Talented postdocs from around the globe

"Mom, what is glucose?" 

Jonathan's forearm carries a filigree tattoo. It symbolizes the Páramo landscape in the Andes, and reminds him of his home in Colombia. Eight years ago, the 34-year-old came to Germany, after work stops in Chile and London. Here, he earned his doctorate in biology at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. Since November, he has been conducting postdoctoral research at the Biberach site in the field of metabolic diseases, with a focus on obesity. Boehringer Ingelheim was in his mind since his Bachelor-studies. “It’s one of the biggest pharma companies in the world, so any pharmacist knows the company”, he says. His decision to apply for the Postdoc program was driven by the type of research in which he has expertise and also by a PhD colleague who worked for Boehringer Ingelheim already and who recommended the company.     

With this position, the Colombian has landed his "perfect match". Already as a child, he has examined package inserts and ingredient lists intensively. "Mom, what is glucose? And what does sodium chloride mean? I used to quiz my mother with questions like that," he recalls, laughing. Today, Jonathan is grateful that he can continue to pursue this fascination for detail at our company. His eyes light up when he tells us that he and his team are currently making promising discoveries about a certain effect of a protein "I can improve people's lives with my research here. That's what I've always wanted to do," he says enthusiastically.   

In Biberach, Jonathan finds framework conditions for the realization of his ideas that he has not had anywhere else until now. In his previous jobs as a quality representative for pharmaceutical companies in Colombia and Chile, his options were limited. "A good idea on its own is worth nothing if you can't implement it at all for lack of experience, experts and equipment. In Biberach, on the other hand, everything is possible," he emphasizes. That's why he can imagine continuing to shape his future as a pharmaceutical chemist at Boehringer Ingelheim. His husband, who stitched Jonathan's tattoo, moved to Germany from Colombia just a few months ago.

From Marseille via Munich to Biberach  

Marion Ponserre did not originally intend to pursue an academic career, even though the Ardèche department native was already interested in small experiments as a child. Eventually, the 35-year-old discovered her love for neuroscience during her biotechnology studies in Marseille. From then on, she determinedly followed her passion and earned a doctorate in neurobiology at the Max Planck Institute in Munich.  

The mother of a two-year-old describes the fact that she can now continue her career as a scientist at Boehringer Ingelheim and delve even deeper into her favorite field of research as an amazing opportunity. "The company invests in fascinating techniques such as whole-brain activity recordings in animal models which are not yet very widespread in the neuroscience field. That's why I really wanted to come here," she says. The fact that Boehringer Ingelheim is also one of only a few pharmaceutical companies conducting research in the field of mental disorders further strengthened her decision.     

Marion Ponserre regards her laboratory in Biberach as a truly inspiring environment. Currently, she and her team are conducting research on the development of drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia, among other things. "My work is very varied. I perform patch clamp electrophysiology - a technique that enables to study electrochemical signal transmission between neurons. When I'm not in the lab, I attend meetings and training sessions in drug development, and I also train students," she reports. What she loves most is exchanging ideas with other scientists. To Marion, the interdisciplinary collaboration and spirit of research at the Biberach site is unique. "Everyone around me is so smart and inspiring," she enthusiastically says. "And the best thing - instead of just talking about it, I can put innovative ideas into practice here," she adds.    

Growing with the company 

Alireza's daily work revolves around processes, data and their analysis. As a Data Scientist in the biotech sector, his job is to use digital tools to optimize the development of biopharmaceutical processes. Talents with his skills are in demand like never before. Even though many doors are open to specialists with a doctorate like Alireza, he himself describes it as a great gift that he found his way to our company. 

"Instead of dreaming to becoming a doctor or a pilot like many of my friends, I always wanted to be a scientist," he says. Six years ago, the 32-year-old came to Germany from Iran. In his home country, he initially studied bioprocess engineering and worked as an engineer in process development. But Alireza wanted to go deeper into research. So he moved to Germany to find better conditions for his scientific career. After three years at Bayer, he finally became aware of our company through a call for post-doc applications posted by Boehringer Ingelheim at LinkedIn. "The company invests in new technologies in a very targeted way. That's very attractive, especially for us upcoming scientists," he says. After his time as a postdoc, he was able to move into a permanent position in December. "To witness how the company grows and to grow along with it myself is impressive," he reports.   

At first, Alireza found the move from the metropolitan region around Leverkusen to suburban Biberach a bit of a culture shock. "The dialect gave me a bit of a hard time," he says with a smile. The rural area was also new to him. But today he clearly sees the advantages and, as a father of two, enjoys the quiet surroundings. Nevertheless, Alireza regularly experiences the feeling of being in a vibrant and global environment. "When you walk into Biberach's canteen, you hear all kinds of languages! And that in a small town in Upper Swabia. Fascinating!"   

What is a postdoc? 

A postdoc is a scientist who has obtained a doctorate after completing a PhD and then works at a university or research institute for a limited period (usually two years). During this time, a postdoc sharpens his or her scientific profile, builds networks and works on research projects. Boehringer Ingelheim offers postdoctoral positions in Research & Development and Biopharmaceuticals at its Biberach site. Here, the goal is clearly formulated: Attract top talent with the necessary skills and also retain them in the company.