Moritz Bross began his studies in Biotechnology at the University of Applied Sciences in Aachen, Campus Jülich. Over the course of his training, he increasingly specialized in microbiology. This included spending more than five years living and conducting research abroad. His longest stay, however, was at the University of Tübingen, where he also completed his PhD. Currently, he works as a laboratory team leader at BASF in the field of Industrial Biotechnology.

What motivated your move from academia into industry, and specifically to BASF?

For a long time, I had the plan to eventually return to a university of applied sciences. Since the path to a professorship there requires industry experience, moving into the private sector was a logical step. At least equally important was my desire to create societal impact with my research—particularly to help make industry more sustainable. I had already chosen my PhD topic with this goal in mind. It therefore felt natural to take the next step and work with the people who translate ideas from the lab into real-world applications. And at the world’s largest chemical company, BASF, you naturally have an enormous lever for that.

Looking back, what were the biggest challenges in transitioning from academia to industry? What helped you overcome them?

To be honest, the transition was relatively smooth. BASF was the first place I applied, and I was accepted right away.
That said, I should mention two things: I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people, and this “natural networking” certainly didn’t hurt. Additionally, during my studies I was very active—especially in sustainability initiatives. This engagement broadened my profile significantly, particularly in terms of soft skills, and probably helped me stand out from the crowd.

How did you navigate the job search and application process?

Due to personal circumstances, we were geographically tied to the southwest of Germany. We therefore focused on attractive regions in that area that also offered opportunities in biotechnology, which narrowed the search considerably.
I had known my future supervisor at BASF for years from a conference. I kept in touch with her from time to time, and once I started looking for a job, it became a natural entry point.

In your view, what are the main differences between working in academia and in a large company? Which aspects have you come to appreciate, and which do you miss?

As mentioned above, the way of working is quite different. Due to the high pace, there’s unfortunately less time to delve deeply into a topic. I do miss that. At the university, I was a worldwide expert on a very specific subject. In industry, I am more of an academic generalist.
However, it’s also true that in research and development we are still very close to the academic frontier. We work with the latest scientific insights from academia.

What does a typical day in your current role look like?

My workday includes (too) many meetings, where I coordinate workflows and topics with colleagues. I also oversee the lab, instruct my team members, assign work packages, and evaluate results. On top of that, there’s a fair amount of organizational work, such as safety-related tasks.
Overall, my work is much more diverse than it was at the university. Unlike back then, I hardly spend any time in the lab myself anymore. Sometimes that’s a bit of a pity, but most of the time it’s fine.

Which skills or experiences from your research career have proven most valuable in your industry position? Were there skills you needed to build up quickly?

Self-organization; quick comprehension; stakeholder management; interpersonal communication; project management; personal initiative.

How has this career change influenced your long-term professional goals? Is there anything you wish you had known earlier?

I have come to appreciate the advantages of a structured work schedule, especially when you have children. Aspects like part-time options, flexible hours, and remote work are extremely valuable. At the same time, I have grown more critical of certain aspects of academic life. In my view, too often there is a lack of alignment with people working in practice. That exchange would have benefited me during my time in academia as well.

My experience in industry has also put the ideal of an academic career—particularly the path to professorship—into perspective. The supposed gold standard often involves long periods of uncertainty, many compromises, and very high workloads. Considering that the resulting impact is sometimes not as significant as one might hope, the attractiveness of this career goal diminishes.

Thank you very much!