Marcel Langner is 28 years old and grew up in Hildesheim. Between 2010 and 2015, Marcel studied Pharmaceutical Engineering at Anhalt Köthen University of Applied Sciences.
Quote:
"I decided to study Pharmaceutical Engineering back then because I was impressed by the mix of science and technology and the high practical component at the university. After graduating, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for two years. There I worked in the development department and in production management. In 2018, I returned to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences for a doctorate. My topic is particle size measurement in fluidized bed technology."
Question: Pharmaceutical Engineering is part of the healthcare industry. But what does the specific job description of a Pharmaceutical Engineering technician look like?
Answer: Pharmaceutical Engineering encompasses several scientific and engineering subject areas, which is why subsequent specialization can vary greatly. Graduates often find employment in manufacturing, analytics, packaging or in quality and project management in the pharmaceutical industry. Due to the increasing proportion of genetically engineered drugs, the transition to the biotech sector is fluid and is also a point of contact for graduates.
Question: Over 13,500 medicinal products are licensed in Germany. What is meant by quality control for medicinal products?
Answer: Safety, efficacy and quality have the highest priority for medicinal products. Every medicinal product is approved by the authorities and has a specification that must be met. Compliance with the specification must be proven by suitable analytical and pharmaceutical-technological methods. For some years now, there has been a trend towards checking the quality of medicinal products during the manufacturing process. There is hardly an industry where the demand for quality control is as high as in the pharmaceutical industry.
Question: What excited you about studying Pharmaceutical Engineering?
Answer: For me, the mixture of scientific and technical subjects was the decisive factor for studying Pharmaceutical Engineering in Köthen. The size of the groups in the labs is manageable, which is why I was able to learn a lot. Another advantage is the close contact with professors and industry.
Question: In your opinion, what role do universities of applied sciences play in terms of practical relevance?
Answer: I started studying straight after my Abitur. The high practical relevance of a university was definitely an advantage for me in terms of getting an easy start to my professional life. In addition, industry contacts can be established very early on as part of project work. I think that the strong connection to industry is what sets universities apart.
