Suzan has a passion for exploring historical contexts—especially the relationship between "the Orient and the Occident." A native of Karlsruhe, she is just as interested in the present: "My seminars at KIT focused on gender studies, modernization theories, and Islamic feminism," says the historian, who holds a PhD.

Her vision is to help foster a democratic culture—not only to advance academic research but also to make KIT a place where everyone feels welcome and enjoys being. As the appointed anti-discrimination officer, Suzan is dedicated to identifying and actively counteracting discrimination.

Even outside of work, education remains a central focus for her. In her free time, Suzan is involved in youth work that promotes dialogue among young people. "The risk is that people stay in their own bubbles and only recognize values that reflect their immediate surroundings," she explains. "It's essential to keep the conversation open so we can talk about shared values."

She adds, "I hope that this dialogue helps people truly see one another—regardless of their background. I've been lucky to meet such people during my studies and now also here at KIT."

Suzan finds balance in nature. She enjoys hiking and recently got into horseback riding through her children.

Her biggest dream is to complete her postdoctoral qualification. She’s already written the first 300 pages. “Even if I only manage to write three more lines between work, family, and volunteering, doing academic research brings me joy and fulfillment,” she says.

Sophia S. has a kind of magic: her coworkers swear that her contagious laugh can turn a Monday morning into a Friday afternoon. But that’s not her only superpower—she can make the invisible visible! All she needs is an X-ray machine. At her workplace at KIT, she uses it to demonstrate radiation protection to employees and external clients. As a medical technologist specialising in radiology, Sophia knows these complex machines inside and out.

“As a healthcare professional, where do you receive the least radiation exposure during an X-ray procedure?” she often asks during hands-on sessions. “Surprisingly, most people get it completely wrong—even those with years of experience,” she says. “That’s why legally mandated radiation safety courses are so important. Being able to help ensure safety during medical procedures really gives me a sense of purpose,” she adds.

As a course technician, Sophia oversees the practical training, maintains the X-ray equipment, and works with her colleagues to help shape the course content. “We’re a great team—everyone brings their own area of expertise. It’s like a perfectly built puzzle,” she says.

In her free time, Sophia loves bringing joy to others. “I enjoy baking and working with my hands, so I often bring in homemade cakes or other treats,” she says. Music also keeps her in a good mood: “I love going to concerts of all kinds—and I really love to dance!”

Mario P. could be working in Australia, Finland or Uruguay. But after spending years abroad, he made the decision to return to Germany and take a job at KIT’s North Campus. “Working overseas was exciting, but after a while, I didn’t want to be away from my wife for so long,” he says. That’s when he came across what he describes as a “really great” job posting with the Welding and Testing Technology team. Nearly five years later, the 37-year-old still enjoys his short commute from Neureut, a supportive team, and the interesting challenges that come his way from various departments across the institutes. “The institutes often bring us complex tasks,” he explains. “Sometimes we need to weld different materials together, or modify pipes and containers so they can handle extremely high pressure or ultra-low temperatures.” Whether it’s cutting-edge laser and electron beam welding or classic tungsten inert gas welding, Mario brings his skills to bear — and enjoys every minute of it. “We also consult and aim to deliver the best possible results for our clients. It’s a lot of fun!”

Working at a scientific institution feels meaningful to him. Even though he’s not directly involved in the research itself, he knows he’s contributing to a better future. In his free time, Mario enjoys working in his garden or traveling the world — these days, always with his wife by his side.

