International student Christian Ramos Parra from Ecuador is about to start the final semester of his master's degree in calculation & simulation in mechanical engineering. He also completed his bachelor's degree at HAW Hamburg. The common thread running through his studies is applied research in medical technology. A passion he discovered as an undergraduate. Studying in Germany however, wasn't originally the plan.

© HAW Hamburg/Weatherall

Christian’s plan was to study in Canada. He applied and was offered a place at a Canadian university but couldn’t go because his visa application was denied. His mother suggested he think instead about studying in Europe and he was encouraged by his cousin, who was doing a PhD in Spain.

Christian had never been to Europe, but German engineering and a new challenge became an interesting possibility. He moved to Germany in late 2015 to learn German from scratch. Once he reached C1 level he was able to move forward with his plans to study. ‘Hamburg was initially only my steppingstone for learning German. I then wanted to move to a more well-known city like Frankfurt. But like many other international students, I fell in love with Hamburg and decided to stay.’

After completing a year at Studienkolleg Hamburg to fulfil the prerequisites for studying in Germany, Christian started his bachelor studies in mechatronics at HAW Hamburg in the winter semester 2018/19. Unfortunately, he felt totally out of place at the beginning. ‘So many of the students had already done an apprenticeship, and it felt like they already knew everything we were studying. I felt like I had made a huge mistake, but I decided to keep on trying.’

My research focus for my bachelor’s thesis was on deep learning-based approaches for X-ray computed tomography (CT). I worked on an X-ray setup at the university and performed CT scans and came up with approaches to tackle different problems that occur with CT technology. It was a great opportunity to experience applied research and was the reason I ended up loving my bachelor studies.

As he continued, his studies became more of a level playing field and his chosen specialisation – applied AI in medical engineering – became the highlight of the programme. ‘My research focus for my bachelor’s thesis was on deep learning-based approaches for X-ray computed tomography (CT). I worked on an X-ray setup at the university and performed CT scans and came up with approaches to tackle different problems that occur with CT technology. It was a great opportunity to experience applied research and was the reason I ended up loving my bachelor studies.’ Christian continued with this research, when he started his master’s degree in computational methods and simulation in mechanical engineering in April 2025. The latest findings are so interesting that his supervisor, Prof. Dr. Robin Wilke, and he are planning to publish them.

Alongside his studies Christian has also been gathering work experience, while financing his studies. Since 2022 he has been working at Beiersdorf AG in “Quality Management Digital & Analytics”. This has given him the opportunity for professional development while at the same time keeping a hand in research. “Working in industry has taught me how projects are carried out from their conception to their execution, while meeting stakeholders’ needs.” After finishing his master’s, Christian plans to work in industry and eventually transition into a role where he can continue experimenting with innovation or research.

As he heads into his final semester and the completion of his master’s thesis Christian’s hard work has been rewarded with a HAW Hamburg scholarship for academic excellence. He was one of three international master’s students to receive this recognition in the winter semester 2025/26. He sees it as a visible reflection of all the effort he has put into achieving his goals. And his journey so far as proof that sometimes the best plans are not always the first ones.

-------
Text & photo: I. Weatherall

Contact

Ingrid Weatherall
International Office

x