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Hall of Femmes

Herres-Pawlis, Sonja

A moment with...
Professor Sonja Herres-Pawlis

“I’ve been Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University since 2015, where, together with my team, I conduct research into bioinorganic model complexes and catalysts for the synthesis and recycling of bioplastics.”

(1) What I love about my current job is...
...being able to link basic research with applications in the field of bioplastics, synthesis with spectroscopy and theory and constantly explore new fields – currently, for example, machine learning in chemistry. I particularly enjoy being able to incorporate new research findings directly into teaching.

(2) I try to inspire young women for my discipline and passion(s) by...
...exposing them to interesting topics during their research internship or bachelor’s/master’s thesis and helping them to stay in research. I also try to help them get to grips with the special conditions of the research system by sending them to conferences and practising their presentations with them, for example.

(3) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
…being awarded the “Liebig Fellowship 2009” from the Chemical Industry Fund (FCI) – without this funding my academic career would have been over. Another highlight was receiving the NRW Innovation Award 2011 in the category of young talent, because this proved we’re on the right track with our research.

(4) When I look back on my career so far, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
…the fact that people were always telling me what wasn’t possible (personally and also chemically) – and what in the end did, in fact, turn out to be possible, with a lot of hard work!

(5) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
...not be too sensitive and always give at least 50% more than men at the same career level – no matter how overworked you are. It’s also a good idea to know the still rather patriarchal mechanisms that prevail in the upper hierarchical levels at universities – that is, from the doctorate onwards.

(6) From my experience as a working mother, I’ve found the following support particularly beneficial...
...The place at RWTH Aachen University’s nursery (thank you so much!).

(7) I personally benefited from the equal opportunity measures in place at Paderborn University when I...
...was able to set up my independent research group between 2007 and 2009, thanks to a post-doc scholarship from Paderborn University (many thanks!).

(8) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
...an extremely fascinating doctoral research project, lovely barbecues with my (at the time exclusively male) colleagues, but also many long weekends in the lab.

(9) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
...to be able to benefit from good basic funding at all times, committed researchers and lecturers and students who are always eager to learn!

 

Photo (S. Herres-Pawlis)

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