Curriculum vitae



1977-82Studies in Theology and Greek Philology at the Universities of Frankfurt, Heidelberg and Zürich; grantee of the "Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes"
1982-86Doctoral student (Assistent) in Old Testament Studies at the Theological Faculty of the University of Zürich (supervisor: Prof. Dr. O.H. Steck)
1986-87Pastoral training (Vikariat) in the Reformed Church of the Canton Zürich, Switzerland, Second Diploma (zweites Theologisches Examen) and ordination as a VDM (Verbi Divini Minister)
1987Dr. theol. University of Zürich, Switzerland (diss: Translatio imperii)
1987-94Secretary of the project "Revision der Zürcher Bibel"
1990Habilitation at the University of Zürich, Switzerland (Second Book: Kyros im Deuterojesaja-Buch)
1991-95"Privatdozent" at the Theological Faculty of the University of Zürich
1992Participation in the "Lehrkurs des Deutschen Evangelischen Instituts für
Altertumswissenschaft des Heiligen Landes" (Aug./Sept. in Syria and Jordania)
1994-95Grantee of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Heisenberg programme)
1995Call to C4-Professorship for Old Testament in Kiel; 1. place on appointments list in Munich
Since 1995/96Full Professor for Old Testament (Ordinarius) at the Theological Faculty of the University of Göttingen; Director of the Department for Qumran Studies
1998-2015Ephorus of the "Evangelisches Studienhaus Göttingen" (formerly Gerhard-Uhlhorn-Konvikt)
Since 1999Ordinary member of the Academy of Sciences and Humanities (Göttingen)
2002-03Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study (Wissenschaftskolleg), Berlin
2003Call to C4-Professorship for Old Testament in Heidelberg
2006-07Fowler Hamilton Visiting Research Fellowship in Christ Church College, Oxford
2008Call to W3-Professorship for Old Testament, Humboldt University of Berlin
2014Call to the Oriel and Laing Chair of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture an der Universität Oxford.
2014-15Overseas Visiting Scholar, St. John's College, Cambridge, UK
Since 2015Honorary Member of the Society for Old Testament Study (SOTS, Great Britain)
2018-21Professor (status only) of the University of Toronto, Department for Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
2023Visiting Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Department of Bible and Orion Center), Fellow of the Israeli Fund for the Advancement of the Humanities and Social Sciences supported by The Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities



Main fields of research

  • History of literature and theology of the Old Testament
  • Ancient Near Eastern and Israelite Prophecy
  • Judaism in the Persian and Hellenistic periods (including Qumran studies)