Born on 25 October in Hamburg (Germany); I studied German language and literature, philosophy and educational sciences at the University of Bonn, where I also completed my PHD in 1999 (title of my dissertation: Die Konzeption des Schönen. Der ästhetische Diskurs zwischen Aufklärung und Romantik). After passing my second state examination I moved to an assistant professorship at the University of Bielefeld, where I received my habilitation in February 2006. Since March 2006 I am Professor of Modern German Literature and Cultural Theory at the University of Luxembourg.
My expertise lies in the philosophical and cultural exploration of literature from the 18th to 20th century. The arc of my research is situated in the intersection of literature, philosophy, law, and aesthetics. As far as the broader cultural theoretical influences are concerned, my research engages regularly with thinkers such as Pierre Legendre, Giorgio Agamben, or Hannah Arendt.
2009-2010 I was senior fellow at the Morphomata Center for Advanced Studies: Genesis, Dynamics and Mediality of Cultural Figurations at the University of Cologne. In 2012, I was visiting professor at the research unit Text and Interpretation at the University of Leuven and in 2013 Semans Family Scholar in Residence at Duke University.
2013-2023 I was acting as Dean at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. Since early 2023, I serve as Chargé de Mission for Digital Ethics and in November 2023 I was elected president of the University Council.
