Sign in

Christina Birkel

@christinabirkel.bsky.social
641 followers 936 following 166 posts

Associate Professor of Chemistry with a strong interest in materials at ASU. Kooperationsprofessorin at TU Darmstadt. Birkellab.com Mom. Goofball. Fueled by ☕️. Enjoys lifting 💪, hiking ⛰️, running 🏃‍♀️, and golfing ⛳️.

PostsRepliesMedia
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Men, it is time to stop being quiet about these issues. I am angry. Women are angry. Call out your friends and colleagues. Rape culture begins with inappropriate "jokes" that have no consequences. Make it uncomfortable for them. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
141
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Life hack: Have your own back! How often do you follow through with promises you make to yourself? Not often? ...start small and build rapport with yourself. Trusting yourself and believing in yourself can lighten the load and guide decisions. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
051
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Important reminders: You are not responsible for other people's feelings. They have to do the work to manage them. ~ How other people see you does not determine your worth. Their judgement says a lot about them. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
What I want more of... What about you? #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
When the voices yelling against people that look different, love different and live different get louder, be more. Be you. The world needs color! 🌈 #mentalhealth #MondayMotivation #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Never dim your light to make others feel more comfortable. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Finding the balance between becoming and being. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The truth is you are allowed to struggle. It means you are doing scary and challenging things. The truth is you are allowed to feel nervous. It means you care about something deeply. The truth is this might just be what inspires somebody else. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
We are not playing small. We are not shrinking ourself. Bold and confident because we got our backs! #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
030
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Let's go!! #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
001
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
When life gets a bit complex and messy, break it down to these simple concepts. Be present in what you love, let go of what doesn't serve you, and change what is within your power. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Forever this. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
031
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Celebrate your individual strengths and your unique path. Comparison is the thief of joy and you might be stressing over something that was never meant for you. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
In sports and beyond... performance in the workplace and joy can exist at the same time. Find a job where you can have fun while you work hard and serve a purpose. And remember nothing is permanent, you can always pivot. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
She’s doing her job. He’s breaking the rules. Data shows: Women in authority are more likely to be challenged, interrupted, and penalized for behavior that’s praised in men. Competence doesn’t protect women from backlash - power triggers it. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
051
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
New paper alert! Is A-site tuning an effective strategy for inducing magnetism in bulk MAX phases? Check out our latest work in Chemistry of Materials @acs.org. Congratulations, Isabel! Great collaboration within our Collaborative Research Center #hommage. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org
Density-of-States Engineering of the MAX Phase (V0.2Cr0.8)2GaC by A-Site Alloying with Germanium to Tune the Magnetic Susceptibility
MAX phases are a group of layered carbides and nitrides with the unique quality of combining typical metallic and ceramic properties in one compound. Years after the first report of magnetic MAX phase...
100
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Dreams can change and adapt. And that is great. They never have to cease to exist. A mother who lives her dreams becomes a powerful example, inspiring her children to believe in themselves and confidently pursue their own. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
110
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Don't forget to look around - where you are today was once a dream. In life, work, and personal growth, celebrate how far you've come, do not focus on how far you have to go. Self-love begins with recognizing and appreciating your own progress #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
021
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Love is Love. Happy #pride from Dublin! #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
060
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Hello June! #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Fresh air, shared laughter, moving our bodies, seeing the world and people you love — that’s the kind of wealth the outdoors gives freely. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #pfingstwandern2026 #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Your reminder for #MondayMotivation. Let's go! #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Leaving this here for #MondayMotivation. It made me smile today amidst end of semester stress, deadlines, piles of responsibilities and a bee sting. We got this!! #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Don't underestimate the power of inspiring and being inspired. We do not live in a vacuum. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
040
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
🌊 I am so happy and grateful for the opportunity to speak at the University of California Irvine. 🫶 This was a special invite for me because it was initiated by students and PostDocs in Inorganic Chemistry. Thank you Kaitlyn Dold for the phenomenal organization! #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
