Surname, first name: Tomasik, Jakob M.
Nationality: German
City, country: Munich, Germany
Degree program/degree: Computer Engineering (Dipl.-Ing.), Electrical Engineering (Dr.-Ing.)
Year of graduation: 2004/2010
Employer and position: Apple, European Center for Chip Design

Dr. Tomasik, what motivated you to study electrical engineering/information technology at the Technical University of Hamburg—and later even to pursue a doctorate?
I grew up in Hamburg, so I had a preference for the location. An open house brought me to the Technical University of Hamburg: During a tour, we were shown how integrated circuits (so-called “chips”) are manufactured. As a child in the 1980s, I was already fascinated by home computers – I always wanted to understand how they worked. And now I had the opportunity to develop something like that myself! The doctorate gave me the opportunity to delve even deeper into the technology and at the same time taught me how to work scientifically.

How would you describe the character of TU Hamburg in three characteristics?
The first characteristic that comes to mind is “family-like,” because we had direct contact with the professors early on in our studies. The second would be “international”: especially during my doctorate, I had contact with many institutions throughout Europe. The third characteristic would be the high level: somewhat daunting as a freshman, today I benefit from it every day.

Was there a formative or unforgettable experience for you during your time at TUHH?
In my major, you had to choose a specialization. The very first lecture on microsystems technology inspired me: “I'm doing something with semiconductors!” The professor who taught the microsystems technology lecture also supervised me during my doctoral studies: he was the second reviewer of my thesis.

After completing your studies and your doctorate at the TUHH, you moved into industry – today you work at Apple in semiconductor development. What did your career path look like after university?
In 2011, I started my career in Duisburg at an Infineon subsidiary as a developer of circuits for microcontrollers. I got the job through a speculative application. Later, I moved to Intel in the mobile communications division, first as a high-frequency engineer, then as an engineering manager in Munich. After a brief stint at Infineon, I moved to Apple's European Chip Design Center in Munich in 2020.

Semiconductor development is considered a highly specialized and strategic area of the technology industry. What fascinates you most about this field?
That's relatively easy to answer: On the one hand, the technology is fascinating—modern chips consist of billions of transistors measuring just a few nanometers in size. On the other hand, these chips are used in a large number of devices. So you're developing something that thousands, if not millions, of people use every day.

What does a typical working day look like at the large research companies you've worked for?
It's a mix of development work, meetings, and sometimes administrative tasks. You're not alone in the development work: we often stand at the whiteboard and go through new circuit ideas as a team. Since you usually work with many different disciplines and locations, good communication is essential. 

Your work takes place at the interface between electrical engineering, system architecture, and the global tech industry. In your opinion, what are the biggest technological challenges at the moment?
The first thing that comes to mind is Moore's Law. It states that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years, while the cost per transistor decreases. It will be exciting to see which new developments can help maintain this trend. We have already reached transistors in the nanometer range, and further miniaturization is really challenging.

What advice would you give to today's students and graduates who also want to work for an international high-tech company?
The classic answer: in-depth work and an excellent degree. In addition, as already mentioned, excellent communication skills. And very importantly: enthusiasm for working in a company and developing great things. To quote Steve Jobs: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

I would like to swap places for a day with...
Steve Wozniak in the 1970s. How did it feel when the first products emerged from the hobby computers you built yourself?

What would you ask an omniscient researcher from the future?
How artificial intelligence will change humanity.