Positive Holes are Everywhere
Dr. Freund started out studying mineralogy and crystallography, had his first academic position as Assistant Professor in Chemistry at the University of Göttingen in Germany, moved on to a professorship in the Geosciences at the University of Cologne, Germany, and came in the mid-1980s to the NASA Ames Research Center in California, U.S., and joined the Physics Department at San Jose State University as an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Freund is a Senior Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center in California, USA and a Principal Investigator at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute. He has been associated with NASA Ames for many years. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of the electrical properties of rocks, the behavior of Earth's crust, and the potential for life in extreme environments. Dr. Freund discovered a phenomenon known as the "Freund effect" or "Freund's electrokinetic effect." This effect involves the generation of electrical currents and charges in rocks and minerals under stress, which can have implications for earthquake prediction and understanding the behavior of Earth's crust. Dr. Freund has made significant contributions to the field of astrobiology, particularly in studying the potential for life beyond Earth.