The year 2025 is a special milestone for Josiane F. — it marks 40 years since she began her professional journey. On January 1, 1985, she started working as a trained translator from France at the Technical University of Karlsruhe. Just four years later, she embraced a new opportunity: helping to establish the German-French Institute for Environmental Research. “One of the great things about KIT is that you're not locked into the same role forever — you have the freedom to grow and evolve,” Josiane says. Today, she oversees administrative operations for two institutes at KIT. Her responsibilities include managing the finances of over 30 third-party funded projects, overseeing budgets, preparing contracts and tenders, and coordinating acquisitions. What Josiane enjoys most is the constant flow of young researchers coming and going — PhD candidates and postdocs who bring fresh energy and ideas. “Every generation is exciting and brings new ideas. There’s no room for routine,” she says with a smile. Looking ahead, Josiane hopes to see more diversity and digital transformation at KIT. “KIT is a role model in many ways, but there’s still a lot to be done when it comes to digitalization,” she notes. In 2026, Josiane will retire — and she’s already making plans. With a strong interest in geopolitics and a passion for reading, she’s looking forward to traveling more. “Scotland, Japan, and Bhutan are at the top of my list,” she says. She’s also considering volunteering at a library — a perfect fit for someone who loves literature, meaningful conversations, and meeting people from all walks of life.

Always on the move — that’s how Felix B. imagines the perfect vacation. Think cycling from Lake Constance to Istanbul, catching up with friends along the way, or striking up conversations with strangers over a garden fence. After graduating, he hit the road on his bike and pedaled across the Alps toward Turkey. “I planned the route myself and tried to stick to quiet backroads,” Felix says. “But in Bulgaria, we had to ride on the highway for a short stretch — which, oddly enough, wasn’t actually prohibited in some parts.” He laughs as he remembers Istanbul, where a so-called side road turned out to be a high-speed truck route leading to the airport construction site. “That part was dusty and intense,” he recalls.

At work, Felix keeps his colleagues at the KIT just as energized. During a company outing, he spontaneously asked who wanted to take a "little detour" over the nearest mountain peak with him — a challenge that ended with a surprising show of endurance from the group. For Felix, sports are the perfect counterbalance to office life. As a legal advisor at KIT, he handles all kinds of contracts and consults on a broad range of legal issues. “It’s more interesting than it might sound,” he says. “You get to cover everything from solar energy research to mechanical and electrical engineering, and even chemical and pharmaceutical research. I feel really fortunate to be able to exchange ideas with scientists and learn something new every day.” In his personal life, Felix is also eager to keep learning — he’d love to pick up a new language or two, like Italian. His ultimate dream would be to cycle from Karlsruhe all the way to China — in a time of peace.

Some of Anne-Sophie’s colleagues believe the institute wouldn’t run as smoothly without her. As an assistant to the institute’s management, she handles appointments, supports various projects, answers all sorts of questions, and serves as the main point of contact for doctoral students. Her colleagues often say that she “always goes the extra mile to find practical solutions for everyone.”

Anne-Sophie joined KIT just under ten years ago after transitioning from the private sector. While adjusting to the academic world, she also completed her bachelor’s degree in International Management part-time. “This extra training has been really helpful, especially with the international focus at KIT,” Anne-Sophie explains. “It’s particularly useful when collaborating with partners, like those in China or across various European institutions.” She’s also close to finishing her part-time master’s in Digital Management and Transformation. “I love the variety of tasks and the opportunities KIT provides me,” she says. Her master’s thesis will cover a topic directly relevant to the institute. “It’s a classic win-win situation,” she adds with a smile.

In her limited free time, Anne-Sophie enjoys spending time in nature, watching football at the KSC stadium, or practicing dressage. She finds that working with horses is particularly grounding: “When riding, you have to be 100% focused on the horse, without thinking about anything else. That’s the only way to create harmony. It helps me completely switch off from work and studies.”

Katharina B. moved to Karlsruhe nearly 20 years ago to study mechanical engineering—a natural choice for her, given her love for physics and math in school. After graduating high school in Schleswig-Holstein, she had the option to study aeronautical engineering or shipbuilding. “But Hamburg wasn’t far enough away at the time,” she says with a smile.

Today, Katharina leads a department at KIT, focusing on automated and connected mobility, as well as medical and health technology. “Even back in college, I was passionate about product development, design, and humanoid robotics,” she recalls.

One of her team’s current projects involves forensic medicine. “It can be extremely difficult to determine whether the death of an infant or toddler was accidental or caused by something like shaken baby syndrome. We’re working with the Institute of Legal Medicine in Heidelberg to help close the data gap with the help of new validation approaches and the development of dummies,” Katharina explains. “As head of department, I am responsible for creating good working conditions so that the team can develop freely and implement projects in the best possible way.”

