Dr. Gustav Bruer

What aspect of your work excites you? What is the best part of your job?

I like the variety. No two days are the same, and every project is different. There are always new questions and challenges to figure out. It never gets boring. As a department, we are financially independent. I have to think and act from both a scientific and commercial perspective, which complements the diversity of my role. In addition, many issues can only be dealt with and solved by working together. I am very thankful for the great team here at the Department of Inhalation Toxicology, which makes it particularly enjoyable. I often need to take business trips for customer meetings or to meet with project partners. This allows me to get to know many parts of the world. The exchange with new people is fun and has already led to friendships that go beyond my daily working life.

Which project or achievement at Fraunhofer ITEM do you think of with particular fondness?

I really appreciate our current nanoparticle project because it allows me to make a real difference through my everyday work. The results we’re seeing in this study — although they only relate to very small details at first — could ultimately have a very significant impact, going as far as effecting the use or elimination of substances worldwide. Due to the current public awareness of the topic, it is also easy to explain my work in a way that people understand.

Which person or advice have you found to be especially helpful to your professional career?

My doctoral supervisor, Prof. Kietzmann, advised me that it’s best to find a topic that really inspires and fully engages you scientifically. On the one hand, you are then in a position to achieve great things, but on the other hand, it doesn't feel like work because your daily tasks align with your own interests.

What’s your most cherished illusion?

That time is a flexible resource which I can stretch and adapt at will to accommodate all my interests and passions. In my everyday life, I often schedule more activities and projects than are realistically achievable, hoping that I’ll somehow find the time to manage everything. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work out.

What makes you laugh?

I always enjoy funny observations about daily life — the kind of things we all know and which are often expressed in stand-up comedy. There are also some pretty funny people in my circle of friends; there’s never a boring moment when they’re around.

What does a successful day look like to you?

 To me, a successful day includes a balance between productivity and relaxation. It begins with a morning of concentrated work on my goals and tasks, following the slogan “Business before pleasure.” Afterwards, I can enjoy the rest of the day, for example, by taking a drive in my car, which is my ultimate weakness. When the sound of six exploding cylinders combines with the whistle of the turbochargers and the roaring of the exhaust, I feel alive and can 100 percent switch off.