Job title: Associate Chemist
Department: R&D
At Henkel since: 2004

What is your job at Henkel?
Currently I work in what is called the Strategic Radiation Cure and Technologies platform. Radiation cure involves the polymerization of small reactive molecules by means of light. We identify new areas of radiation cure technology within various markets and perform research on those potential markets that we identify.

What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
My daily business requires laboratory and theoretical work involving mid to long-term research. Currently I’ve been working on a project for about two years now.

How did you get started with Henkel?
During my final semester of studies, I was hired as a laboratory technician. I was hired full-time in mid-2004 as an Associate Chemist.

What about the term "learning on the job"?
I came in with knowledge of various chemistries, but the specific area of science that I encounter most in my career is generally not taught at great lengths in many institutions at the undergraduate level. A great part of my work now involves learning on-the-job.

Did you have personal responsibility from day one?
I didn’t have responsibility for other people but there is responsibility on my shoulders to learn very quickly the science that is behind something and apply it to different tasks.

What other options did you have for your career?
With a degree in chemistry there are many different options: pharmaceuticals, a lot of environmental and different industrial areas. I haven’t explored them.