To unwind, Katharina enjoys running, hiking, and gardening—especially growing tomatoes and chili peppers. “They end up in tasty sauces and stews. I love cooking—it’s the perfect way for me to relax after a busy day.”

Davide G. is always up for a crazy idea, or – to use his own words – he helps create "a good atmosphere at work." Here's an example from last year: "A few of us from KIT rented city bikes and rode all the way to Hornisgrinde. It was 160 kilometres round trip, with 1,600 meters of elevation gain. It was so much fun!" Did the expert in flow simulation consider his position on the bike during that trip? Absolutely! “In my field, computer models are incredible tools for visualizing things you can’t actually see—like air currents. It's amazing that we can simulate how pollutants spread through the atmosphere or how heat moves through a room. It’s so exciting! ”When he’s not researching the aerodynamics of bodies, the 38-year-old is teaching—and he’s been doing that for 10 years now. He came to KIT after studying in Milan and earning his PhD in Darmstadt. "Teaching young people is incredibly meaningful to me. I really feel like I have a positive impact on my surroundings. And it’s awesome to see so many students choosing to do research in the same field!” Davide plans to stay at his institute for the next few years, continuing to foster a great atmosphere—and making sure the cake trays don’t stay full for long:
“I’m kind of famous for my appetite! So if there’s cake in the kitchen, you’d better grab a piece before I do!”

When Karl-Heinz G. first walked through the gates of what was then the Nuclear Research Center – now known as KIT's North Campus – in February 1980, he had just finished his training and simply wanted to 'take a look' at this so-called 'Holy Grail' of research. Forty-five years later, he's still there, smiling: "I'm still proud to be part of it." Karl-Heinz thinks he knows everyone and everything. He's worked in loads of different areas over the years, from radiation technology and plant safety to purchasing. Now 64, he's spent more than 30 years in procurement, and though he could retire, he's decided to stick around a bit longer. He's going to spend the next year training his successor in all the different parts of the job. "My coolest purchase was the hydrogen bus that shuttles between the KIT campuses. I also bought the container for the KATRIN neutrino detector and a few buildings, too! These days, the group leader doesn't get nervous signing contracts – even when they're for entire lab buildings costing eleven million euros. But he still gets a good feeling when he walks across campus and sees the things he helped bring there: "Purchasing is a key aspect of everything we do!" He tries to share that enthusiasm with the younger ones, organising tours of the institutes to show how the things they buy are actually used in research. "In industry, money's made in purchasing. But that's not the case here. We just want to buy what's best for science."

Gunther S. left KIT for a while, but ended up coming back. The computer scientist studied at KIT, then worked in the private sector for a while, before eventually returning – because he was so passionate about science. As a digital privacy expert, Gunther believes knowledge should be shared openly and made accessible to everyone for the benefit of society. But for him, it’s not just about having knowledge—it’s about putting it into action. He’s the kind of person who dives deep into complex topics so he can represent academic staff effectively in KIT’s convention and committees. At his institute, the 58-year-old not only teaches but also supports his colleagues in securing research funding so that they can focus on their work the stress of financial uncertainty. “I’ve been at KIT for nearly 25 years, and I want to give something back to the institution,” he says. “In the committees, I try to highlight the important contributions academic staff make. And at the institute, I want to make sure researchers can concentrate on their work. I’ve been through years of fixed-term contracts too. That's really stressful." Gunther has found his stride in what could be called an unofficial management role. What’s kept him at KIT all these years is the freedom he’s had to grow and evolve. “I’ve really been able to develop here. I’m kind of a mix between a researcher and a manager—but at the end of the day, I think of myself as an enabler.”

