Academic career

from 10/2018
Professor for Cell Biology
Leibniz University Hannover

03/2012 – 10/2018
Independent Junior Group Leader, non-tenured
at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Functional Interfaces
Focus: Stem Cell–Material-Interactions

06/2009 – 02/2012
Group Leader
at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (formerly MPI for Metals Research)
Focus: Nanostructured biomaterials for adult stem cells

06/2007 – 09/2008
Post Doc
at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems with Prof. Spatz
Project: Interaction analyses of hematopoietic stem cells with biofunctionalized, nanostructured surfaces

07/2004 – 05/2007
Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.)
at the University of Tübingen with Prof. Klein and Prof. Rammensee
Thesis title: On cadherins and their potential as biomarkers in the kidney
Education

10/1998 – 04/2004 Diploma Studies of Biochemistry at the University of Tübingen

02/2018 – 02/2023	ERC Starting Grantee (project “bloodANDbone”)
11/2013	YIN (Young Investigator Network) Science Award
10/2013 – 09/2017	Awardee of the young investigator programme ‘NanoMatFutur’ of the BMBF
03/2011 – 02/2012	Scholarship of the Schlieben-Lange-Programme for support of excellent young scientists
07/2005 – 05/2007	Scholarship of DFG research training group (DFG-Graduiertenkolleg) GK 794 “Cellular Mechanisms of Immune-Associated Processes”

Selected positions of trust
Co-editor of the journals Scientific Reports and Biointerphases
Reviewer for Biomaterials, Acta Biomaterialia, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Science, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Biomaterials Advances, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering (amongst others)
Referee for DFG, ERC, HFSP, SNF, ANR, EPSRC, BBSRC, Baden Württemberg Stiftung and Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Project leader according to §§ 15 and 17 GenTSV