2003-2004: Fellow at the Hanse Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst, Germany (10/2003 - 2/2004)
1999- : Full professor of social policy, University of Bielefeld, Department of Sociology, Germany
1998: Visiting scholar at Trondheim University and at Nordland Research Institute, Bodo, Norway
1997: Visiting scholar at the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP), Loughborough University, England
1996: Visiting professor at the Free University, Department of Sociology, Berlin
1992-99: Reader in sociology, University of Bremen, Germany
1989-92: Research officer, Collaborative Research Centre of the German Research Council "Status Passages and Risks in the Life Course" (Sfb 186), University of Bremen, Germany
1985-86: Lecturer in sociology, University of Bielefeld
Education
1993: Habilitation in sociology and social policy, University of Bremen, Germany (qualification for professorship in German academic system)
1989: Ph.D. (Econ.), University of London (London School of Economics, Department of Social Administration; supervisor Prof. Robert Pinker)
1983: Degree in sociology (Diplom/Master), University of Bielefeld, Germany
1977: Degree in mathematics (Diplom/Master), University of Bonn
Aktuelle Forschungsthemen
Comparative social policy, theory and history of social policy and the welfare state, policy analysis
Old-age pensions
Social assistance, social cash transfers
Global social policy (international organizations), global diffusion of ideas