| 1961 | Born in Duisburg |
| 1981-1988 | Study in Computer Science and in Mathematics, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| 1988 | Diploma in Mathematics, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| 1990 | PhD in Mathematics, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| 1991-1992 | Postdoc (German Research Foundation), Department of Computer Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington |
| 1996 | Habilitation (venia legendi) in Mathematics, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| 1998-1999 | Senior Scientific Assistent, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universität Passau |
| 1999-2000 | Feodor Lynen Research Fellow (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation), Department of Computer Science and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York |
| 2000 | Professor, Department of Mathematics, Technische Universität Darmstadt |
| 2006 | Offer of a Professorship in Numerical Analysis, Universität Kiel, 1st rank for a Professorship in Applied Stochastics, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg |