I have been interested in natural phenomena from an early age. Even at school, it became clear that I would pursue a degree in the natural sciences in order to understand nature better. What impressed me most about chemistry was its great diversity – to me, it offers endless possibilities based on the smallest particles. The combination of theory and practice promised many different perspectives on scientific questions.

I only entered the field of polymer chemistry / adhesives after completing my degree. The fact that I knew nothing about it, while adhesives are used everywhere around us, was precisely what motivated me to explore it. I see this as an opportunity to develop my professional expertise and discover a previously unfamiliar side of chemistry.

After completing my Master’s degree, I decided to look for a job in industry. I hoped to work more closely with the applications of what I had learnt in my studies in a very academic way. I wanted to see chemistry “in action”. I found my current position through recruitment, and it is also my first job. Contrary to the feared leap in at the deep end, starting my career was a very pleasant experience. Naturally, many things were new and unfamiliar to me, but I was – and still am – very positively surprised by how much time you are given to familiarise yourself with the new field. Quite unlike what I had feared, no one expected me to make a flying start, which has given me the opportunity to immerse myself in my new environment with enjoyment and motivation, taking things calmly and allowing myself time.

As mentioned, during my studies I had no contact with polymer chemistry or even adhesives. I was therefore completely unaware that I would take up a position in this field. For a long time, I secretly saw myself working in the pharmaceutical industry and also applied for a corresponding job. Ultimately, it was my curiosity that led me to my current position. I have said that what fascinates me most about chemistry is its diversity, and that was also the decisive factor for me. I wanted to familiarise myself with a specialist area that was new to me and discover another facet of chemistry.

I am a group leader in chemical research and development. My responsibilities can be broadly divided into two areas: development work and raw material management.

Development work involves establishing and researching innovative concepts in the field of adhesives, including the optimisation of existing systems. I am responsible for one laboratory technician and am in charge of planning and organising laboratory experiments.

As the person responsible for raw materials, I maintain supplier contacts, search for and qualify new raw materials, and ensure the quality of the materials used in production.

In addition, supervising trainees and interns is part of my role.

A fundamental understanding of chemistry – ideally organic or polymer chemistry – is an advantage, but not essential. As my own career path shows, the latter can also be learned in everyday professional life. An interest in technology is equally helpful in understanding how adhesives are used in the finished component and what requirements arise from this.

Far more important than purely specialised knowledge, however, is the willingness to continuously familiarise oneself with new subject areas. Those who question existing processes and rethink established patterns of thought have a clear advantage. As the work is strongly characterised by communication and close collaboration with various teams, well-developed teamwork skills are also essential.

My working days are very varied, depending on where the need is greatest. When everything is running optimally, I briefly discuss the day’s plan with my laboratory assistant in the morning and then focus on analysing results, planning further experiments, and professional and organisational meetings with other teams.

However, there are also times when raw material issues dominate the day. For example, if there are problems with a raw material in production, they cannot be postponed – I need to be flexible enough to give such matters priority over my development work.

Throughout the day, I communicate with many developers as well as employees from other departments. The collaboration works very well and, where possible, takes place in person. There is a strong spirit of collegiality, with everyone helping each other wherever they can.

Through my studies, I learned to work independently. Planning, organisation, time management and documentation are familiar to me, and I need little guidance to familiarise myself with new specialist areas – which has helped me greatly in getting to grips with the adhesives sector.

In general, however, day-to-day work in a company differs considerably from studying. The main difference can be summed up simply: you no longer work solely for your own project and interests, but in the interests of the company. Of course, I enjoy a great deal of freedom, but particularly at the beginning I had to get used to providing regular updates, answering questions from various employees and accepting specified development directions.

Finally, I would also like to emphasise that I greatly appreciate the regular working hours compared with studying.

As during my studies, it is above all the variety of my work that inspires me. I have the opportunity to immerse myself in different technical areas, work in the laboratory myself and engage with the theoretical background. I also greatly enjoy managing staff and supervising interns and apprentices. Overall, my days are varied and flexible, and I feel that I can influence what I work on myself.

However, this variety is also challenging, as my core duties must not be neglected. On some days, a lot comes together – then it is important to keep an overview and prioritise calmly.

No, at present my areas of responsibility still correspond to those of an entry-level position.

Looking ahead, I have the opportunity to develop internally, for example by progressing to become a laboratory manager. In addition, moving into other departments is also conceivable, which makes the career opportunities even more diverse.

In principle, I believe that chemists are generally well positioned – both within a company and on the wider job market. Scientific training opens many doors into different industries and areas. Should I be interested in taking the next step in my career, changing companies would naturally be another option alongside internal development opportunities.