2009: Associate Professor, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne
2004-2009: Max-Planck Fellow, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne
2001: Senior Group Leader, Dept. Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne Germany
1998: Junior Group Leader, Sainsbury Laboratory
1990-1998: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich UK
1987-1990: Postdoctoral scientist, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
1983-1987: PhD research, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Wales, Swansea UK
1979-1983: BSc. Degree in Applied Biology, University of Bradford, Bradfort UK
Academic Degrees
Bachelor of Science 1983; PhD 1987
Awards/Membership
Elected EMBO, 2016
Elected to ‘Leopoldina’ German National Academy of Sciences, 2013
Max-Planck Society 'C3' Independent Research Fellowship, 2004 – 2009
Alexander von Humboldt 'Sofja Kovaleskaja' Prize, 2001
International Society for Plant-Microbe Interactions (IS-MPMI)
American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)
Additional Activities
DFG (German Research Council) Review Board ‘Plant Sciences’, 2016
HFSP fellowships committee (2010 - 2014)
CEPLAS (Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences) co-coordinator Area C (plant microbe interactions)
University of Cologne International Graduate School (IGS-DHD) steering committee
Science Editorial Board (2011 - )
Trends in Plant Science, Editorial Board (2008 - )
Current Opinions in Plant Biology, Editorial Board (2007 - )
The Plant Journal, Associate Editor (2005 - 2011)
Plant Physiology, Monitoring Editor (2001 - 2005)
Molecular Plant Pathology Editorial Board (2001 - 2005)