Math was always her favorite subject in school—juggling numbers and letters, solving complex equations, and celebrating when everything added up. Xian L. was certain she’d study math at university in Beijing. But what a surprise it turned out to be! "There wasn't much talk of numbers, just definitions, formulas, theories, and proofs," she remembers. "It took me a while to get used to the language of math." But she got the hang of it. She earned her PhD in Paris, then worked in Prague, Beijing, and Bonn. In 2018, she accepted a tenure-track professorship at KIT. Since then, Karlsruhe has become home in more ways than one—her daughter was born here. The fact that there's loads of green spaces, plenty of playgrounds for her now five-year-old, and short distances across the city give Xian the work-life balance she appreciates. “I’m really happy here. Karlsruhe isn’t huge, but it has everything—even a university!” she jokes. In Beijing, she says, you have tons of options—but commuting two hours each way on public transportation is completely normal. That’s a real disadvantage. Now, with more time and space to think, Xian can dive deeper into her field: partial differential equations. These are the mathematical foundation for modeling a wide range of phenomena in physics, chemistry, and biology. “My work sits at the intersection of abstract theory and real-world application. I study whether certain theorems exist and whether they’re reliable,” she explains. “The real fun begins when things don’t work the way they’re supposed to! That’s when I get to dig in and figure out where the problem lies. And the best part? I get to do math within mathematical analysis—which I love.”

When Sabine G. talks about KIT, it sounds almost like a commercial—she calls it a “paradise” and even her “lottery win.” But she’s completely serious! At 46, Sabine has a bright smile, a quick wit, and an infectious enthusiasm. She’s passionate about her role as an institute assistant, which she began in October 2023. Whether it’s organizing business trips, managing budgets, or handling doctoral paperwork, she takes care of all the administrative tasks for “her” institute and a large research group. “Every Monday, I’m filled with excitement, wondering what the day will bring. I’m so curious—I just want to ask questions and keep learning,” she says. It's not every day that you get the chance to see a Nobel Prize winner give a lecture, or to be part of a foam-filled fire safety training session in the lab! But for this true crime podcast fan, her job doesn’t need that kind of drama to feel fulfilling. What matters most to Sabine are the people and the culture at KIT. She’s impressed by the respectful way colleagues treat each other, the thoughtful decision-making, the long-term commitment to employees—and especially the shared drive to contribute something meaningful to society. "That's completely new to me. In the private sector, it was all about sales, sales, sales!" she says. Sabine is grateful she took the advice of a KIT master’s student and applied for the position. “I thought everyone at KIT would be stingy and super serious, and that I wouldn’t fit in—but that couldn’t be further from the truth!” At 3 p.m., she waves at the camera with a big smile. It’s time to head home to her partner, child, dog, and cat. “That’s something new, too—I’m actually cutting back on my overtime,” she laughs. “I’ll say it again: KIT is my lottery win.”

When Imanuel was exploring degree programs, he knew he wanted something technical. “There wasn’t anything suitable at the university in my hometown of Freiburg,” he explains. So he moved to Karlsruhe to study at KIT. His choice? Mechanical engineering. He wasn’t put off by the program’s reputation for being tough—or by the fact that more than half of students drop out. “I told myself: I’ll take on this challenge—and I’ll see it through,” he says. Imanuel almost failed his technical mechanics exam. “I was allowed to retake it—that was a bit of a wake-up call,” he recalls. Now, Imanuel is working on his PhD in mechanical engineering, where he develops image-based methods for detecting surface damage across a variety of applications. Imanuel says, "It’s best to replace a component while it’s still working—so you avoid an emergency if it fails and don’t waste its remaining useful life." In addition to his research, he lectures on machine tools at KIT and he's in charge of the dual-degree program with Tongji University in Shanghai. He'll be spending a year at Tongji in February 2025, teaching and doing research. “I’m really excited about the new challenges this role will bring,” he says. “And I’m looking forward to improving my language skills, too.” Imanuel speaks German and English natively, is fluent in French, and knows some Chinese. When he’s not developing algorithms or giving lectures, he enjoys cultural activities in Karlsruhe with his wife, playing sports, or organizing a weekly soccer training session for students and staff that is great fun for everyone involved.

How many times will Jean-Claude H. be called out today? Once, three times, maybe even five? It’s all happened before, says the 40-year-old. On average, the KIT plant fire department at the North Campus responds to around 400 calls a year. Whether it’s a transformer fire, a gas leak, or a person in distress, the firefighters must be prepared for anything.

