Higher education
- 1993 Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Theoretical Physics, Cornell University, New York
- 1996 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Theoretical Physics, Cornell University, New York
Professional experience
- 1996 – 1998 Project Manager at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, Frankfurt
- 1999 – 2001 Executive Director (CEO) of the Northern Institute of Technology, Hamburg
- 2001 – 2008 Senator (minister) of Science and Research of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (non partisan)
- in addition, Senator of Public Health and Consumer Protection (2004 – 2006)
Membership
- Member of the permanant Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) and acting member of the Bundesrat (2001 – 2008
- Member of the accreditation council (2003– 2008)
Since July 2008, member of the Executive Board of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, responsible for Education, Integration and Participation and CEO of the CHE.
