I trained in Microbiology, Biochemistry & Genetics studying killer toxin (zymocin) encoding plasmids from dairy yeast (Münster, Dundee & Leicester, 1989-1995). My Harvard postdoc dealt with zymocin mode of action in baker's yeast. In 1997, I started my own group in Halle. We identified the Elongator complex and related regulators as key for zymocin's tRNase activity. Currently, we study the regulation of Elongator’s tRNA modifier function and cross-talk with other translation related processes.