1975 - 1979 Study of Geology at the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz (Dipl.-Geol.). Diploma thesis ( M.Sc. thesis) “Geological and petrological investigations in the area of the Nahe valley between Norheim and Staudernheim with particular reference to the intermediate magmatites”, Supervisor: V. Lorenz / H. Tobschall
1979 - 1983 Dissertation (Ph.D.) at the Faculty for Geosciences at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia: “Petrogenesis of garnet and spinel peridotites. A study with particular reference to the role of chromium in geothermometry and geobarometry.” Supervisor: D.H. Green
1983 - 1986 Researcher at the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry (Mainz, F.R.G.), Department Cosmochemistry, Leader: H. Wänke
1986 - 1991 Senior researcher and chair for the group for thermal analysis at the Max-Planck-Institute for metals research (Stuttgart, F.R.G.), Powdermetallurgical Lab PML, Leader: G. Petzow
since 1991 Professor for Applied Mineralogy at the Institute for Geosciences, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen
Management functions at the University Tuebingen
· Director of the Institute for Mineralogy, Petrology und Geochemistry [1998-2002]
· Vice Director of the Institute for Geosciences [2002]
· Dean of the Faculty for Geosciences [2004 - 2006]
· Vice Dean of the Faculty for Geosciences [2006 - 2010]
Scientific management / coordination functions:
· Leader working group “Gas- and melt corrosion of ceramic materials” within the joined committee „Corrosion“ of German Ceramic Society (DKG) and German Association for Materials Science (DGM) [1989-1995]
· Member of the board of curators of the Institute for Natural and Medical Sciences at the University Tuebingen in Reutlingen (NMI) [1997-99]
· Coordinator EU-Project INCO-COPERNICUS Reliable and cost-effective ceramic components for porcelain quick firing and gas turbines by microstructural control of the oxide scales of Si3N4 and SiC.- Partner: IPMS (Kiev), MRC, (Kiev), ISSPS (Minsk), CNRS (Paris), [1997-1999]
· Director NATO Advanced Research Workshop “Corrosion of Advanced Ceramics - Measurement and Modelling”, Tübingen, 30.8.-3.9.1993
· Chairman of the joined comittee „Corrosion“ of German Ceramic Society (DKG) and German Association for Materials Science (DGM) [1995-2005]
· Member coordination committee “Advanced Ceramics” of German Ceramic Society (DKG) and German Association for Materials Science (DGM) [1995-2005]
· Coordinator EU Research Training Network HPRN-CT-2000-00044 Corrosion of Composites, Partner: IRTEC (Faenza, I), Uni Limoges (F), JRC Petten, CNRS (Paris) [2000-2004]
· Coordinator Symposium „Corrosion“, Materials week, Munich, 3.-4.10.2001
· Director of the Workshop “Ceramic Matrix Composite Corrosion” at 6th Int. Symposium on High Temperature Corrosion and Protection of Materials (Les Embiez, F, May 2004)
· Vice Chairman of “Competence network biomimetics” Baden-Württemberg, D (2009 -)
· Local Speaker: Collaborative Research Center SFB-TRR 141: Biological Design and Integrative Structures, Universities Stuttgart, Freiburg & Tübingen [2014 -]
· Co-organizer 1st International Conference of SFB TRR 141, Stuttgart, 12.-13.11.2015