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Portrait of TUM alumnus and Nobel Prize winner Joachim Frank.

TUM alumnus and Nobel Prize winner Joachim Frank (Picture: Magdalena Jooß/TUM).

“I wanted to do it differently”

As a TUM doctoral student, Joachim Frank and his mentor argued about how biological molecules could be depicted. At the beginning of December 2017, Joachim Frank was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing cryo-electron microscopy. You can read about what he learned at TUM and whether the Nobel Prize has changed his life in his alumni story.

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TUM alumnus and Nobel Prize winner Joachim Frank (Picture: Magdalena Jooß/TUM).

Innovation expert Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl

„I am fascinated by how new things come into the world“

After completing her Abitur TUM Alumna Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl did an apprenticeship as a tailor. Today the futurologist is among the top 100 most influential women in the German economy, and she acts as a consultant to the German government.

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Porträtbild von TUM Alumnus Herbert Diess.

Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess

„Motion is my main passion“

Just a few weeks ago he has reached the top. Since April TUM Alumni Herbert Diess is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Volkswagen Group. A big task, which the 59-year-old engineer takes on with a lot of vigour and passion.

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Mentoringn Tandem Dominik von Au und Moritz Kagerer

„We are challenging each other“

If TUM Alumni Dominik von Au and his mentee Moritz Kagerer were race drivers, they would most certainly be at the front of the field. The determination they both have with regard to their careers is remarkable. In their mentoring partnership this is mutually beneficial.

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TUM Ambassador Amaresh Chakrabarti

„Work hard and pursue your passion“

In his native India, Amaresh Chakrabarti grew up in modest circumstances. Today he is one of the pioneers in the field of design research in his country. The TUM Ambassador’s recipe for success is a continuous international exchange.

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Railway Engineer Maren Heinzerling

„I needed courage again and again“

When Maren Heinzerling began studying Mechanical Engineering in 1958, she was the only female student of the subject. To this day, she is passionately committed to bringing more women into the engineering profession. She has now been awarded the German Citizens’ Prize(Deutscher Bürgerpreis) for her life’s work.

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GE Chief Innovator Carlos Härtel

„I am inspired by other people’s enthusiasm“

TUM Alumni Dr. Carlos Härtel likes to be inspired by others. Several times throughout his career, the innovation expert has started afresh and embarked on new endeavors. As a mentor, he has been passing on his insights to TUM students for the past nine years.

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Technology pioneer and alumni donor Reimar Lenz

„Look for something that is application-oriented, something that is needed“

From scientist to entrepreneur and vice-versa: Prof. Reimar Lenz has already had a distinct tinkerer gene in him since his youth. As a true pioneer of digital photography, the TUM Alumnus develops microscopy cameras that are used all over the world.

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Portrait of TUM Alumni Dr. Reinhard Ploss.

Reinhard Ploss has been CEO of the semiconductor group Infineon and a former TUM since October 2012 (Picture: Astrid Eckert/TUM).

Infineon-CEO Reinhard Ploss

„Falling down and getting up again“

Dr. Reinhard Ploss is leading chip manufacturer Infineon with vision and a feeling for future trends in technology. His courage in important decision-making stems from his time studying at TUM.

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Portrait of TUM Alumna Dr. Maria Furtwängler.

Maria Furtwängler fondly thinks back to her medical degree at TUM. She says: “The medicine was definitely healing for me.” (Picture: Magdalena Jooß/TUM).

Actress Maria Furtwängler

„I am a feminist who started late“

In order to be a full-time actress Dr. Maria Furtwängler has taken off the white doctor’s coat for good. But the contents of her medical studies at TUM still influence her self-conception.

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Alumni-Ticker

Prof. Dr. Angelika Görg

(Doctorate Brewing and Food Technology 1973)

is TUM’s first Vice President for Compliance starting April 1^st, 2020. The award-winning scientist was Professor of Proteomics at TUM from 1993 to 2009. After her retirement, TUM appointed her TUM Emerita of Excellence. This circle of outstanding personalities supports TUM with their experience. Among other things, Prof. Görg was TUM’s deputy ombudsperson for three years.

Christoph Schröder

(Diploma Mechanical Engineering 1991, Diploma Ergonomics and Management 1993)

has been the new Director of the BMW plant in Dingolfing since November 1^st, 2019 and thus of the car manufacturer’s largest European production site. He has been with BMW for 26 years and was most recently director of the plant in Steyr, Austria.

Claus Haberda

(Diploma Agricultural Sciences 1990)

has been Spokesman of Roche Diagnostics since January 1^st, 2020 and thus also a member of the Executive Board of Roche Germany. He has been with the company since 1992 and was most recently Head of Finance and Controlling at the Mannheim and Penzberg locations.