Barbara studied Geology at the University of Freiburg and earned her PhD in Earth System Sciences from ETH Zurich. She then joined the Technology Transfer Department at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. In 2009, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe and the University of Karlsruhe merged to form the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), one of Germany’s leading research universities. That same year, Barbara launched the KIT Business Club—a network and service platform for companies seeking to strengthen their research collaborations with KIT.

In 2016, together with Prof. Thomas Hirth, Vice President for Transfer and International Affairs, and Dr. Jens Fahrenberg, Head of Innovation and Relations Management, she developed a concept for strategic partnerships with industry.

While continuing to coordinate and oversee KIT’s seven strategic industry partnerships, Barbara is now also part of the team shaping KIT’s transfer strategy. She is also a member of KIT’s Innovation and Relations Management leadership team.