1986: Promotion at Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich; Switzerland 1986-1987: Postdoc, Federal Institute of Technology (H. Hennecke lab) 1987-1989: Postdoc, Stanford University (USA) (V. Walbot lab) 1989-1990: Postdoc, Max Plack Institute, Köln (K. Hahlbrock lab) 1990-2000: Postdoc, Konstanz University (K. Mendgen lab) 1998: Habilitation since 2000: Professor of Plant Pathology, Kaiserslautern University

We are studying the infection mechanisms, i.e. the weapons of plant pathogenic fungi in order to develop new strategies to control them in the field. Our main research object is the grey mold fungus Botrytis cinerea that causes great economic losses in many fruit and vegetable crops, e.g. grapevine and strawberries. We study perception and signaling mechanisms and the resulting physiological responses related to spore germination and early stages of host infection. In addition, we investigate mutational mechanisms of multiple fungicide resistance in the field. Depending on the host plant and on fungicide treatments, field populations are genetically diverse and form separate (sub-) species. We want to use this knowledge for improved protection of plants against grey mould.