“We’re the special forces of our plant,” explains the deputy head of security. “We know every building, what hazardous materials are stored there, and where all the entrances are. That gives us a crucial advantage.”

In 2022, Jean-Claude H. left his job as a site manager in civil and cable engineering to turn his passion into a career. “It was the best decision of my life,” he says. His years in the volunteer fire brigade—where he still serves as a youth leader—helped prepare him for the unpredictable calls, even the ones at 3 a.m. But shifts at KIT have their own rhythm: “We’re on duty for 24 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. the next day. We train together, eat together, and respond to emergencies together. The team is like a second family.”

And when he finally gets home to his own family, the tension eases—at least for the next 24 hours, he won’t have to be ready to sprint to the fire engine in 90 seconds.

"She’s like MacGyver, Sherlock Holmes, and Donna Paulsen from Suits all rolled into one!” Katharina D. smiles when she hears what her colleagues say about her. “Well, I just remember what I hear, so I usually have an answer when people ask,” the 40-year-old says matter-of-factly.

But answering questions is just a small part of what she does. Since joining KIT in 2019 after a parental leave, Katharina has become a backbone of her 24-person department. She writes reports, manages payments, juggles appointments, and lends a listening ear to both colleagues and students. And: Without her, things wouldn’t just be less efficient—they’d also be a lot less fun. Her cakes, for example, are legendary.

Not long ago, she baked an alpaca-shaped cake—complete with ears and sunglasses. “Baking is my hobby,” she says. “But my husband isn’t big on sweets, and I don’t want my two kids eating too much sugar. So I bake a small cake for home and a big one for work.”

But that isn’t the only reason why apprentices in the department never want to leave. “We get a lot done and contribute real value to the students and KIT. Plus, we have a great sense of humor, lots of understanding, and everyone is accepted just as they are. It’s simply a great place to be.”

Armen B. was supposed to retire two years ago: "But I can't live without my work." 100 billion neutrinos fly through this fingertip. You can't see them, but they change our understanding of the world. That's real adrenaline - and a divine feeling!"

The “fingertip” that thrills the 68-year-old scientist so much is KATRIN: the most precise scales in the world at the KIT's North Campus, where researchers from seven countries have been trying to weigh the lightest particles in the universe since 2006. Day in, day out, the trained electrical engineer checks that the conditions of the huge facility remain stable.

For example, the electrical voltage: "It's 18,600 volts. It must be maintained to within a millivolt, otherwise we cannot use the measurements. The same goes for the vacuum in the container, the temperature and the atmospheric pressure in the hall. "All this data forms a network, and I am the spider in the middle that transmits it to a central database.

It was not foreseeable that the native Armenian would find his professional fortune in Karlsruhe. Before that, he worked at the Physics Institute in Yerevan, at the German Electron Synchrotron in Hamburg and was involved in the construction of a telescope on La Palma.

"I am surrounded by fantastic people at KIT who form a real team. The fact that Armen B. often treats his colleagues to an ice cream after lunch certainly contributes to this - and since 2001 he has ensured that one of the world's most important physics experiments runs smoothly.

Conny did it again. Cornelia S., known to everyone at her institute as "Conny", has once again succeeded in realizing an impossible research idea. The 45-year-old is a precision mechanic. She works in quality assurance, building and testing reactors for chemical processes such as synthetic fuels. From thumb-sized to car-sized, from feather-light to lead-heavy, always highly complex: “The young researchers often have great ideas, but they lack the technical background to build the appropriate facility. That's where I come in. I order the parts, assemble them, and work out the details with them. That's why the researchers sometimes refer to Cornelia as the "mother of all PhD students. The problem solver appreciates this gratitude – and returns it. "I learn something new every day and have been able to develop over the years. The topics in her field are constantly changing, depending on which approaches prove to be promising for the future. As a result, only a fraction of what she does today is related to her current position. Cornelia is not thinking of changing jobs, even though she has been working at the same institute since completing her training as an industrial mechanic at KIT in 1999. "Why should I? It's just never boring! The great thing about science is that you are a small part of how a big - sometimes crazy - idea becomes something big. That makes me a bit proud.

