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

The main research interest is in materials science in the field of advanced ceramics and composites. The research covers processing, characterisation and evaluation of technical ceramics, typically alumina and zirconia in the oxides and carbon, carbides, nitrides, borides on the non-oxide side. Particular expertise exists in the chemical property evaluation (oxidation and corrosion). Other research goals are phase relations, mechanical properties and bionics of biomaterials and ceramics.