Biography

Personal Information

  • Born: 1955                     
  • Nationality: German
  • Languages: German, English, some Russian and Fijian

Education

Institute of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, University of Cologne; Cologne, Germany

  • 2004: Venia legendi (Habilitation) Geology and Paleontology  

School of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland; St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

  • 1987: Doctor of Philosophy 

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany

  • 1979: Diplomgeologie Vorprüfung (≈BSc)
  • 1982: Diploma (≈MSc) in Geology 

St. Josephs Schule, Rheinbach, Germany

  • June, 1975: graduated from grade 13 (Abitur).

Professional Positions

Institut of Earth Sciences, Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria

  • September 2019- to date: Lecturer for Paleontology and Stratigraphy. 

Institute for Geology und Paleontology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

  • October 2018- to August 2019: Adjunct Professor (Privat-Dozentin), Historical Geology and Paleontology. 

University of the South Pacific – Suva, Fiji Islands

  • February 2019 – April 2019: Lecturer in Marine Geology (School of Marine Studies) (Teaching Contract for 6 months).

Institute for Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany

  • October 2016-August 2018: Representative Professor, Chair for Historical Geology and Paleontology.

Institute for Geology und Paleontology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

  • May 2014-September 2016: Adjunct Professor (Privat-Dozentin), Historical Geology and Paleontology.

School of Marine Studies, University of the South Pacific – Suva, Fiji Islands

  • Febuary 2002 – April 2014: Lecturer in Marine Geology (School of Marine Studies).

Geological Survey of Austria – Vienna, Austria

  • 2000 – 2002: FWF Project  

Institute for Geology und Paleontology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany         

  • 1996 - 1999: DFG-Habilitation

School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University - New South Wales, Australia

  • 1992 - 1995: Macquarie University Research Fellow

School for Earth and Ocean Science (SEOS), University of Victoria - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

  • 1990 - 1991: Laboratory Manager

Geology Department, Laurentian University – Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

  • 1989 – 1990: Postdoctoral Fellow

Geological Survey of Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Fall, 1987 - 1989: Canadian Laboratory Visiting Fellow

School of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland - St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

  • Spring, 1987: Lecturer (ES 3701): Carbonate sedimentology, MUN, St. John's.

Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet für Geologie und Paläontologie, Technische Hochschule - Aachen, Germany

  • 1982:  Scientific Assistant (Prof. Dr. G. Flajs)  

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität - Bonn, Germany

  • 1979-1981: Project assistant (Prof. Dr. K.-J. Müller): Preparation of Cambrian phosphatic microfossils from Sweden (Orsten-Fauna).

Memberships/Editorial Responsibilities

  • Associate Editor of SPJNAS (South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences)

List of research projects

School of Marine Studies, University of the South Pacific – Suva, Fiji Islands

  • Febuary 2002 – April 2014: Lecturer in Marine Geology (School of Marine Studies). Various projects on coastal management, biodiversity studies and aspects of catastrophic marine high-energy events (HEMI).Funded by the USP.

Geological Survey of Austria – Vienna, Austria

  • 2000 – 2002: FWF Project on Litho- and sequence stratigraphy of the Devonian of the    Central Carnic Alps.

Institute for Geology und Paleontology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

  • 1996 - 1999: DFG-Habilitation .on the Devonian carbonates of the Tamworth Belt, NSW, remnants of an intra-oceanic island arcs.             

School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University - New South Wales, Australia

  • 1992 - 1995: Macquarie University Research Fellowship: Carbonates and paleontology of the Tamworth Belt, NSW, Australia.

Geology Department, Laurentian University – Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

  • 1989 – 1990: Postdoctoral Fellowship: Sedimentology and Biostratigraphy of the Silurian Gun River Fm. of Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada.

Geological Survey of Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Fall, 1987 - 1989: Canadian Laboratory Visiting Fellow ship: Review of Ordovician conodonts from the Western Cordillera, British Columbia, Canada.

Statement on main research areas and most significant achievements

  • Research on Paleozoic conodonts from Anticosti Island, the Central Carnic Alps and western Newfoundland.
  • Research on Paleozoic carbonates and buildup facies from Western Newfoundland, Anticosti, NSW, Thailand (Loei Gp.), Central Carnic Alps and the Eifel Hills.
  • Research on tabulate corals from the Tamworth Belt (NSW, Australia).
  • Biodiversity of excavating sponges from the Central and South Pacific.
  • Geohazards emanating from submarine landslides in the South and Central Pacific.
  • Waves and Coasts of the Pacific – Assessing coastal erosion around island shores using multi-temporal image analyses.