China specialist, PhD (1982) and Venia Legendi (1989) from Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, Full Professor for Modern Chinese Studies at Heidelberg University (1989-2002), Full Professor of Chinese Studies (2002-2020) at the University of Vienna, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Heidelberg 1999-2001, Vice-Rector for Research and Career Development, Vienna 2011-2015, member of the Austrian Academy of Science since 2012.