Source: Infineon Technologies AG
"Be clear about what professional and private goals you are aiming for"
Do you already know which career path is right for you? Do you know how to get there and which steps are up next? The BAM career fireside chats series invite alumni and other partners of BAM to an informal chat focusing on their career paths. Developed for BAM’s early career scientists, this series aims to help PhD students and postdocs figure out which career path would be best suited for them. We invite a wide range of professionals from different sectors, including science, industry and the public sector. Additionally, we aim to include different professional backgrounds. We ask our guests about their experiences and invite the audience to ask questions.
Dr Maike Müller, after completing your doctorate at BAM, you have since worked in various positions in different companies. What similarities or differences do you see between scientific work at a research institution and in a company?
During my work at BAM, I learned above all to work independently and with focus on problems and to master them with my own solutions. This requires flexibility, perseverance and diverse approaches. The experience gained is invaluable in industry, where one has to face greater time and success pressures. In my various positions, these qualities were and are essential building blocks for success. Especially in my current position in quality management I see a lot of overlap with my work in the analytical department of BAM. In contrast to scientific work, many tasks in industry depend on the successful cooperation of a whole team of different functions. Above all, a goal-oriented and transparent communication is crucial.
What special memory/experience as a doctoral student at BAM did you take with you?
As part of my doctoral work, I had the opportunity to collaborate with both industry and other international institutes both remotely and on-site. I am very grateful for this time and the resulting experience, as such opportunities involve effort and organization. Furthermore, I was able to fully concentrate on my work in terms of time, which is not always the case compared to many PhDs at universities.
What career advice do you have for young scientists?
In the current economic situation of an employee market, scientists in particular are very valuable and therefore relatively flexible in their choice of career entry. It is essential, before deciding on applications, to be clear about what professional and private goals you are aiming for. This is because career progression in the industry can actually be guided early on by the choice of job function. The background knowledge required for this is not immediately tangible for many scientists and requires research or exchange with career advisors. In this context, I find the initiative of the Career Fireside Chat of BAM to be an enrichment for young scientists and am happy to support it.
Are you a former BAM researcher? Did you work at BAM while pursuing your Ph.D.? Did you partner with BAM on a research project?
Stay in touch with BAM by joining the Alumni@BAM network! Simply register online here.