1993 Diplom in Geologie (TU Bergakademie Freiberg)

1997 Promotion in Paläontologie (Universität Leipzig)

2003 Habilitation in Geologie und Paläontologie (Ludwig Maximilians Universität München)

terrestrial ecological systems

terrestrial climate

On the basis of terrestrial organisms (e.g. vertebrate animals) feedback processes between climate changes and ecological systems in recent geologic history are examined.

osteology, taxonomy and phylogeny of all modern groups of vertebrate animals

main focus of research is in continental biostratigraphy, geochronology, vegetation development and terrestrial paleoclimatology of the Neogene

The central question of past and future research is of the origin of modern ecological systems and the extrinsic mechanisms of the evolution of the Hominids, as well as the influence of human settlement and abrupt climate change on the breakdown and resilience of terrestrial ecological systems.