What is your hometown?

Mönchengladbach, Germany

When did you join the UI faculty?

July, 2000

How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?

Ever since I was kid, I have been interested in how biological systems work.

What interested you to pursue a career in science/pharmacology/medicine?

Science has always been my favorite hobby, so it was only natural to make it my profession as well.

Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?

I have had many formative teachers and mentors, too many to name here. My postdoctoral advisor Roger Colbran, in particular, helped me develop the “tools of the trade” of an independent investigator.

How or why did you choose the UI?

Among my job offers, the UI presented the best research environment. Plus, Iowa City is a great place to live.

What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? What about challenges?

The relative geographical isolation of Iowa City encourages a level of collaboration and idea exchange that is difficult to find at institutions in larger metropolitan areas. As the flip side, a significant challenge is the dearth of major employers outside the University, which makes it difficult to attract top-notch faculty with spouses that work outside of academia.

Please describe your professional interests.

One of my recent research interests involves the relationship between the structure of mitochondria and the health of brain cells. Controlling structural changes of mitochondria may lead to better treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative disorders.

What are some of your outside interests?

Road biking, hiking, pottery, reading Science Fiction, playing with my infant son.

Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?

There’s little point in doing something you’re not passionate about.

If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine), what would it be?

Reducing the wealth (and health) disparity between industrialized nations and the rest of the world would be on the top of my list.

What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?

The ease with which we have learned to manipulate DNA to create custom proteins or animal models of diseases is one of the most astounding developments over the past couple of decades.

What one piece of advice you would give to today's students?

Graduate students interested in biomedical research should follow their passion and not be discouraged by the current NIH funding draught.

What do you see as "the future" of medicine?

Personalized medicine through Pharmacogenomics, that is the ability to customize drug treatments based on the patient’s genetic profile.

In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public?

As I am getting more settled with my professional and family life, I am beginning to get involved in some of these activities.