“I had my first contact with IMMS in my fifth semester in Ilmenau TU. It was Professor Sommer who gave me an insight into the widely varied fields of activity of the Institute. My interest awakened, I applied for a post as a paid part-time student so that I could reinforce the theory I was learning on my degree course by regular practical activity in the Industrial Electronics and Measurement division of IMMS. In my seventh semester, I had my compulsory internship and wrote my BSc thesis at the Erfurt part of the Institute in the Microelectronics division on designing an ultra-low-power ring oscillator for use in time-to-digital converters.

In parallel with my MSc course, I continued my part-time student job at IMMS so that I could transfer the results of my BSc dissertation into complete circuit design. Doing so, I contributed to the design of a sensor chip which was a product of the RoMulus project. RoMulus has as its aim the development of robust sensors of potential usefulness in monitoring Industry 4.0 applications. Then I wrote my MSc dissertation on system design for a capacitive low-power humidity sensor with adaptive resolution to be used in self-powered wireless sensors. Finding my subject for myself, receiving professional sup-port and using the skills I had obtained so far were an excellent career start. There were major challenges which gave me the chance to extend my horizons because I had to solve new, more complex circuit problems.

As soon as I had defended my MSc I leapt at the opportunity of continuing my activity at IMMS and have been working since December 2018 as circuit designer for analogue integrated circuits. The experience I gained over several years as a student has provided me with a seamless transfer into the role of full employee – as good a launch into a scientific career as I could wish. My work at the Institute in parallel with my studies and my tackling of various subjects in several of the IMMS divisions familiarised me rapidly with the structure and staff of the Institute.

The flexible hours of work and interdisciplinary activities nurtured my development on all fronts, academic and personal. Working in an inter-national team and with colleagues from different subjects enables me continuously to extend my own skills and to digest the new knowledge I am constantly acquiring. And so I would say: IMMS offers excellent opportunities to both students and staff to extend their skills in deeply interesting subjects that are closely related to practice.“