Tim Range completed his Bachelor’s in Agricultural Biology in Hohenheim followed by the Master’s of the same name. Today, he works as a Quality Manager with EuroChem Agro, a fertilizer supplier.
As nice as it is to live with your parents, you should move out for your studies. This is important for personal development.
Adapt the program to your own interests where possible.
Do internships - experience opens doors.
Don't despair if starting a career after graduation doesn't work out right away. Hang in there!
If your first job isn’t your dream job: Uses it to gain work experience.
Quality Manager, EuroChem Agro, Mannheim
Studies at the University of Hohenheim 2008-2014
Agricultural Biology B.Sc.
Agricultural Biology M.Sc.
Job
What are typical activities for you in your job?
My job is very diverse. I mostly take care of certification according to GMP+. That is an internationally recognized certificate for feed, which we supply in addition to fertilizer. For the certification, I organize internal audits or visit production sites, for example in Russia or Belgium. I also process complaints if damage occurs during transport or production. Then I communicate with the affected clients.
And what is the coolest thing about the job?
It’s the diversity. Besides the big tasks, there are also lots of smaller ones. The business trips also bring variety into my daily life, though. And of course I can’t leave out the working environment, in which I feel very comfortable.
Studies
Why the University of Hohenheim? And why Agricultural Biology?
I was always interested in natural sciences. And that was something that I could pursue in Agricultural Biology. Besides that, Agricultural Biology is a degree program with a future: After all, everyone needs to eat. When I had decided on the degree program, I looked online for information about where I could study. Hohenheim has a very good reputation. When I visited, the University with its Palace and the large Park convinced me.
“When I visited, the University with its Palace and the large Park convinced me.
What were your studies like?
The first semesters of the Bachelor’s program cover the basics. You have everything from math to statistics to general biology. Later, you choose more of the courses yourself. I chose to specialize in seed science and also wrote my Bachelor’s thesis in that area. In my Master’s, I focused on biotechnology and specialized in molecular plant nutrition and genetic engineering.
What about experiences outside of the classroom?
During my Bachelor’s program I did an internship abroad. It was on a coffee plantation in Tanzania. I didn’t want to do the typical internship at a dairy operation or maize cultivation.
But I even surprised myself by going to Africa. My studies helped me surpass myself.
“I even surprised myself by deciding to do an internship in Tanzania.”
What competences from your studies are important in your job today?
It is absolutely essential for my job that I understand the subject and have a broad knowledge base. I was able to learn other things well on the job.
When I think back on my studies in Hohenheim, I think of...
...a lot of fun times with friends, especially our Frisbee and disc golf rounds in the park. But also other free time activities like the TMS parties or the student fair at Dies academicus.
