“It all fit perfectly”

Mr. Nowack: What do you like best about working at ASC?

Markus Nowack: Obviously, the broad range of applications I work on every day. On the one hand: interface functions in the definition, development and marketing of products. On the other hand, as an application engineer I am also an expert on technical issues concerning the entire sensor portfolio. In this capacity, I not only advise our customers, but also train our sales partners around the world. This is a many-sided job with ever new challenges and interesting applications.

Your first encounter with sensor systems was during your studies, is that correct?

Markus Nowack: Yes, exactly, but it wasn’t until I worked as a research assistant at the TU Chemnitz that I became familiar with the specifics of design, layout and production of micromechanical sensors and actuators. In product development for a sensor manufacturer in Berlin I moved up a step in the value creation chain, since the position involved additional electronic components, as well as assembling and packaging technology. The advertisement from ASC came at just the right time, and the job description fit perfectly: I am very interested in cross-functional issues, and I have a very responsible job here, in a dynamic environment. And I can make optimal use of the expertise I have acquired during the course of my career.

You seem to be a very active person – is that so in your leisure time as well?

Markus Nowack: That is definitely true. I have played soccer ever since I was a kid, and I spend a lot of time outdoors. But it is also fun for me to plan and carry out DIY projects. For example, I made the wooden railing around our pool, and I also built a playhouse for the kids. Of course, the pandemic has made such projects even more important, due to all the restrictions. We are fortunate that we have a big yard, right at the edge of the woods. The children have plenty of room to romp about.

In addition to sensors and soccer, you have another passion: Your family.

Markus Nowack: That’s right: I have a wonderful wife and two great children who give me a great deal of happiness. It is very important for me to find the right balance between work and family. I am convinced that it is the only way to be happy and to have the energy necessary for work.

We also asked your colleague, Dr. Robert Diemer, this question: Which object would you take with you to a desert island?

Markus Nowack: To be honest, I wouldn’t want to be alone on a desert island, without my family and friends. It would also make a difference whether the island is in the Arctic Ocean or the South Pacific. But even on a fabulous beach, there is no single object that could make my life more pleasant. That’s why I can’t think of anything that I would take along. Except maybe a teleporter that would make it possible to bring other people to the island.