@asu-sms.bsky.social ASU SMS Student Awards Ceremony. 🧡 Special shout-out to our own undergraduate student Yiran who won the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award, and our graduate student Vaibhav Joshi for winning an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
For everyone who needs to hear this. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
I am not going to lie. I was inspired and touched by the Artemis 2 team and how they carry themselves. Rooting for them transcended political views and differences. Let's find more things that unite us, please. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
030
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
When you know your worth, you are finally setting standards. Who has earned access to you? Who deserves your energy? Who is matching yours? If they don't qualify, do not give them airtime in your life. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
040
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
🧡 We warmly welcome Danica Gressel into our group at Technische Universität Darmstadt. 🧲 Danica joins as a Postdoctoral Researcher and will work within our Collaborative Research Center #hommage, which is focused on the hysteresis design of magnetic materials.
040
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
This is very important! Don't shrink yourself. Take up space. Own your worth. Their feelings about you are on them and not your responsibility. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
051
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Pelicot, Epstein, Ulmen,.. extreme cases but not single incidents. They are supported by a system that protects the perpetrators, by thousands of men who think they are "the good ones". It is time that all men share our anger, that they take responsibility, that they self reflect.
130
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Let's acknowledge our privilege. Not everyone is safe. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Yesterday was International Women's Day. Why we need it? Despite progress, it is still necessary to combat systemic inequality, fight violence against women, bridge the gender pay gap, and ensure equal rights. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #equalrights #chemsky #matsky
030
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Very happy to be a part of this collection! Happy International Women's Day!
011
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Deep breaths everyone. Even amidst the chaos... We can steady our hands, slow our thoughts, and sharpen our focus. Prioritize being kind to each other. We all need it. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
We saw many amazing athletes, races, games, and performances during the #WinterOlympicGames. This resonates with me on many levels: "She is proof that joy and excellence are not opposites." We can break out of the norm, we can set our own rules. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
031
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Know your values and know your worth. Not every action needs a reaction. Let people show you who they are. Then acknowledge your boundaries and step into your power. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
030
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I am grateful to all current and former group members who push scientific and societal boundaries. #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience #chemsky #matsky
0110
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it. ~Martha Beck (Caricature made by ChatGPT) #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
011
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Are there #MAXPhases with mixed elements on all three lattice sites? Find out in our latest publication in @pubs.acs.org Inorganic Chemistry! pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.... #synthesis #carbonitrides #solidsolutions #ceramics #materials #chemsky #matsky
pubs.acs.org
Synthesis of (V0.2Cr0.8)2(Ga0.5Ge0.5)(C0.6N0.4), a Triple-Site Solid Solution MAX Phase
MAX phases are an extremely versatile family of layered compounds that usually consist of an early to-mid transition metal (M-element), a main group element (mainly groups 13–15) or late transition me...
142
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Times are stressful. What can you do to feel more calm? Things that help me: Being outside, moving my body, petting an animal, laughing with a friend, prioritizing sleep, practicing gratitude. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
000
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
How do #MAXPhases with exotic A-elements behave? Find out in our latest publication in @pubs.acs.org Inorganic Chemistry! pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.... #synthesis #carbides #solidsolution #materials #chemsky #matsky
pubs.acs.org
A-Site Solid Solution Effects on Electrical Resistivity, Oxidation Resistance, and Hardness of MAX Phases V2(As1–xPx)C and V2(As1–xGex)C
MAX phases are a class of compounds known for having both metallic and ceramic properties, such as good electrical conductivity, oxidation resistance, and high hardness. The bulk of the research on th...
120
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
And we all need to pay attention. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Are you holding back or changing because you are worried about what others will think? Do they matter more than you? Does their judgement effect you? Or does it reflect what worries them? Their insecurities are not yours to cater to. Be you. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
011
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
We are done playing small! #MondayMotivation #MentalHealth #chemsky #matsky
011
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Let's hold on to this. Let's allow this. Let's learn this. Let's cultivate this. #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
020
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
In between the years are quiet and slow days for me. I hope they are healthy and peaceful for all. And maybe a time to reflect. What do you value? What do you want to leave behind? What do you want more of? #MondayMotivation #mentalhealth #chemsky #matsky
010
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
That's all. #MondayMotivation #MentalHealth #chemsky #matsky
150
Christina Birkel @christinabirkel.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Be that light. #MondayMotivation #MentalHealth #chemsky #matsky
020