Born 1959 in Nister, Rhineland-Palatinate. Diploma in physics (1985), PhD in Physical Oceanography, University of Kiel (1990), Postdoctoral Associate, MIT, USA (1990-1992), Assistant Professor of Physical Oceanography, MIT, USA (1992-1997), Associate Professor of Physical Oceanography, MIT (1997-1999), Professor of Physical Oceanography, Southampton Oceanography Centre, UK (1999-2003), Scientific Member and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (since 2003).