Born 1956 in Rheine (NRW). Completed studies in German philology, philosophy, and journalism at WWU Münster, a Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) at the University of Hamburg, and habilitation at LMU Munich.
2003-2007: Professor of Medieval German philology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald.
2007-2013: Professor of Medieval German Language and Literature, University of Göttingen.
Since 2013: Professor of Medieval German Language and Literature, University of Cologne.
Memberships
Mittelalterzentrum, University Greifswald
Kommission für Spätmittelalter, University Göttingen
Zentrum für Mittelalterforschung, University of Cologne (Zemak)