Christina Lickl is studying chemistry at LMU—and takes on responsibilities that extend far beyond her own studies: as a tutor, in the student council, and on university committees. The Deutschlandstipendium gives the 22-year-old the flexibility to balance this commitment with her studies.
Assessing a situation, making a decision—and standing by it: That’s what Christina Lickl learned on the soccer field. “My self-confidence has grown significantly through refereeing, and I’ve stopped second-guessing every decision I make before I’ve even carried it out,” says the 22-year-old. The Starnberg native has never played soccer herself. From the very beginning, she was interested in seeing the game from a different perspective.
Making decisions and taking responsibility—both of these traits continue to shape Lickl’s studies at LMU today. After earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biochemistry, she is now pursuing a master’s degree in chemistry. She developed a passion for the natural sciences at an early age, initially focusing on math and biology. Her interest in chemistry then developed in high school. She is particularly fascinated by the fact that everyday phenomena can be explained with increasing accuracy as knowledge grows. She also finds the connections that emerge between different topics and fields of study to be exciting.
© jan greune
Since her first semester of undergraduate studies, Lickl has also been active in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Council. At first, she says, the work was mainly a way to get to know other students. Later, she realized how much she personally gained from her involvement. Since 2023, she has therefore been organizing the orientation program for first-semester students. “This allows me to help new students get started with their studies and share my own experiences.” In addition, she took over the student council’s financial management and was elected its first chairperson during her second year of study.
Lickl now also represents students’ interests on university committees. As a student representative on the Structural Commission, she brings the perspective of master’s students to the table. Previously, the Starnberg native was involved in the accreditation and revision of the bachelor’s program in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She currently serves on an appointment committee and is thus involved in filling a professorship.
As a tutor, Lickl also shares the experiences she has gained during her studies. On multiple occasions, she has supervised students in chemistry and biochemistry as well as student teachers during their experiments, helped with practical questions, and ensured safety in the lab. “I see this as another opportunity to pass on my experiences and passions from my studies.”
Lickl got a taste of a different kind of research routine during her stay in Helsinki. She has long been fascinated by the Nordic countries. Since the University of Helsinki is a partner university of LMU, she had the opportunity to do an internship there. It was her first time living on her own. “That time was very rewarding for me, both professionally and personally.” She also noted that the research atmosphere there was different from what she was used to in Munich. At the same time, the 22-year-old appreciates the research conditions at LMU: The labs are well-equipped and offer students excellent opportunities to conduct research even while they’re still in school.
The financial support she receives as a scholarship recipient gives Lickl some financial leeway. “The Deutschlandstipendium allows me to stand on my own two feet to some extent.” At the same time, the support gives her more time to get involved with the student council and other students and to advance her own studies. The non-financial support is also important to her: Through the scholarship, she has met students from various disciplines and made new connections.
© jan greune
After completing her master’s degree, Lickl plans to pursue a Ph.D. Her main interest currently lies in organic chemistry, but she is also keeping an eye on other fields. “For my Ph.D., I definitely want to stay in an academic setting for now.” Afterward, she could envision either continuing to work at a university or research institution or making the move to industry. Regardless of the path she takes, one goal is clear to her: “I would be happy if my research and work added value to our society.”