| 1977-1984 | Studies in Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany |
| 1984 | Dipl.-Psych. (MA in psychology), Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany |
| 1980-1981 | Graduate Studies in Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA |
| 1984-1985 | Research Associate, University of Bielefeld, Germany |
| 1985-1988 | Predoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education, Berlin, Germany |
| 1988 | Dr. Phil. (PhD), Free University Berlin, Germany |
| 1988-1992 | Senior Research Scientist, Academy of Sciences and Technology in Berlin, Germany |
| 1992-1999 | Research Scientist, Co-Principal Investigator, Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education, Berlin, Germany |
| 1997 | Habilitation in Psychology, Free University Berlin, Germany |
| 1997-1998 | Visiting Professorship, Developmental Psychology, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany |
| 1999-2001 | Professor of Psychology, Dresden University of Technology, Germany |
| 2000 | Visiting Professorship, University of Florida, USA |
| 2001-2003 | Professor of Psychology, Lifespan Development, Dresden University of Technology, Germany |
| since 2002 | Corresponding Member, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences |
| 2003 | Visiting Professorship, Stanford University, USA |
| since 2003 | Professor of Psychology, Founding Dean of the Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, Vice President, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany |
| since 2007 | Vice President, National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |
| since 2008 | President, German Psychological Society (DGPs) |
