🌼 DESY CONNECT MAG | 1. Oktober '23
Florian Christie
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is a consultant at TNG Technology Consulting near Munich
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when things get tricky, that's when things get really interesting for Florian
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instead of accelerators, he now supports large companies with complex IT issues
The atmosphere in the accelerator control room was always magical
1. What did you want to become when you were little? Did you come close to this professional dream at DESY? And what are you doing now?
As a child, I actually attended an open day at DESY and visited the HERA tunnel. That impressed me so much that I decided that I wanted to study physics and work on accelerators. I made this dream come true at DESY. As time went on, I found software more exciting than hardware and that's why I've been working as a software consultant since the end of 2021. I write software for our customers and solve tricky IT problems.
2. What is your best, funniest or strangest experience at DESY?
Spontaneously, two things come to mind as the best experiences: firstly, the defence of my doctoral thesis and secondly, the installation of the PolariX structure, as I was the main supervisor of this project.
3. Do you have a photo from your time at DESY that you would like to share with us?
The photo shows me in front of the PolariX structure. A moment that I have been working towards for almost five years with many other DESY researchers and colleagues from CERN and PSI.
Time of pandemic: Florian with mask - nevertheless, his eyes are shining. Clearly pleased and proud, he presents the built-in PolariX structure. Image:
4. Assuming you were allowed to take one item from DESY, no matter how big or small. What would it be and why?
I would take one of the two PolariX structures and set it up in my living room. Although they are quite useless there for their actual application, the transverse deflection of particle beams, due to the lack of an in-house accelerator — nonetheless they are pretty to look at. They are also the centrepiece of my biggest project at DESY and therefore have great sentimental value for me.
5. Your favourite meal in the DESY canteen or your favourite drink in the cafeteria?
Three bowls of chilli sin carne for self-service at the big soup pots combined with a wholemeal roll from the cash register and a big shot of Tabasco.
6.Is there anything you have been missing since you left DESY?
I have grown very fond of my colleagues in the almost ten years I have been at DESY, especially the extended circle of my doctoral student office and our afternoon coffee round, where we often had intensive discussions about the most diverse subfields of physics. The atmosphere in the accelerator control room was always magical, too - there you could literally feel the crackling of the machines and had the feeling of being part of something big. I always liked to compare the control room with the command bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Also, my activities as a PR tour guide for visitors from all over the world and my work in the DESY student laboratory were very special to me and always gave me a lot of joy.