Flaßkamp, Kathrin

A moment with...
Professor Kathrin Flaßkamp

“After completing a degree in Engineering Mathematics at Paderborn University, followed by a doctoral degree, I worked in Chicago and Bremen, before moving to the Saarland. My professorship is based in Systems Engineering – I live and breathe interdisciplinarity!”

(1) What I love about my current job is...
...the diversity of my work and the freedom to shape my research.

(2) One of the highlights of my career so far has been...
...my post-doc position in the USA, where Chicago was my second home for one and a half years.

(3) When I look back on my career so far, I’d say that what has particularly shaped me has been...
…working with a broad range of scientists who are all so enthusiastic about and dedicated to their work.

(4) I’d advise any young women wishing to pursue a career similar to mine to...
...give it their all. Studying mathematics and engineering is a fun challenge!

(5) I try to inspire young women for my discipline and passion(s) by...
...getting involved in events for female pupils, students and early-career researchers and junior academics, where I talk openly and candidly about my path.

(6) I personally benefited from the equal opportunity measures in place at Paderborn University when I...
...took part in the university's mentoring programme for female doctoral students.

(7) I associate my time at Paderborn University with...
...Studying in tutor groups, through which I made life-long friends.
...Doing my doctora in research groups and teams with great colleagues.
Paderborn convinced (and still does) me too!

(8) For the next 50 years, I wish Paderborn University...
...to continue to – in line with the city’s slogan “Paderborn überzeugt” – promote the merits of the university to attract students and researchers!

Photo (Thorsten Mohr/Saarland University)

Also worth seeing

Sigrid Beer
Sigrid Beer
Sigrid Beer, a Paderborn graduate who worked as a research assistant at the university for many years, was a member of the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen for 17 years.
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.
Dr Anna-Lena Berscheid
Anna-Lena Berscheid completed her doctoral degree in Sociology at Paderborn University in 2019 and has been working as a consultant in the Research Career group at the German Research Foundation (DFG) since May 2020.
Herres-Pawlis, Sonja
Professor Sonja Herres-Pawlis
Sonja Herres-Pawlis has been Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University since 2015, after posts in Munich, Dortmund and Stanford. She completed her doctorate on “Oxygen activation with copper complexes” at Paderborn University in 2005.
Käferle, Heike
Heike Käferle
Heike Käferle is Managing Director of an IT company. She studied Mathematics and Computer Science at Paderborn University and remained connected to the university even after graduating, as Chair of the University Society.