Dr. Jan-Olaf Barth (Image: Julia Knörzer, Sailauf).
Global Perspective
His TUM Professors were every bit the equal of the dedicated teachers from his school days. For Jan-Olaf Barth, they served as mentors and formative role models, instilling in him a commitment to scientific excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, and close ties to industry. TUM Professor Dr. Hubert Schmidtbauer enabled him to complete an internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, USA, while TUM Professor Dr. Wolfgang A. Hermann’s vision of an internationally oriented, industry-close university left a lasting impression on him. His doctoral supervisor, TUM Professor Dr. Johannes A. Lercher, introduced him to industrial ways of thinking and working – skills that continue to serve Jan-Olaf Barth to this day.
Participation in an EU research project with international industry partners as part of his doctorate further broadened his understanding of global contexts.
From Chemist to Innovation Leader
After completing his doctorate, Jan-Olaf Barth wanted to apply his knowledge in the private sector. Already during his studies, he had completed an industrial internship at a pilot plant and in the laboratory at Degussa, a predecessor company of Evonik, in Hanau. The “chemistry was right” and he applied. Ever since, he has remained loyal to Germany’s third-largest chemical company and one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, shaping the future of sustainable high-performance plastics as a TUM Alumnus with a doctorate.
In 2025, TUM Alumnus Jan-Olaf Barth was honored as a Silver Jubilarian of TUM. The photo shows him at the anniversary celebration with TUM Vice President Prof. Dr. Claudia Peus and TUM Chancellor Albert Berger (Image: Julia Knörzer, Sailauf).
Driving Innovation – Living Values
Since late 2023, Jan-Olaf Barth has led the High Performance Polymers division as Senior Vice President at Chemiepark Marl, Evonik’s largest production site and one of the largest chemical sites in Germany. High-performance polymers are key technologies for industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical technology, and renewable energy. Under Jan-Olaf Barth’s leadership, solutions are being developed that are not only high-performing and competitive, but also sustainable – making a decisive contribution to the transformation of global value chains.
We All Have to Do Our Part to Give the Next Generation a Good Start in Life.
Being a Role Model
For Jan-Olaf Barth, key motivators in his daily work are his highly motivated colleagues with their diverse skills and experiences. In particular, the collaboration with international teams across Asia, the Americas, and Europe – in production, sales, and research – has inspired him for over twenty years. “The team makes the difference,” he says. “Together you create something and can make things happen.”
As a mentor for the German Chemical Society and TUM, Jan-Olaf Barth aims to be a role model for young people. “We all have to do our part to make our society a little better and to give the next generation a good start,” he says. “TUM and its institutions play an important role here, both in educating students from around the world and in the context of lifelong learning.”
Dr. Jan-Olaf Barth (Image: Julia Knörzer, Sailauf).
Diploma in Chemistry 2000, Doctorate 2003
Jan-Olaf Barth studied and completed his doctorate in chemistry at TUM. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, Coventry, England. Since 2003 he has worked for the Evonik Group, and since 2023 in the role of Senior Vice President & General Manager High Performance Polymers.
Jan-Olaf Barth has served as a mentor for TUM and the German Chemical Society for many years. In 2025, he was honored as a Silver Jubilarian at TUM’s anniversary celebration. To this day, he meets regularly with the friends and colleagues he made at TUM.
Jan-Olaf Barth is married and has two sons. He loves spending his free time with his family hiking and cycling in the mountains.
