What fascinates you about being an HAW professor?

What I like most about being an HAW professor is to work with young people. If, by imparting knowledge, I succeed in inspiring students for my subjects, then that motivates me immensely. In my case, these are mainly technical subjects such as process engineering or bioreaction technology, so-called MINT subjects. When I see graduates turning in a technical direction in their further academic or professional careers, I know that my work is bearing fruit.

At HSWT, I appreciate the intensive contact with the students we maintain. I am not only sought out as a technical contact person students now and then need personal advice or someone to talk to. For a professor like me, this contact is a crucial part of my job which also reveals in my teaching.

I remain convinced that the "classic" way of working with the blackboard suits me and my teaching best, i.e. a triad of writing, explaining and listening. The initial scepticism of the students, which I encounter time and again, subsides in the course of the semester as they experience the advantages of this learning process for themselves. Writing something down or drawing it is the first step in learning, creates calm and takes the speed out of the learning process; the joint working atmosphere this creates is very pleasant for everyone involved. What is particularly enriching for me as a professor is that I always have the opportunity to try out new things and thus develop personally. It ranges from the possibility of fabricating new lectures to helping shape the University of Applied Sciences through committee work, research activities and international cooperation. The bouquet of opportunities at the HSWT is much more colourful than I know from the industry. The activities there were mostly bound to a specific purpose and deadline, and the development opportunities were limited.

What do you particularly appreciate about HSWT?

The HSWT is a petite, family-like University of Applied Sciences with an inviting, green campus. I enjoy using the numerous gardens during breaks as a meeting place with other members or for meetings. The manageable size of the HSWT means that the anonymity of a University of Applied Sciences soon disappears, and the many names become faces. You quickly become a part of this University.

Professionally, I particularly like that the HSWT focuses on engineering education and that the existing degree programmes create a "green" profile. That is certainly unique.

I also appreciate the excellent infrastructure and network structure. The joint campus with the Technical University of Munich, the Bavarian Institute of Agriculture and the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging are particularly worth mentioning here. The distances are short, and the doors are open - the best conditions for good and fruitful cooperation, especially in research.

What was your personal path to the HAW professorship? Where did you gain practical experience outside the University of Applied Sciences?

I studied chemical engineering with a focus on technical chemistry at Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen and did my doctorate in cooperation with industry. Afterwards, I worked for 11 years in technical research in the food industry, first for many years at a medium-sized company in Germany and then at a global corporation in Switzerland. That resulted in a wealth of experience I would not want to miss today and am happy to pass on.

Imparting knowledge through lectures, talks, or training courses accompanied my professional life entirely. Before taking up the professorship at HSWT, I worked for many years as a part-time lecturer and was allowed to train as a university lecturer part-time at the Carl von Linde Academy. Looking back, this was a valuable preparation for the profession as a professor. In addition to extensive theoretical knowledge, I got to know different teaching and learning methods and to experience them myself.

I have already been able to use the opportunities to develop as a professor at HSWT in many ways. I am particularly pleased that I have managed to get back into application-oriented research intensively. Since October 2021, I have held the research professorship "Sustainable Bioengineering" and head my own research group. We deal with the use microorganisms in technical applications and the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable processes.

What challenges have you successfully mastered during your time as a professor?

I think first of all of the "culture shock" that accompanied my move from industry to the public sector. In industry, quick and pragmatic decisions are required, and the goal is in the foreground - in the civil service, on the other hand, the decision-making processes are highly formalised, multi-level and lengthy. I had to get used to this change.

Another challenge is the issue of reconciling work and family life. During my time in the industry, this was never a problem. Home office, family-friendly scheduling and working hours had been a reality there for a long time and were not a topic of discussion. At the University of Applied Sciences, it is much more difficult to reconcile the daily work routine as a dedicated professor with family life and a child. Here I have found that it helps to take things into your own hands, to address problems clearly and to look for solutions.

What is your most important recommendation to women interested in this career?

Above all, it is necessary to have a healthy confidence in one's own path in life. It is not always helpful to set ambitious goals and pursue them frantically. Many things are not predictable, and sometimes opportunities come unexpectedly. It is crucial to recognise these and take advantage of suitable opportunities. Therefore, I recommend letting yourself drift, trying things that are fun and allowing yourself setbacks and mistakes.

And last but not least: the job of an HAW professor is also about putting knowledge into practice.

Therefore I like to be inspired by Goethe: "It's not enough to know you also have to apply. It is not enough to want one must also do."