2010– Professor, K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy, Iowa State University, Department of Agronomy 2007–2010 Associate Professor, K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy, Iowa State University, Department of Agronomy 2001–2007 Senior Scientist – Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology 2000-2001 Heisenberg Fellowship – Technical University of Munich 1993-2000 Post Doc, Assistant Professor - University of Hohenheim, Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, Stuttgart. 1989-1993 Research Assistant - University of Munich, Botanical Institute. EDUCATION 1993-1999 Habilitation – Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim (D): Genetic Analysis of Yield and Resistance Traits in European Maize 1989-1993 Dr. rer. nat - Biology, University of Munich (D): The Promotor of the Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Plastocyanin Gene 1986-1989 University Diploma Degree – Agronomy (Horticulture), University of Hannover (D): Molecular Markers and their Significance for Plant Breeding 1984-1986 Undergraduate Program - Agronomy, Technical University of Munich (D) SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCES & SERVICES Iowa State University (ISU), member of: Plant Sciences Institute (PSI) Council, Plant Genomics Center, Interdepartmental Graduate and PhD program for Genetics Coordinator and Principal Investigator for different international (EU, EUREKA) & national (Germany, Denmark, USA) projects (Europe: before 2008); Coordinator of the Plant Breeding module within Plant Biotech Denmark (http://www.plant-biotech.dk/ ): 2006-2007 Teaching and supervision (Master and PhD students, Post Docs) at University of Hohenheim, Technical University of Munich, KVL Copenhagen, Universities of Kiel & Århus (1990-2007), Iowa State University (2007-): courses in Molecular Plant Breeding, Crop Genetics Director Distance MS program in plant breeding, ISU; Founder Doubled Haploid Facility, ISU Associate Editor for Theoretical and Applied Genetics, BMC Plant Biology, Molecular Biotechnology, Plant Breeding, and Grassland Research; Book Editor: Diagnostics in Plant Breeding (2013); Reviewer for various peer-reviewed journals, funding agencies, and institutions; Organizer of conferences (EUCARPIA Forage and Turf Crop Conference 2007, Denmark; Biannual Plant Breeding Lecture Series, ISU, 2008 and 2012) Member of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Hohenheim (2000-2007), Adjunct Professor at University of Hohenheim (2006-2007); “Gesellschaft für Pflanzenzüchtung”, Germany; National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB), USA; MaizeGDB working group; Past Chair of Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee, USDA; CiBREED scientific board, University of Göttingen AWARDS: Heisenberg fellowship, Germany (2000-2001); JSPS fellowship, Japan (2009); Adjunct Professorship China Agricultural University, Beijing (2010-); Research Professorship at University of Aarhus (2013); Plant Sciences Institute fellow, ISU (2015-) GERMPLASM: Haploid Inducers adapted to Midwest U.S.; BGEM inbred lines with USDA-ARS WORKING AREAS: Application and development of tools and methods provided by genome analysis to understand composition of complex traits and phenomena, to determine and exploit genetic diversity in elite and exotic germplasm, and apply this knowledge to plant breeding. Crop focus is on maize and perennial grasses. Most current activities are on acceleration of plant breeding, and utilization of genetic resources using DH technology.