*12/09/1966

Since 1 April 2022
Rector of the University of Duisburg-Essen

2020–2021
Vice President for Research and Early Careers at the Technical University of Darmstadt

Since 2016
Member of a DFG review board for chemistry

2012–2013
President of the German Chemical Society (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker; GDCh)

2007–2011
Dean of the Department of Chemistry at the Technical University of Darmstadt

2005–2022
Professor (W3) of Inorganic Solid State and Structural Chemistry at the Technical University of Darmstadt

2001–2005
Professor (C4) of Solid State Chemistry and Materials Science at Universität Hamburg

2001
Privatdozentin, Oberassistentin (C2) (senior lecturer) at the University of Bonn

2000–2001
Substitute professor at Justus Liebig University Giessen

1996–2001
Habilitation candidate and postdoctoral researcher in the position of a Wissenschaftliche Assistentin (C1) for some of this time, at Justus Liebig University Giessen

1995–1996
Postdoctoral researcher at the Materials Research Laboratory of the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA (Prof. Dr. A. K. Cheetham)

1990–1995
Academic staff member at the University of Bonn

2000
Habilitation postdoctoral qualification at the University of Bonn

1995
Doctorate at the University of Bonn

1985–1990
Studies in Chemistry at the University of Bonn

2016
Admission to the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities

2000
ADUC prize for postdoctoral researchers from the Working Group of German University Professors for Chemistry (within the GDCh)

1997
Bennigsen-Foerder Award for young scientists and artists from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

1996
Lise Meitner habilitation scholarship from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

1995
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

• Member of the selection committee for the Henriette Herz Programme from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
• Member of the Research Board of the Einstein Foundation Berlin
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the Schunk Group
• Member of the Supervisory Board of Evonik Industries AG (Chair of the Supervisory Board Committee for Innovation and Research since 2018)
• Member of the Board of Curators of the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the Essen University Hospital
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the Ruhr Campus Academy gGmbH
• Member of the Board of Partners of the Ruhr Campus Academy gGmbH
• Member of the Executive Board and the Steering Committee of the Förderverein der Universität Duisburg-Essen (sponsors’ association of the University of Duisburg-Essen)
• Member of the Managing Board of the EduScia foundation
• Member of the Managing Board of the Duisburg-Essener Universitäts-Stiftung (DEUS) foundation
• Member of the Governing Board of the DST Development Centre for Ship Technology and Transport Systems
• Member of the Board of the Deutsches Instituts für Interdisziplinäre Sozialpolitikforschung (German institute for interdisciplinary research in social policy; DIFIS)
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West (North-West German centre for textile research; DTNW)
• Member of the Managing Board of the Haus der Technik e. V. institute for further education in technical fields
• Member of the Advisory Board of Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH
• Member of Steering Committee of the Initiative Wissensmetropole Ruhr (Ruhr knowledge metropolis initiative)
• Member of Steering Committee of the Science City Essen initiative
• Member of the Managing Board of the Helmut und Gerlinde Schwarz-Stiftung foundation