Born 1957 in Neuwied. Study of chemistry in Mainz, doctorate (1985), German Habilitation in organic chemistry University of Mainz (1991), Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry University of Bonn (1991-1993), Full Professor of Organic Chemistry University of Karlsruhe (1993-1999), Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology and Full Professor of Biochemistry at Dortmund University (since 1999).