Dr. Sabine Leick is Applied Technology Manager Biodiesel in Evonik's Performance Materials segment. In the first years of her professional career at Evonik, Sabine Leick felt like an exotic person - not because she was a woman entering a male-dominated field, but because she found herself almost the only female chemist among engineers and process engineers. The doctor of chemistry, who enjoys a challenge in badminton in her free time, started her career in particle technology at Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH in Hanau in 2012. “Neither my training, which is atypical for process engineering, nor my gender were obviously detrimental to my attitude,” says Sabine Leick and laughs. "I felt extremely comfortable in my previous department and was able to put my chemical expertise to good use." As project manager, Leick was responsible for the development and implementation of new products and applications.
She was able to build on her doctorate at the Technical University of Dortmund in the field of interfacial and colloid chemistry. Leick worked on the effective encapsulation of health-promoting and biologically active ingredients for use in functional foods.
Almost two years ago, Sabine Leick moved from research-oriented product development to practical and customer-oriented application technology in the Functional Solutions business area. Here she works in the Innovation & Technologies department at Evonik Performance Materials GmbH as Applied Technology Manager Biodiesel.
An exciting challenge, because Leick spends a large part of her time exactly where chemistry is used on a large industrial scale: in the customer's production facilities. “That’s exactly what attracted me to this job,” she says. The customers are predominantly biofuel producers who use alcoholates from Evonik to produce biodiesel from plant raw materials, animal oils or used cooking fats. Long pipes, large tanks and loud pumps instead of an office chair or test tube: Sabine Leick is enthusiastic about her role in application technology. "My tasks include advising our customers on technical issues, supporting product changes and optimizing production processes." This primarily includes operational tests in the biodiesel plants of existing and potential customers as well as laboratory tests in research in Lülsdorf.
Sabine Leick travels all over the world to visit customers - mainly in the regions of Asia, Africa and Southern and Western Europe. She always finds it incredibly exciting to get to know foreign people and cultures and likes to pack her suitcase privately to explore distant countries. Sabine Leick finds peace and relaxation from her travel-intensive work routine on a bike ride along the Main or on her balcony in the countryside.
Find out more about career opportunities at Evonik - It takes #HumanChemistry
Evonik - the creative force in specialty chemicals
We do not produce car tires, mattresses, tablets or pet food. And yet Evonik is in these end products – as well as in 4,000 others. As a global leader in specialty chemicals, it is often small quantities that we contribute, but that is exactly what makes the difference. Because with Evonik, tires become fuel savers, mattresses become more elastic, tablets become more effective and animal nutrition becomes healthier. This is specialty chemistry. And we are among the best in the world.
Why? Because we have scientists on board who shape and further develop our company with extraordinary ideas. We are in demand for organic, inorganic, molecular and polymer chemists, as well as biotechnologists, toxicologists, nanotechnologists and paint specialists. For our success, we need people who combine enthusiasm with professional expertise. In short: it takes #HumanChemistry!
Our innovation organization is set up in a modern way with dedicated units: On the one hand, we have decentralized, market and customer-oriented research & development and application technology in the individual business areas, which conducts global research close to the customer. On the other hand, we have created Creavis, a strategic innovation unit for Evonik. It focuses on medium and long-term innovation projects that support Evonik's growth and sustainability strategy and open up new business options
Evonik stands for attractive business and innovative strength. We work in a results-oriented corporate culture, aimed at profitable growth and increasing company value. We benefit from customer proximity and leading market positions in over 100 countries. More than 36,000 employees are united by one claim: No product is so perfect that it couldn't be made even better. In the 2017 financial year, the company generated a profit (adjusted EBITDA) of EUR 2.36 billion on sales of EUR 14.4 billion.
