• Studied physics at Heidelberg University, Cornell University, and the University of Hamburg; earned a Ph.D. in physics education at the University of Washington 
• Since 2002, visiting professor, then assistant professor of engineering education; since 2010, at the Center for Teaching and Learning at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg 
• Areas of focus: Empirical research on teaching and learning in the foundational courses of engineering programs; currently leading the project “Active Learning in Engineering Education”