We have had Sonja Pohlmann on our team since March 2021 as an employee for knowledge and technology transfer. After completing her master‘s degree in English and German philology with a focus on communication and cultural studies, she worked for the University of Duisburg Essen in coordinating language courses and for the student association German Academic Field Service on a project for quality assurance at universities in West Africa. Today she actively supports us in various projects. In the interview, she gives an insight into herself and her work.

What was your first day at work like?
Sonja: On my first day at work, I mainly had administrative things to sort out and unfortunately I was only able to get to know a few colleagues on site because I started in the middle of the corona pandemic. 
 Nevertheless, it was really fun to move into my office and I was able to familiarize myself with the new work processes at the chair and in administration. Structurally, I‘m based in the transfer department of Department 1, but in terms of content, I mainly have tasks at the Chair of Computer Science in Civil Engineering.
 
What are your responsibilities with us? And what is your favorite thing to do with it?
Sonja: My tasks at the chair are in the area of ​​knowledge and technology transfer. I think about ways of bringing knowledge and technology from research to the outside world and I develop targeted offers that strengthen the interaction between research, business, and society. The transfer activities I plan can be very different. Therefore, they are always tailored to the aspects and goals of the specific project or topic. As part of the Mittelstand 4.0 competence center for planning and building, I organize various events with an informative focus for SMEs, for example, or provide information about new developments in our research in articles. A separate TransferLab is even planned for BIMKIT, where the developed AI applications can be shown and tested in the form of demonstrators. My job is to conceptualize what that will look like. What I like most is the planning part, i.e. the project management. I just like to organize and design and have a lot of fun seeing ideas implemented.
 
Tell us about your most exciting project.
Sonja: I‘ve already had the opportunity to work on some exciting projects, and I‘m currently working on them. For example, building the BIMKIT TransferLab is a project that I am really looking forward to. The great thing about it is that not only experts from the construction or IT industry are made familiar with our solutions, but also citizens. I‘m really looking forward to the concept and the possibilities that such a place offers. In general, I am very interested in the topic of “Citizen Science”. That‘s why it‘s my turn to set up such a citizen science project in which interested parties are given the opportunity to participate.
 
What is your favorite item on your desk in the office and why?
Sonja: My desk my office is empty because I work a lot from my home office. My favorite thing there is my glass picture frame, which contains a black-and-white photograph of a colliery. I really like the Ruhr area with its industrial aesthetics. Next to it is a picture frame with a Polaroid picture from a previous vacation in Morocco, which makes me think more of the distance. In my home office, I have a Lego bonsai on my desk that I was given as a gift. I have absolutely no knack for a real bonsai.
 
What excites you? Tell me what you do in your free time.
Sonja: I prefer to spend my free time traveling, whether it‘s a long-distance trip or a tour in the region. What I like most is that something unexpected always happens. Most people you meet are just very open-minded and often bring many interesting and enriching ideas and views with them, so that you can find a change from everyday life. While traveling I have also learned many things that have found their way into my everyday life, such as hiking and yoga. I also like to sew and play board games. I‘ve even developed a few myself.