Prof. Dr. Ellen Kandeler received a M.S. in Biology and Biochemistry (1979) and a PhD in Chemical Plant Physiology from the University of Vienna (1983). She continued her scientific carrier as researcher at the Federal Institute for Soil Management, Vienna (Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry). In addition, she worked as a lecturer of Soil Biology at the University of Agriculture, and at the Institute of Zoology and Plant Physiology of the University of Vienna (1987-1998). Dr. Kandeler was guest professor for Soil Biology and Soil Ecology at the University of Halle/Saale, Germany (1995/1996) and guest lecturer at the Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Kopenhagen, Denmark (1997). She was appointed as a vice director of the Institute of Soil Management of the Federal Agency and Research Centre for Agriculture, Vienna (1997). She moved to the University of Hohenheim as a professor of Soil Biology in 1998, where she acted as managing director of the Institute of Soil Science of the University of Hohenheim from 2000-2002. She is author or co-author of over 120 scientific journal publications and several book chapters, she was Associated Editor of Biology and Fertility of Soils and Microbiological Research for more than 10 years and she is currently Associated Editor of European Journal of Soil Science. Dr. Kandeler served as a Chair or Vice Chair of the Commission III (Soil Biology) of the German Society of Soil Science (1997 – 2003) and is member of the International Committee of ISEB (International Symposia on Environmental Biogeochemistry). At Hohenheim, Dr. Kandeler maintains an active teaching program focusing on soil biology and soil science. Her current research programme focus on the small-scale distribution and activity of micro-organisms in soils as well as on microbial responses to environmental change (climate, management, heavy metals). Additional information can be found at Dr. Kandeler’s website http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/soils/bobio/Research.htm