1979: Abitur, Maximilian Kolbe Gymnasium Cologne
1986: Diplom in Geography/Landscape Ecology (minor subjects Geology/Geobotany)/ Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster
1992: Doctorate in Geography / Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster
2001: Habilitation in Biology / University of Hanover

1987-1989: Scientific trainee at the Geographical Commission/Landschaftsverband Westfalen/Lippe
1989-1991: Research assistant at the Institute of Geobotany/University of Hanover
1991-1994: Post-doc at the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research/Wilhelmshaven
1994-1999: Research assistant at the Lower Saxony State Office for Soil Research/Hanover
1999-2003: Research assistant at the Institute of Geobotany/University of Hanover
2003-2004: Deputy Professor of Landscape Ecology/University of Rostock
2004-2007: Head of the ICBM Marine Station/Wilhelmshaven
2008- : Head of the Geoecology Working Group at ICBM-Terramare/Wilhelmshaven
2010: Visiting Professor at the University of Palermo, Sicily, Italy - Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche