Main focus: simulation of spatio-temporal variations of mass distributions within and mass exchanges among the Earth´s subsystems atmosphere, ocean, and continental hydrology in consideration of consistent mass and momentum fluxes as well as interactions with the solid Earth

• Estimation and identification of oceanic, atmospheric, and hydrologic induced variations of the Earth´s gravity field, Earth orientation parameters, and geocenter on hourly to decadal timescales
• Geophysical interpretation of geodetic observed variations of global parameters of the Earth by means of in-situ data and numerical simulations
• Nonlinear interactions between dynamical components of the Earth´s subsystems (e.g., between the ocean´s general circulation and tides
• Separation of mass and steric induced sea level variations
• Paleo climate and paleo oceanography
• Gravitational and pressure tides in atmosphere and oceans

• 1989–1996: Study of Oceanography at the Department of Geosciences, University of Hamburg
• Oct 1996: Graduation (Diploma) in Oceanography at the University of Hamburg; Topic of Master Thesis: ”Tides and angular momentum in the global ocean since the last glacial maximum”
• Nov 1996–Sep 1999: Research associate at the Observatory Hoher List of the Astronomical Institutes, University of Bonn
• May 1999–May 2001: Research associate at the Institute and Museum of Geology and Paleontology, University of Tübingen
• June 2001–July 2001: Research associate at the Meteorological Institute, University of Bonn
• 14 December 2001 Ph.D. at the Faculty of Geosciences of the University of Hamburg on ”Ocean induced variations of Earth´s rotation –  Results from a simultaneous model for circulation and tides in the global ocean” (summa cum laude)
• Aug 2001–Apr 2007: Head of the working group “Global Geodynamics” at the Institute for Planetary Geodesy, Dresden University of  Technology
• Apr 2007: W2-Professorship “Global Dynamic Geomodelling” at Free University of Berlin, accepted
• since May 2007: Head of Section 1.5 “Earth System Modelling” at GFZ Potsdam

• 2006 –: EROC "Earth rotation and the ocean´s circulation", DFG Research Unit "Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes", FOR 584/P2
• 2006 –: Earth Rotation and Climate "Long-term ERP time series as indicators for global climate variability and climate change (ERP-CLIVAR)", DFG Research Unit "Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes", FOR 584/P10

• 2007–2008: ESA: ITT "Monitoring and Modelling Individual Sources of Mass Distribution and Transport in the Earth System by Means of Satellites (Consultant)"
• 2005–2008: Geotechnologien II "Improved GRACE Level-1 and Level-2 Products and their Validation by Ocean Bottom Pressure"
• 2004–2007: Earth System Model, "Development of a Physically Consistent System Model for Investigations of the Earth´s Rotation, Deformation, and Gravity Field"
• 2003–2006: Oceanographic Model Data for Interpretation and Correction of Satellite Data (OMIKS)