Thanks to my mother, a civil engineer, I always loved to solve riddles and was encouraged to play with numbers. So already as a little girl my interest in STEM was born.
Your organization field and mission
Education – HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences is the second largest university of applied sciences in Germany. Our 18,000 students and our location in a leading European business centre afford fantastic opportunities, but also mean we have a responsibility in industrial, economic and social contexts. It is especially important for us to nurture our graduates’ characters: besides their well-founded professional skills, our students should stand out by thinking and acting in a sustainable, entrepreneurial and intercultural way. With these additional qualifications which reach beyond the students’ specialist fields, we prepare them to contribute to society and to approach their careers with foresight, creativity and a sense of responsibility.
Please tell us briefly about your role at your organization:
I am responsible for the Master program “Micro- and Nanotechnology” and for the international relations of the Department of Applied Sciences and Mechatronics. Next to teaching in the field of micro- and nanostructures and -analytics I am setting up a virtual lab to enrich the practical experience in the lab classes and lectures.
Between June 2024 – May 2028 I lead the Chips of Europe Project with 22 partners and a budget of € 9.53 M. www.chipsofeurope.eu addressing the shortage of workforce in the EU semiconductor industry and with the goal In the next 4 years industry and academia to increase the attractiveness of semiconductor-related study programs and careers.
Your interest in STEM
My first role model was my mother, her interest in engineering was very inspiring. Further, for me Michelle Obama is a role model I look up to.
Your studies
My biggest challenge was everything related to programming as I had nearly no experience with this before picking up my studies.
Engineering is a super creative field in which you work in teams and can create new fantastic devices – Dare to pick up studies even if they are challenging, the reward is worth it!
You at work
We offer degree courses and active academic collaboration in the MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and engineering), business, the social sciences and public health as well as in architecture and design. Our Department of General and Interdisciplinary Studies is unique in providing every student with a cross-disciplinary education and in developing their personal skills.
I am working full time in the job I love most and have two wonderful children and a great husband. Sometimes we live in an unstable balance, and it is hard to combine all parts of life, but we always make it work. At work, already 12 years ago, I started video lecturing and now I have started a first project on virtual labs in my university. In the beginning I wasn´t exactly sure how to achieve what I planned for, but in a team, we could sort it out and now the lab is going to be online soon – this is what I am proud of.
If you enjoy explaining and exploring being a professor is a wonderful job to strive for.
Your point of view
Use technology to make your daily life great, to network, to organize, and to have fun!
Why shouldn´t you? Our daily life is full of devices that depend on microelectronics, which still could become even better, and in working in microelectronics you can be part of the team improving them!
I want to have 50% girls in my classes!
To finish with
Do what´s right and fear no one.
I want to motivate students, especially female students, for micro- and nanotechnology and encourage for more international exchange within the Master´s program.
Still at the university, hopefully with an extended virtual lab and real lab, working with students from all over the world on challenges in micro- and nanotechnology.