Born in Neuwied/Rhein (Gemany), October 21, 1953; married: Prof. Dr. Heike Wägele (biologist), two children.
EDUCATION
Childhood spent in Colombia (1955-1972), secondary school: Colegio Andino, Bogotá
State examination for teaching at secondary schools (biology and chemistry): Kiel University (Germany) (1977)
Ph. D. (biol.), Kiel University (Germany) (1980)
Habilitation (qualification for a professorship): University of Oldenburg (Germany) (1988)
POSITIONS
Akademischer Rat (tenure) at the Fakultät für Biologie of the Universität Oldenburg (1980-1991). Responsible for scientific and technical management of the university's central laboratory for electron microscopy. Management of the scientific diving group.
Professor for "Systematik und Morphologie der Tiere" (animal morphology and systematics) at the University of Bielefeld (1991-1996).
Chair for "Spezielle Zoologie" (= Systematic Zoology) at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (1996-2004)
Director of the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn (since 2004) and chair for Systematic Zoology at the University Bonn.
EXPEDITIONS and RESEARCH VISITS
Research at the Stazione Zoologica di Napoli, Italy (1978), H. Steinitz Laboratory in Eilat, Israel (1979), first Antarctic expedition with RV "Polarstern" (1983), Expedition "Antarktis III" with RV "Polarstern" to the Weddell Sea (1985), research at the Scripps Institution, San Diego (U.S.A.) (1987), diving expeditions to King George Island (Antarctica) (1988, 1989), collecting trips to Australia (Eastern Queensland: 1999, 2002), DIVA 1 expedition (South Atlantic, deep-sea expedition, July 2000), Tanzania (Orthoptera in montane habitats, 2003), Ecuador mountain rainforest (2008, 2010).
FURTHER temporary RESPONSIBILITIES
Advisory board of the "Biologische Anstalt Helgoland"; advisory board of the Natural History Museums of the State of Bavaria, advisory board of the Biological Collections of the state of Sachsen; advisory board of the Meeresmuseum in Stralsund, advisory board of the Verband Deutscher Biologen, member of the oceanography commission of the German Science Foundation, Co-Editor of "Organisms, Diversity & Evolution""; associated editor of the "Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society"; secretary and president of the "Gesellschaft für biologische Systematik" (society of German systemtists), president of the German Zoological Society, elected referee ("Fachkollegiat") of the German Science Foundation., member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of EDIT (European Network of Excellence for Taxonomy), speaker of the natural history museums in the Leibniz Gemeinschaft.
