Prior to that, she worked as a project engineer at KREBS+KIEFER in Dresden and as a substitute professor at the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) in Cottbus-Senftenberg, where she had also worked as an academic staff member for ten years. Ciupack cites the establishment and leadership of the junior research group “Adhesive Bonding Technology” at the Chair of Steel and Timber Structures at BTU as her most important scientific and professional milestone to date. We asked Professor Ciupack a few questions to kick off her start at TU Darmstadt:

Why should students be interested in your topics? What is exciting about your topics?

The construction industry is responsible for about 50% of global resource consumption and about 40% of global CO₂ emissions. Civil engineers therefore play a crucial role in whether the transition to a climate-neutral society is successful. In particular, steel and timber construction play a key role here. Addressing one's own future should not only be challenging, but also deeply motivating.

Interdisciplinary work is very important at TU Darmstadt. Where do you see interfaces to other fields of expertise in your field of work?

There are numerous exciting interfaces to other fields of expertise and institutes – not only in the constructive environment of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, but also, for example, in the fields of artificial intelligence, polymer science and reliability research.

Which TU department would you like to spend a day at to get a taste of what it's like? Why?

I would like to get a taste of what it's like in the Department of Social and Historical Sciences. The inertia of the construction industry in the context of climate change is often due to a “we've always done it this way” mentality. I am particularly interested in the scientific methods that can be used to specifically analyze and break down such patterns of behavior.

If I were a student today, I would…

…study civil engineering again. It was simply my dream course.

The best way to unwind after a stressful day at work is…

…music, painting and a chat with my dear husband.