I spent my childhood in Haltingen, Germany, a small town in Baden-Württemberg at the border to France and to Switzerland. After finishing the Abitur I moved somewhat further north to Freiburg im Breisgau, still enjoying the proximity of the Rhine, the black forest and the swiss alps. That region prompted me to take up biking, giving me the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful countryside. Being that close to the swiss alps naturally led to skiing being my favorite winter activity.
Midway through my academic career I moved across the Atlantic Ocean to Austin, Texas. Austin is a great city to live in and the diverse community at UT provided a wonderful environment during my graduate studies. After graduation I moved to New Jersey,enjoying the peace and quiet of suburban life. After two years in the big city environment of Philadelphia I moved to Durham, NC.
Whenever I'm not in the lab I'm with my family. I love spending time with my wife and children.