Ulrike Petrusch

Last name, first name: Petrusch, Ulrike
Nationality: German
City, country: Hamburg
Degree program/degree: Industrial Engineering/Dipl.-Ing. (graduate engineer)
Year of graduation: 2007 Dipl.-Ing.
Employer and position: Nexperia Germany GmbH, Senior Development Manager

“A positive and open view of the world is the key to success.”

How did you come to choose this field of study at the TU Hamburg? A member of my family worked as an engineer – worldwide – and that fascinated me from an early age. Since I was also interested in the economic aspects behind it, industrial engineering was the perfect combination for me. And Hamburg is simply a great city. The gateway to the world – and for me, the TUHH was the key to it. Why? It already had an excellent reputation back then. I was also very impressed and inspired by the international atmosphere with students from all over the world.

How would you describe the character of the TU Hamburg in three words? Innovative, practice-oriented, international.

Was there an unforgettable experience during your time at TU Hamburg? It wasn't so much a single experience as the motivating and international campus atmosphere that made a lasting impression on me: I received support for my Erasmus year in France and was able to take my first Chinese course at TU Hamburg. My fascination with China has been a constant throughout my life ever since. Later, I went to China for my thesis at Bosch, and today I am responsible for a development team in Shanghai, among other things. 

What did you do after graduating, and what are you doing now? I could have easily imagined working at Airbus. I knew the company well from my time as a working student in R&D in Hamburg and also as an intern in Toulouse. At that time, the A380 was in the starting blocks, and it was inspiring to contribute to the development of the world's largest passenger aircraft. By chance – due to a hiring freeze at Airbus – I came to NXP, now Nexperia, via a consultancy, into semiconductor development, and it was a perfect fit. The working atmosphere was fantastic, and I really enjoyed working with the local team and the internationality (Thailand, China, Netherlands, Malaysia). I have always greatly appreciated the respect among employees and the proximity to production at the Hamburg-Lokstedt site. I have now been with the company for over 17 years, and my current office is less than 50 meters from my first workplace. New projects and innovations keep things exciting, and as head of development, I now have many opportunities to shape the future.

What innovations or developments have you driven forward in your company? In my field of ESD protection components, we are working on ever smaller, environmentally friendly components that support the latest requirements in electronics, for example for smartphones or e-mobility. For example, ever higher data rates are required while at the same time reducing power consumption. One of our latest generations of ESD protection components measures just 200 x 400 micrometers and does not use plastic for the casing – while offering maximum robustness against temperature and humidity influences. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence is a project close to my heart, for which I am also strategically responsible in our division. In R&D in particular, we are working on combining the immense expert knowledge at Nexperia with big data from production and development. This provides developers with the right information to make decisions, relieves them of administrative work, and allows them to focus more on teamwork and their core competencies. Furthermore, we can use the large amounts of data to predict customer expectations and invest in the right direction, which secures our economic success in the medium and long term.

You are a manager in an industry dominated by men. What advice would you give to young women aspiring to a career in this field? One key to success is a positive and unbiased view of the world in many respects, not just gender cooperation. For me, a passion for innovation, learning, and respectful cooperation are crucial to feeling comfortable in my environment. And it certainly benefits your career when you feel you are in the right place and can change and drive things forward. We often contribute more to positive change than we realize—simply through our daily actions. For example, a colleague approached me at a female empowerment event who had seen me as a project manager many years ago. At the time, I was heavily pregnant and engaged in a technical discussion with colleagues at the whiteboard. She told me that she found it very fascinating and encouraging. I didn't realize at the time that my mere presence could have a positive impact. My advice: don't let negative thought patterns or setbacks irritate you, but always look ahead.

What would you ask an omniscient researcher from the future? What does a world look like in which technology and nature are in harmony and reinforce each other—and how did we get there? What role does AI play in this, what innovations are crucial for this, and what can individuals do to set the right course?

If you were president of TU Hamburg...

...I would host an open innovation festival every summer that brings together TUHH members, Hamburg residents, companies, and researchers. All participants can contribute something to the festival. There will be celebrations, music, inspiring lectures, and workshops that generate and advance ideas. Ideally, admission would be free, as would drinks and snacks.