Barbara Engels studied biochemistry in Tübingen and Munich, received her doctorate from the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Munich and went to Cape Town for a research stay at the National Botanical Institute. After working for several years in preclinical research at the pharmaceutical company Byk Gulden (now Altana), she trained as a patent attorney. Barbara Engels was admitted to practice as a German Patent Attorney in 2001 and as a European Patent Attorney in 2002. In addition to biochemistry, pharmacy is one of her main areas of expertise.