Back to the Hall of Femmes

Hall of Femmes

A moment with...
Professor Andrea Kaimann

“As a Doctor of Engineering, I can look back on a highly diverse career: from industrial research to networking, inspiring young people for STEM subjects and my current role as a professor. In my free time, I volunteer as a Soroptimist, improving the situation for women and, of course, for my family!”

(1) What I love about my current job is...
…the variety of work, the constant new challenges and working with young people!

(2) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
…being appointed as a professor at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences.

(3) When I look back on my career to date, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
…working with a wide variety of people in diverse contexts.

(4) I believe that female role models are important in university and professional life today because...
…they help steer young women into exciting professions that are still viewed as predominately male positions in today’s society.

(5) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
…build up and maintain a personal network of people who will help and encourage you along your career path through their professional expertise and contacts and personal support.

(6) Given my experience as a professional with care responsibilities, I’ve found the following support particularly beneficial...
…support from my immediate family
…the employment of au-pairs from countries all over the world for over 15 years
…the possibility to take up to two semesters off during my degree to raise my children and still be able to take one exam per semester

(7) One challenge I believe still needs to be conquered on the road to gender equality is...
…the elimination of gender stereotypes in society, so that people and their individual abilities are perceived without prejudice, regardless of their gender.

I’m confident that we’re on the right path to gender equality when I think how...
…more and more young fathers no longer see themselves as only the breadwinner, but also choose to play an active role in looking after and bringing up their children.

(8) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
…an inspiring, formative period as a student in a wealth of aspects and a fantastic time pursuing my doctorate at the Laboratory of Material and Joining Technology (LWF), which set the course for my professional career.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
…every success in empowering its students to become responsible designers in a highly dynamic environment characterised by complexity and uncertainties.

Also worth seeing

Claudia Auinger
Dr Claudia Auinger
Claudia Auinger opted for a career in regional economic development at an early stage and continues to support local companies with their development to this day.
Read interview
Professor Andrea Luke
Andrea Luke is Chair of Technical Thermodynamics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kassel. Her research focuses on energy-efficient transport processes in multiphase systems in regular collaboration with Paderborn University, where she completed her doctorate on “Heat transfer during boiling” and habilitated in technical thermodynamics.
Read interview
Gerlach, Sailkal
Saikal Gerlach
Saikal Gerlach studied Business Administration & Economics at Paderborn University. In addition to her main job as a risk manager in the construction industry, she is founder of non-profit women’s initiative “HerCentury Germany e.V.”, which aims to promote greater gender equality and diversity.
Read interview
Kliewer, Natalia
Professor Natalia Kliewer
Natalia Kliewer is a professor at the Free University of Berlin (FU). She studied Business Informatics at Paderborn University, where she subsequently completed her doctorate in mathematical optimisation for transport planning.
Read interview
Purnaprajna, Madhura
Professor Madhura Purnaprajna
Madhura Purnaprajna is a Professor in Electronics Engineering at the People´s Education Society (PES) University, Bangalore/India. She completed her doctorate on “Run-time reconfigurable multiprocessors” in Paderborn University’s Department of Electrical Engineering in 2009.
Read interview