#Alumnitalk with Amke Eggers

Amke Eggers studied materials science and engineering at Clausthal University of Technology, earned her Ph.D. in the Upper Harz region, and works as an engineer at Sartorius Stedim Biotech in Göttingen. In her free time, she is passionate about traveling, completed her training as a Dive Master in the Dominican Republic, and won the 2026 German Team Speed Puzzling Championship.

Her unusual hobbies make it clear right away: Amke lives life to the fullest. “Just give it a try—it might turn out well,” she says of her approach to life—and this motto echoes through her entire career.

Amke is originally from Lüneburg. She first learned about Clausthal University of Technology and the field of materials science and engineering during an open house at Aurubis AG in Hamburg. After a visit to the Upper Harz region and a conversation with the student advisory service, she quickly decided on her desired degree program.

Building Networks – Both Personal and Professional

Amke was happy with her decision to attend Clausthal University of Technology right from the start. For both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she majored in materials engineering and made sure to gain practical experience early on. She found a part-time job at the Institute for Polymer Materials and Plastics Engineering (PuK): “I would always advise students to take on a teaching assistant position if time allows. You learn so much more than you would just from lectures alone. It’s helpful to be able to identify problems directly in the lab. Plus, you start building your first professional network at the institute.”

She also built a network among the students, served as president of her student council, and was active as a “Bärchen” tutor. The sense of togetherness and the local community had a particularly strong impact on her time as a student. “I just love it when people do things together,” says Amke. To this day, she remains involved at the university. As a mentor in the “WiMINToring for Female Students” program at Clausthal University of Technology, she supports female students in their personal and professional development. “Giving back the support that I was able to rely on during my studies is personally important to me.”

After completing her master’s degree, her own career path first led her to pursue a Ph.D.—in Clausthal, of course. As a research assistant at PuK, she conducted research in the field of plastics engineering and advised students on their theses. While some people expect a Ph.D. to improve their job prospects, Amke had a different motivation: “My reasoning was: Because I can! I wanted to stay at the university, work with students, and do research. Once you’re in the industry, I wouldn’t have been able to do it later on.”

The experience she gained during that time was extremely important for her future career. As Amke points out, there is often a misconception that a Ph.D. does not count as professional experience. “That’s not true, and you should dispel that misconception right in your job application,” she advises. “Focus on the skills you’ve acquired. For example, I did project management at the institute in addition to my research.” 

“You don't live for your résumé”

After completing her research at PuK, Amke went on to take a position at the Clausthal Center of Materials Technology. As a network manager, she was responsible for bringing researchers and industry together and supporting them in applying for project funding. Here, too, she had to learn many new skills: from advising on grant applications to public relations and marketing to participating in trade fairs.

It is precisely this variety that Amke values so much, both in her professional and personal life. “You don’t live for your résumé. Gaps in your resume don’t matter later on, but diversity and authenticity—that’s what pays off.” During her studies, she therefore took advantage of many opportunities for personal growth: mentoring and workshops offered by the university, an IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) internship in Brazil, and a semester abroad in Malaysia, followed by backpacking and further travels around the world.

After earning her doctorate, Amke spent half a year in the Dominican Republic. There, she first completed a volunteer program focused on protecting the world’s oceans and then went on to earn her Dive Master certification. In both roles, she took on a great deal of responsibility. “I developed important soft skills there, such as managing large groups. That helps tremendously in broadening one’s perspective, even at work.” Amke isn’t afraid of a challenge, as her latest hobby demonstrates. Two years ago, she took up speed puzzling. This year, she and her team won the German championship.

From an Engineering Degree to Project Management

The engineer draws on the experience she has gained in both her professional and personal life in her current job. She has been working at Sartorius for four years. The company is a supplier of everything needed in the biopharmaceutical industry for the production of medications. Just as she did when choosing her major, Amke found it easy to decide on her employer. The field of work for plastics engineers in the area of fiber composites often has a military background. “I ruled that out for myself personally. Now I’m moving toward the medical field and can combine my interest in it with plastics engineering.”

As an expert in hollow-fiber filters, Amke initially joined the company as the technical lead for development projects. She recently took on a new role as project manager. Now she’s in charge of personnel, budgets, and schedules, as well as the product pitch. She’s been looking forward to this change for a long time, because she really enjoys coordinating all the departments involved. The most exciting part of it all is the lateral management of the various stakeholders. Although Amke has to motivate them all as a team, she doesn’t technically hold a leadership position. “So I lead solely through persuasion.”

Her job illustrates just how diverse and wide-ranging the career opportunities can be for graduates of STEM programs. At Sartorius alone, she reports, there are positions available for people with a wide variety of degrees. The company is just as eager to hire process engineers, mechanical engineers, and chemists as it is to hire professionals in computer science or business administration. A job filter on the website makes it easy to find the right position quickly.

Amke's tip for job hunting: “Job postings usually list everything right off the bat. Regardless of whether you meet all the requirements: If it sounds interesting, just apply!”

My Three Tips for Students

1. Don't put off lectures that you find difficult. Tackle any difficulties right away, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
2. Take advantage of the university's international character. Make connections in the local community and gain experience abroad, for example through IAESTE internships or exchange programs.
3. Do something that sets you apart from the rest, and don't get so caught up in studying that you forget to work on your soft skills and enjoy your time in college.