Hamburg IRES 2026 — Week 1

I just finished the first week of the IRES University of Louisville-University of Hamburg research program! It has already been an incredible experience. During week one, I learned about the research process, port logistics, digital twins, and Germany.

Our first day!

We arrived at the University of Louisville last week, where our group attended presentations on intellectual property, patent law, and research resources. We also had the opportunity to tour several research labs and explore the beautiful campus.

Touring the LARRI lab and U Louisville campus

Since arriving in Hamburg, we have met several times with our mentors and attended lectures on mathematical modeling and combinatorial optimization problems in container terminals. As a math major, learning how optimization applies to port logistics problems has been deeply interesting. I am excited to continue exploring these topics and see how math can improve complex systems. Beyond the classroom, our group toured Hamburg using the city’s public transportation and visited the Eurogate container terminal.

Riding the Hamburg ferry, touring Eurogate, and our first day at UHH

Outside of work, we also travelled to Berlin and Lübeck; this was an incredible trip in two beautiful cities! I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, and entrance to Lubeck