The Computational Sciences program offers students the opportunity to combine studying science and computational methods. “This approach helps us solve complex problems that would be impossible without computational methods,” explains Lukas Schmidt, who completed his Bachelor’s degree in summer 2025.

As part of the “Computational Sciences Applications” lecture series, which is offered early on in the program, he learned about various research areas and projects in which this interdisciplinary approach is implemented. Among the lecturers was Dr. Rubén Cabezón, who spoke about his work at the Center for Scientific Computing (sciCORE) at the University of Basel and about his research in astrophysics, particularly the SPH-EXA project.

From Lecture Hall to International Research Collaboration

As part of the SPH-EXA project, researchers are developing new methods to enable extremely complex simulations on the world's largest supercomputers. The aim is to simulate processes in the universe with unprecedented detail, such as the formation and merger of black holes, the formation of planets, and massive stellar explosions. Such simulations provide valuable insights for cosmology and astrophysics.

“I’ve always been fascinated by physics,” Lukas recalls. “Rubén’s lecture inspired me so much that I simply wrote to him and asked whether I could get involved somehow, maybe through an internship.” That initiative paid off: Lukas was soon offered an internship and subsequently even a position in the SPH-EXA project, even though he was only at the beginning of his bachelor's degree. “For internships, the academic stage matters less than what people may think,” says Rubén. “We see the person, not the semester in which they are. Experience is a plus, but willingness to learn and collaborate, being pro-active, and delivering results is what really matters.”

For six months, Lukas worked full time in the project, taking a short break from his studies. Even after returning to university, he continued contributing to the SPH-EXA team on a smaller scale. His work focused on the physical validation of the methods developed within the project. “Every particle we know from physics has certain properties and you can encode these,” Lukas explains. “By combining many such digital particles, we can create simulations, which we then compare against the physical laws we already know.” For him, high-performance computing is an indispensable tool: “It allows us to explore scales that are far beyond what conventional experiments can achieve. Supercomputers give us the computational power to push the boundaries of physics.” At the same time, Lukas believes that researchers have a responsibility to use such resources thoughtfully: “High-performance computing consumes a great deal of energy and we need to use it responsibly.”

Research Begins with Initiative

Lukas is now studying for a master's degree in physics. The experience he gained during his time on the research project has enriched his academic path. And Rubén is convinced as well that more students should take the initiative to get involved in research early on: “Lukas did something I wish more students would do: use the university’s access to researchers. I encourage students to contact researchers who resonate with them, both personally and in terms of research topics. This is by far the best way to gain hands-on experience in actual research within a collaborative and international atmosphere. In my opinion, one of the most valuable benefits a student can get from their university.”

While moving from an internship to a paid research position is not always straightforward, Rubén notes that it can happen under the right circumstances: “In Lukas' case, he approached the work as an experienced researcher, with devotion and respect, independence, and a strong willingness to contribute. The decision of welcoming him into our project was easy.”

The work on the SPH-EXA project was demanding and required considerable effort, yet it was exactly the kind of challenge that inspired Lukas: “I was able to work on questions that touch on the bigger picture, which made every single day exciting. The experience confirmed and deepened my interests.”