Dr. Joachim Harms studied Biology in Darmstadt and there received his PhD in 1986. He worked as marine zoologist at the Marine Station Helgoland in various interdisciplinary projects. From 1991 to 1992 he worked at the “National Institute of Fisheries Science" in Tokyo. He joined PtJ in 1994 and was responsible for international research projects in cooperation with Indonesia, Brazil and Israel. In 2001 he took over responsibility for the regional research programme of Mecklenburg-Pommerania. In 2008 he became head of the department PtJ-MGS with the responsibility for the national research funding activities in the field ‘System Earth’ including the programme ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Maritime Technology’. He is also member of the ERA-Net BONUS Steering Committee since 2007.