I am a biologist by training and currently Head of the Research Group for Healthy Ageing at the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology at Kiel University. During my career, I have worked as a researcher at the Universities of Dunedin (New Zealand), Jerusalem (Israel), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Kiel (since 2003). My interests are in human molecular genetics (in particular complex phenotypes), population genetics and ancient DNA analysis. The aim of the Research Group for Healthy Ageing is to identify and characterize genetic factors in humans that influence healthy ageing. Our focus is on the molecular investigation of the effects of allelic variation in APOE (a mortality factor) and FOXO3A (a longevity-enabling gene) on well-being and survival in old age. In addition, for years I have been involved in ancient DNA research through the Kiel Graduate School ‘Human Development in Landscapes’, with the main emphasis on studying human and animal population genetics and the role of genetic variation in health and disease throughout evolution.