Education and studies

1991 – 1996 Studied geography at the Philipps University of Marburg (minor subjects: soil science, geology, botany) and agricultural sciences at the Justus Liebig University of Giessen, graduated in geography on February 27, 1996.

1996 – 1999 Doctoral studies at the Department of Geography at the Philipps University of Marburg and at the Institute of Geography at the Humboldt University of Berlin, doctorate on July 14, 1999 (Marburg, summa cum laude), 1996-1999 doctoral scholarship from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Osnabrück).

Final theses

1995 Diploma thesis: “Die naturräumliche Ausstattung des Retterschwanger Tals bei Hindelang (Allgäuer Alpen) als Bewertungsgrundlage seiner kulturlandschaftlichen Nutzung”; supervisor: Prof. em. Dr. H. Dongus, grade: 1.0, passed with distinction.

1996 – 1999 Dissertation: “Ecosystem changes in the Lower Spreewald due to mining and melioration measures – results of an applied ecosystem-based environmental observation”, supervisor: Prof. Dr. H. Brückner, grade: summa cum laude.

2002 – 2006 Habilitation thesis: “Holocene coastal changes of Akarnania, NW Greece. Palaeogeographies, sea level changes, extreme events and geoarchaeological aspects of past coastal landscapes”; Venia Legendi for Geography awarded on November 29, 2006.

Scientific activities

1999 – 2001 Research assistant, Institute of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin, Project: “Inventory and monitoring of natural features and landscape degradation in Aisén (Southern Chile) with geoecological field methods and multitemporal remote sensing data from ERS-2-SAR” (Funding: DFG, Team Prof. Dr. W. Endlicher).

2001 – 2002 Research assistant, Department of Geography, Philipps-University Marburg (Team Prof. Dr. H. Brückner).

2002 – 2008 Research Assistant, Department of Geography, Philipps-University Marburg (Team Prof. Dr. H. Brückner).

November 29, 2006 Privatdozent, Department of Geography, Philipps University Marburg.

04/2008 – 09/2010 University Professor (W2) for Physical Geography (Geomorphology, especially Quaternary Research and Geoarchaeology), Institute of Geography, University of Cologne.

Since 10/2010 University Professor (W3) for Geomorphology, Institute of Geography, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

– German Research Foundation
– Fritz Thyssen Foundation
– Israel Science Foundation
– National Geographic, Committee for Research and Exploration
– Study Foundation of the German People
– Geography – Archive for Scientific Geography
– Geoarchaeology, An International Journal
– Geodinamica Acta
– Geografica Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria
– Geo-Marine Letters
– Géomorphologie – relief, processus, environnement
– Geomorphology
– Global and Planetary Change
– Journal of Coastal Research
– Journal of Palaeolimnology
– Marine Geology
– Natural Hazards
– Quaternary International
– Quaternary Science Reviews
– Scientific Reports
– Sedimentology
– Swiss Journal of Geosciences
– Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences
– Journal of Geomorphology

– Méditerranée – Revue géographique des pays méditerraneens
– Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie – Annals of Geomorphology
– Full member of the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, DAI)
– DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Review Board member 317-01 Physical Geography (2016-2023)

– DEUQUA – Deutsche Quartärvereinigung e.V. (German Quaternary Association)
– DFG Priority Programme 1630 “Harbours – from the Roman Period to the Middle Ages” (SPP 1630 “Häfen von der Römischen Kaiserzeit bis zum Mittelalter”)
– Ernst Kirsten Society for Historical Geography of the Ancient World
– Freundeskreis der Prof. Dr. Frithjof Voss Stiftung – Foundation for Geography e.V.
– German Working Group on Geomorphology, part of German Society for Geography (board member 2010-2018)
– International Geographical Union – Commission on Coastal Systems (board member 2010-2016)
– International Working Group on Geoarchaeology
– UNESCO IGCP project 639 member “Sea Level Change from Minutes to Millennia” (2016-2020)
– German working group “Geoarchaeology” (founding member)
– Working group “Geography of Oceans and Coasts” in the German Geographical Society (spokesperson 2007-2012)

– Coastal Geomorphology
– Natural Hazards Research
– Geoarchaeology
– Palaeogeography
– Landscape Ecology
– Genesis of Cultural Landscapes

– Germany: German North Sea coast, Hesse, Brandenburg, south-west German stratified lowlands, Alpine foothills and Alps
– Greece: Acarnania, Aitolia, Epirus, Ionian Islands, Peloponnese
– Spain: SE Spain
– Turkey: SW Turkey
– Chile: West Patagonia
– Caribbean: Bonaire