Some, for instance, are perfecting the art of baking sweet treats—a talent we all support and benefit from since we get to indulge. Others regularly make us smile: on one monitor, their latest paper; and on the other, the countdown to its deadline—with seconds ticking away, of course. And then there are those who are so passionate about certain topics that we have considered making bingo cards for our breaks. Because sooner or later, one of their favorite topics will come up. One example? Hiking.

Breaking It Down: Snacks and Papers

Our colleague Lisa Sonnleithner is one of those passionate hikers. Last year, she hiked 600 kilometers and thousands of meters in elevation in New Zealand—in just four weeks. Along the way, she had plenty of time to reflect, including on what she had just completed: her PhD program. When asked if a long-distance hike can be compared to a PhD program, Lisa responds: “Yes, actually it can.”

Just like a long hike, the goal of a PhD can seem far away at first. But Lisa broke it down into smaller challenges. In hiking, it’s about: When’s the next snack? How far is it to the next hut? During her PhD, the questions were more complex, but the approach was the same: step by step. “You don’t start with the dissertation. You write one paper, then another. You work your way forward.”

When the Soil Slips, Hang in There

When asked about her path to earning a doctorate, Lisa explains that it began right after finishing school. After completing school, she initially thought university would be easier. "I quickly realized it wasn’t as simple as I had imagined," Lisa says with a laugh. This realization made her more humble. Over time, her initial naivety and self-doubt gave way to healthy self-confidence. "You build competence step by step."

Lisa also shares a memorable moment from her hike. A landslide had left a four-meter-high slope in her path. Lisa thought: “There’s no way I can get up that.” But as she looked closer, she noticed roots everywhere she could hold onto. “It was unexpected, but that’s how I managed to climb it.”

Excellence Rewarded

Another unexpected moment came in October when Lisa was informed that she had won the PhD Award of Excellence from the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research. This award recognizes the 40 best dissertations in Austria every year.

Lisa’s dissertation was developed as part of the EU project 1-SWARM and the Christian Doppler Laboratory VaSiCS at the LIT CPS Lab. Her research focuses on the analysis and improvement of control software quality in cyber-physical production systems. With her work, she contributes to increasing the flexibility and adaptability of production systems, reducing development effort, and sustainably enhancing the competitiveness of manufacturing companies.

The Journey Matters—And the Fun Too

Lisa advises students starting their academic journey to take time to look around and explore. “What matters most is what you learn along the way—not how quickly you get there.” What’s particularly important to her? “Having fun.” For Lisa, work should be more than just a duty. She wants to enjoy coming to the office—and makes sure others feel the same. Lisa contributes to our team dynamic with openness, addressing issues directly and advocating for inclusive language and gender equality through her actions. Amazing, right?

Last but not least, we will close with a quote from Dr. Sonnleithner. She once said: “We’re not just good-weather colleagues here.” And that sums her attitude up perfectly: when challenges arise, you can count on Lisa.

While we are thrilled to celebrate Lisa’s award, we are even happier to celebrate her, the person behind the achievement, as part of our team. Congratulations, Lisa!