I got my Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat) in 2000 from the Technical University of Munich, but most of the actual research work for my thesis was done at Max-Planck-Institut für Physik in Munich-Freimann. I took part in the development of the Forward Time Projection Chambers (FTPCs) for the STAR Experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Brookhaven, New York. You can download my thesis (in English) from the TU-Munich Library or from the group page at Max Planck.
From 1992 to 1997, I studied physics at the University of Frankfurt and finished with the degree of Dipl.-Phys., specializing in nuclear physics. I did my diploma thesis at the Institut für Kernphysik Frankfurt (IKF), in the high energy group, doing mostly laser calibrations in the time projection chambers (TPCs) of the NA49 experiment at the European Center for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. You can download my diploma thesis (in German) from the group page at IKF.
In parallel to my Ph.D. work in Munich, I studied business administration at FernUniversität Hagen, in a special program for scientists, leading to the degree of Dipl.-Wirt.-Phys. I did my diploma thesis in operations research, on stock price forecasts using a chart technical approach in the probabilistic expert system SPIRIT. If you are interested, please contact me by mail. After finishing this course I was still inscribed at the FernUniversität for a while, looking into liberal arts and psychology, but after the course of study kept getting changed and finally tuition was introduced for students already holding a degree, I gave that up and went back to reading books without having a university send them to me.
During my studies in Frankfurt, I had a scholarship from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, first in the regular program for German students, then in the program for future journalists (Journalistische Nachwuchsförderung, today Journalistenakademie). To every student who thinks he or she might possibly be qualified, I highly recommend applying – their seminar program is excellent, and who could not use the money?
Of course, the basis for all one may later study is laid in school. In my case this was mostly at Augustinerschule in Friedberg, Hessen. After 11th grade, I also spent a very interesting year at Arlington High School, Poughkeepsie, New York.