Comfort zone? Not with her. Linguist Andressa C. is always looking for a challenge: "I like to experiment, to learn new things, whether they are easy or difficult. I like to surpass myself." That's how she ended up teaching herself to code, even though it didn't fit her original profile.

In her native Brazil, Andressa was both a postdoc and a German teacher for renowned institutions. At KIT, she has found like-minded people who appreciate complexity. The 46-year-old researches polarized debates in science communication, using both her linguistic and IT expertise. "We have a very nice exchange in our team: open, cooperative, constructive. That is enriching."

She could use her skills in the private sector, but her love is the academic world. There, she has the space and resources to fulfill her ambitions. In return, her versatile skills are appreciated. "I am now also the IT officer at my institute. I'm not restricted here. That spurs me on every day!"

Nadine knows KIT inside and out. Whether it’s working at an institute, the dean's office, or handling digital course administration — since joining KIT in 2007, the economics graduate, who currently holds two positions, has seen, organized, and shaped a lot. "Back then, I helped a newly appointed professor build up the department from scratch, out of empty rooms," she recalls, fondly referring to it as "her" chair.

For Nadine, KIT is literally family history: her husband works at KIT, and one of her two daughters studied here. So it's no surprise that the 57-year-old strongly identifies with the institution. Even if, as in every family, there are occasional issues and moments of frustration.

Nadine does not want to return to the private sector, where she worked for many years. KIT has always given her room to grow. "There are plenty of opportunities here, and doors are open," she says. What she loves most about her job is the variety of tasks and the connection with students and colleagues. "When you're part of a great team, it motivates you to go the extra mile. I've experienced the opposite too, and no amount of money can make up for that."

Nadine and KIT: it looks like this family story is far from over.

"There’s always a way," says Marco K., who manages the entire IT operations of a large KIT institute. He procures, sets up, maintains, and repairs computer systems and servers, while providing expert advice. Marco is also responsible for restructuring and modernizing the institute's networks, IP and email structures.

But his role doesn't stop there. Marco steps in when measuring instruments malfunction, when critical data is at risk of being lost, or when older computer systems need to be integrated into virtual computing environments. Especially when it comes to very tricky problems that require both a screwdriver and IT knowledge, the fact that Marco trained as a precision engineer 37 years ago - at the age of 15, he was the youngest apprentice in his year – is invaluable. "There is always a way to repair, salvage or improve something," says Marco. After earning his master craftsman's diploma, Marco transitioned into materials testing. As digitalization expanded, so did his passion for IT.

Today, Marco not only oversees IT infrastructure but also plays an active role on the institute's steering committee. "I am grateful to KIT for giving me the opportunity to get involved as a father for my three children, alongside my work," he says. He was able to take parental leave at a time when this was not common practice in other companies. "I’d do anything for my kids," Marco says. "They’re all grown up now — two are in college, and the youngest is finishing high school." He adds: "For the sake of my children and future generations, I would like to work more sustainably — even here at KIT," he explains. “It would be great, if we could recycle unwanted electronics and furniture via an electronic bulletin board at KIT. Everything that is decommissioned in one of our institutes may still be used in another area.”

Janine S. has been working as a security specialist at KIT since December 2023. Rain, snow or sunshine - the colleagues in Campus Security are on duty day and night, seven days a week.

Janine, a mother of two children aged 10 and 13, appreciates the regular shifts at KIT and has some very funny stories to tell about her work, such as the time a blue smurf suddenly rode across campus on a bicycle. In her free time, she is either out and about with her children or tending to her vegetable garden.

But most of all, her heart beats for soccer: "Soccer is my balance to work, which is why I work part-time at KSC as an area manager. In this role, she is responsible for assigning stewards to the North Stand at home games, overseeing admission control, and acting as a liaison for fans. "When I'm not working at KIT on the weekends, I really enjoy going to KSC's away games and cheering on the team," she says.

She has one request for all KIT employees and students: "Please lock everything and turn off the lights when you leave the office or institute in the evening!" 

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