During our interview, we would like to introduce you the two colleagues of the Autonomous Transport Systems Center, who can help you get to know the everyday life of a researcher better.
Ernő Horváth has been working here since the establishment of the Vehicle Industry Research Center. He studied Software Engineering in Bsc at the Széchenyi István University, after that he cpmpleted his Masters in this faculty as well. After graduating, he began his doctoral studies.
Norbert Markó is currently spending his last semester at the university with a Master’s degree in electrical engineering, and he also completed his undergraduate degree in this faculty. After his MSc studies, he also chooses doctoral training.
We asked Ernő and Norbi the following questions so that you could get to know them better.
Why did you decide to pursue doctoral studies?
Ernő: I really liked the freedom in research and the fact that I can mentor and help doctoral students.
Norbi: I’ve always been interested in the sciences and in the Vehicle Industry Research Center we can work with market players to create something new.
What does being a researcher mean to you?
Ernő: Usually the incoming tasks are diverse, not boring, and I also like the freedom of research, I feel it is really for me.
Norbi: It is an everyday intellectual challenge for me and a great challenge to be able to contribute to the development of scientific life with my research results.
What research are you doing at the Vehicle Industry Research Center?
Ernő: My doctoral topic was already related to environmental perception, I am currently working on self-driving car development, and a little bit with artificial intelligence.
Norbi: During my doctoral studies, I will work entirely with artificial intelligence, which I am extremely looking forward to.
What makes the work of a researcher exciting?
Ernő: There is a problem that has not been solved so far. And we can find the answer to that.
Norbi: We can always use the latest results and technologies of science and I think the research work is very spectacular for outside observers.
What is your goal as a researcher? What do you want to achieve?
Ernő: Supporting the young, starter generation and promoting their development.
Norbi: My short-term goal is to be able to improve my knowledge, which is what I focus on during my doctoral studies.
Can you tell us about your university experience abroad?
Ernő: I spent a semester in the Netherlands during my Bsc training in computer vision, as no similar training was available in the region. There was a research center like the Vehicle Industry Research Center at the Dutch university, and the teams there won a lot of European robotics competitions. This experience also helped me get my first job, as I wrote software for machine vision.
Norbi: I haven’t had the opportunity to study at a foreign university yet, but I’d love to spend a semester at a foreign university during my doctoral training.
Why do you love Győr?
Ernő: Most of my colleagues live here, I have known them since I was young. I definitely like the international atmosphere of the university, it is extremely good that so many foreign students come to Széchenyi István University. I think the city is extremely child-friendly, calm, which is an important aspect for me.
Norbi: I was born in Győr and I think that Széchenyi István University has similar opportunities as the universities of the capital. I don’t particularly like the everyday big city atmosphere, stressful, rushed life. I feel completely good in Győr.
Why do you recommend the Vehicle Industry Research Center as a workplace?
Ernő: In the Vehicle Industry Research Center we get researcher freedom, but it is also a big responsibility, because the project has to be managed by yourself, you need enough motivation, because research is very different from all other work segments.
Norbi: The Vehicle Industry Research Center is an opportunity for development. I also like the freedom I got here, but as Ernő mentioned, the results must be provided here as well.
Are your leisure time and work related?
Ernő: Not really, I prefer to spend most of my free time with my family. If I wouldn’t research, I’d probably look for another intellectual hobby for myself.
Norbi: Language learning is my hobby, I play sports a couple of times a week. My work helps in everyday life, as you have to change your opinion in small steps even during your time as a researcher and it is easier to admit if you are wrong. For me, this experience helped me a lot in my human relationships.