My name is M. Yaqoob Khan and I am Associate Professor at the department of Physics, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, KPK, Pakistan. Thanks to the Alumni Office of Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) for providing me with the opportunity to have a research stay (Feb. – March 2022) at my alma mater under the Research Alumni Program. I was fortunate to have had my PhD degree from FUB (AG Kuch, Institute of Experimental Physics) during 2008 – 2012. Along with Prof. Kuch, I also secured two DAAD funded projects under which we frequently exchanged scientific visits during 2014 – 2016.

The main purpose of my recent stay was to experimentally study some unrevealed aspects of phenomenon called exchange bias (EB) effect which manifests itself as a shift of hysteresis loop of ferromagnetic layer in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic layered system. The EB is the fundamental ingredient of hard-disk read sensors or magneto-electronic devices.

My stay at FUB was a wonderful experience to visit my mentor's research group again and to perform the proposed experiments. It not only refreshed my knowledge & skills but also revitalized my research ties with the group. This will foster mutual academic exchange and collaboration and will help establish sustainable cooperation beyond the scope of this funding scheme. Besides, it was a memorable stay for me along with my family. It was soothing to visit around the beautiful, peaceful and my beloved city – Berlin – that I use to call my second home!