Born in 1959 in Nister, Rhineland-Palatinate. Diploma in Physics (1985), PhD in Physical Oceanography at the University of Kiel (1990), Postdoc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, 1990–1992), Assistant Professor of Physical Oceanography at MIT (1992–1997), Associate Professor of Physical Oceanography at MIT (1997–1999), Professor of Physical Oceanography at the Southampton Oceanography Centre, UK (1999–2003), Director and Scientific Member at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (since 2003).