| 1974 | Pre-Diploma in Physics, Technical University Clausthal-Zellerfeld |
| 1977 | Diploma in Physics, University of Hannover |
| 1978-1982 | Staff Scientist, University of Hannover |
| 1980 | Ph.D., University of Hannover, Germany |
| 1982-1983 | Visiting Scientist (DFG fellowship), Stanford University |
| 1983-1986 | Staff Scientist, PTB Berlin |
| 1986-1989 | Act. Ass. Professor of Physics, Stanford University |
| 1990-1993 | Project Leader Gravitational Waves, Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Garching |
| since 1993 | Professor, Leibniz Universität Hannover; Director of Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Hannover |
| Principal Investigator, ground-based laser interferometric gravitational wave detector GEO600 |
| 1993-2001 | Head, Remote Branch Hannover, Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, Hannover |
| Speaker, LISA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Study Team |
| 1993-1998 | Member, Fundamental Physics Advisory Group, ESA European Space Agency; Hannover |
| 1997-2010 | Member, Programmausschuss Extraterrestrische Grundlagenforschung des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) |
| 1997-2009 | Deputy Speaker, DFG Sonderforschungsbereich (Collaborative Research Center) |
| 2001-2009 | Deputy Speaker, European Graduate College GRK665 |
| 2001-2011 | ESA Mission Scientist for LISA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Study Team, LIST Co-Chair |
| since 2002 | Director, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Hannover |
| Deputy Speaker, DFG Sonderforschungsbereich (Collaborative Research Center) |
| 2004-2005 | Dean, University of Hannover, Germany |
| since 2004 | Co-Principal Investigator, ESA Space Mission LISA Pathfinder |
| since 2006 | Deputy Speaker, QUEST Cluster of Excellence |
| Speaker, International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) on Gravitational Wave Astronomy |
| since 2009 | Speaker, HALOSTAR Graduate College |
| since 2011 | Consortium Lead, eLISA Space Mission Proposal |
| since 2013 | Co-Proposer and Board Member, GRACE Follow-On Space Mission |
| since 2014 | Deputy Speaker, DFG Sonderforschungsbereich (Collaborative Research Center) |
