I graduated as a biologist, majoring in human genetics and physical anthropology. Since my student days, I have focused on research topics at the interface of these two disciplines. My main interests have been in human disease and population/evolutionary genetics as well as in ancient DNA analysis. In my current research, I primarily investigate the molecular basis of human longevity and the role of genetic variation in health and disease, with an emphasis on host-pathogen and human diet co-evolutionary processes (http://www.ikmb.uni-kiel.de/research/longevity-ancient-DNA-research).