I am a marine ecologist and taxonomist, working on the community structure and vertical distribution of small metazoan plankton, esp. microcopepods, in tropical and warm-temperate oceanic areas since the 1980s. My specific expertise is in the field of taxonomy and ecology of marine non-calanoid copepods, esp. the cyclopoid family Oncaeidae, for which I am taxonomic editor in WoRMS. Over the years I (re)described numerous species, contributed to phylogenetic questions of the family and initiated or supported molecular genetic studies for an unequivocal identification of oncaeid species. A comprehensive review was published on the state of knowledge and perspectives of this important copepod family, which is still underrepresented in global marine ecosystem studies. To support the difficult species identification for this family an interactive identification key was constructed for female Oncaeidae in the world ocean (OncIdent), which is available online after registration under https://www.oncident.de. Based on this system, also a regional dichotomous key was built up for the ICES area: North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. 

Being a founding member of the World Association of Copepods (WAC), I served the community as member of the Executive Council for two terms (1993-1996, 1996-1999), contributed regularly to the International Conference of Copepodologists (ICOC), and worked as tutor for non-calanoid copepods in several international workshops. In 2022 I gladly received the MONOCULUS award in appreciation of my contribution to the activity of the WAC.

After retirement several years ago, I continue working on taxonomic questions as guest scientist at GEOMAR, Kiel.