In December 2023, Späck-Leigsnering was honored by the Werner-von-Siemens-Ring Foundation for her contribution to the development of future energy distribution systems for renewable energy and was appointed a Werner-von-Siemens Fellow. She considers this recognition of her research work as her most significant scientific and professional milestone to date. In the latest episode of “Ring der Zukunft,” the podcast of the foundation, Späck-Leigsnering shares insights into her role as a bridge-builder between scientific research and industrial application.

We also had the opportunity to ask Yvonne Späck-Leigsnering a few questions at the start of her professorship at TU Darmstadt:

Electrical devices are everywhere in our daily lives. As head of the simulation team in the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) department at Bosch and as a cooperation professor, my team and I focus on ensuring that these devices do not interfere with each other. This might sound a bit dry at first, but sometimes it’s real detective work! If you’ve ever wondered what’s inside an induction stove or microwave – or if you’re a fan of eBikes – then our topics are exactly what you’re looking for.

Simulation is a key tool here: it allows us to virtually look inside devices and make electromagnetic fields visible. The art and essence of my research is to break down the complex electromagnetic behavior and model it as simply as possible using mathematics. This helps us understand relationships and work with our colleagues to optimize the EMC behavior of complex products.

EMC is never an end in itself – the focus is always on a product that needs to be electromagnetically compatible. This could range from a tiny sensor to a large HVDC converter station. As a field theorist, like all of us in electrical engineering, I deal with Maxwell’s equations – a universal foundation that has been around for more than 150 years.

In my role at Bosch, I experience every day how enriching and important cross-disciplinary collaboration is. For instance, we work closely with mechanical engineers when it comes to the influence of housing design on EMC behavior, develop new simulation tools with computer scientists, and employ machine learning methods. As a field theorist, I almost act as a translator between various technical disciplines – that’s what makes the work so exciting!

I’d love to spend time in biology, especially in the botanical garden, which I absolutely adore! I admire the patience, meticulousness, and likely also the humility required when working with natural, non-technical systems.

… definitely get involved in the student council again! It was not only fun, but I also learned a lot about political processes. If possible, I would absolutely study abroad – that experience shapes you for life. What would I do differently today? I’d take more time for things, like a longer hike through the Alps, before jumping straight into a PhD. And I would definitely challenge the professors when it comes to using AI in education – today’s students rightfully have high expectations!

… climbing at the fantastic DAV climbing hall in Darmstadt, preferably on a warm summer evening on our awesome outdoor wall (shout out!). Or spending time with my family in nature.