Hall of Femmes

(1) What excites me about my current job is…
…the freedom to explore new frontiers of research that lead to the design of novel and efficient computing systems. In the process, it motivates more and more youngsters to discover the joy of research that leads to tangible outcomes.

(2) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
…having the courage to give-up the mundane path of traditional engineering and take up the less popular career path of academic research in engineering.

(3) A time when I doubted my decision to go to university or to pursue my current career path was...
...when my first research paper was rejected.

The reason I didn’t give up was in particular down to the fact that...
...my doctoral supervisors Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rueckert and Dr.-Ing. Mario Porrmann, who convinced me that every failure always comes with a lesson to learn.

(4) When I look back on my career so far, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
...I was fortunate to have senior colleagues, with whom I could seek advice and mentoring. I was in a mentoring circle with senior professors and other fellow doctoral candidates. Even today, I seek advice from senior colleagues. Advice from experienced mentors has played a vital role all stages of my profession journey.
For example, Professor Beate Meffert (Humboldt University Berlin), who was my doctoral supervisor and taught me the joy of teaching, learning and research, while at the same time balancing her career with being a wife, mother and grandmother.

(5) People and career paths of others that encouraged me to take up my professorship are…
...the ones who taught me:
- Teamwork helps: If you get stuck, seek help.
- Accept constructive criticism.
- You excel when you pay attention to the details.

(6) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
...If you are not sure, try it. Take a decision based on how you like it, not solely on what others say! Go explore, let nothing come in the way of achieving your dreams! The ability to empathize with other points of view has also proved to be a great advantage for me personally.

(7) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
…the very friendly and open work environment that lead to collaborative research within my working group under Prof. Ulrich Rueckert.
Also, the mentoring programme for women doctoral candidates was a big confidence booster, especially thanks to the interacting with other women doctoral candidates.

(8) I decided to do a doctorate at Paderborn University because...
…I was interested in the research field and, as an international applicant, thought the working environment seemed friendly and welcoming.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
…every success in inspiring, motivating many more women scientists and professors. Also, I am looking forward to many more professors creating an environment for a gender-balanced workplace. Like at home, a gender balanced workplace is bound to thrive!