2004 PhD in Biology, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen, Germany) and Bremen University, thesis topic: “Anaerobic oxidation of methane in marine sediments”, mentors: Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius and Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen
Thesis Download

1999 Diploma in Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel and GEOMAR Research Center, Germany, thesis topic: “Community structure and energy budget of deep-sea scavengers in the Arabian Sea”, mentors: Prof. Dr. Michael Spindler and Prof. Dr. Ursula Witte
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1994-1999 Biology Diplom Studies, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, main subject: biological oceanography, subsidiary subjects: zoology, physical oceanography

1992-1994 Biology Vordiplom Studies, Hannover University, subjects: zoology, botany, chemistry, physics

1992 Abitur, Gymnasium Lehrte, Lower Saxony, Germany

Since July 2018 Professor for Marine Geomicrobiology (tenured), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Department for Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (2/3 FTE),  Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (1/3 FTE), and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (0% Appointment), USA.

Okt. 2014 – June 2018 Associate Professor for Marine Geomicrobiology (tenured), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Department for Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (2/3 FTE) and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (1/3 FTE), USA

Dec. 2011 – Sep. 2014 Professor (tenured, W2) for Marine Geobiology, Helmholtz Centre of Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) and Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Germany

Dec. 2007 – Nov. 2011 Junior Professor (tenure track, W1) for Seafloor Warming, Cluster of Excellence „The Future Ocean“ at the Leibniz Institute for Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) and the Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Germany

Nov. 2005 – Oct. 2007, DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Southern California (Los Angeles, USA), Department of Marine Environmental Biology and Geobiology Program, topic: Biogeochemical processes and ecological communities at submarine hydrocarbon seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, mentors: Prof. Dr. Wiebke Ziebis and Prof. Dr. Kenneth Nealson 

Feb. 2004 – Oct. 2005, Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen) and Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar- and Marine Research

At UCLA

• EPSS Departmental Vice Chair (responsible for Teaching), since 2022
• Faculty Ad Hoc and Search Committees for EPSS and AOS: Frequently/Occasionally
•  EPSS COVID Ramp Up Committee: 2020-2022
• AOS Diversity Committee (Chair): since 2020-2022
• Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI) Board of Directors (UCLA Representative): since 2019
• EPSS Committee on Peer Review of Teaching: 2018-2019
• EPSS Curriculum Committee: member 2018-2019, co-chair 2020-2022, guest since 2022
• AOS Zodiac Committee: since 2017
• Director of the Marine Center, IoES: since 2016
• EPSS Field Trip Safety Committee: since 2016
• EPSS Development Committee: 2016-2018
• EPSS Award Committee: 2016-2018
• EPSS representative to the Legislative Assembly, 2015-2017
• UCLA Faculty Research Grant Referee: 2016
• AOS Dissertation Year Fellowship Scoring Committee, 2015
• EPSS faculty meeting minute taker, 2015

At GEOMAR / at CAU (former affiliation)

• 2012-2014 Chair of the GEOMAR Scientific Council, 2012-2014
• Member of the GEOMAR Consultatory Board of Directors, 2012-2014
• Guest of the GEOMAR Board of Trustees, 2012-2014
• Leader of Work Package 3 (Sediment-Water Interaction) within TOPIC 2 of the GEOMAR POF proposal “OCEANS”, 2012-2014
• Deputy radiosafety representative of the research department Marine Biogeochemistry at GEOMAR, 2008-2014
• Member of the Natural Science Student Committee at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, 2013
• Sub-project leader in the SFB 754 and SPP 1319 (DFG projects), 2012-2014

International services

• Advisor to the working group Rewind Climate Change, since 2022
• Co-Chief Editor of the not-for-profit open-access peer-reviewed journal “Biogeosciences“, since 2019
• Associate Editor of the not-for-profit open-access peer-reviewed journal “Biogeosciences“, 2010-2018
• Topical Editor for the EGU Encyclopedia of Geosciences, since 2019
• Science officer of the sub-division “Geomicrobiology and Extreme Environments” within the division “Biogeosciences” at EGU, 2012-2014
• MC member and WG leader in the EU-COST project PERGAMON, 2012-2014