We often hear the quote by Carl Lewis: "It's all about the journey, not the outcome."And so, while I am extremely happy and proud that at this moment you are holding the outcome of my four-year PhD journey, I have to agree with Carl, it is the journey that matters most.This journey was not an easy one.It definitely had its ups and downs.Luckily, I was not alone in the journey but always had people next to me who provided me with so much help and support.With that in mind, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisory team, colleagues, friends, and family.First and foremost, I would like to