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This page summarises Prof. Backes' academic appointments, major research collaborations, professional memberships, and education. Details on research, teaching, leadership, and awards are available under the corresponding profile pages.

Appointments

•    since 10/2025    | Professor of Physics, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 03/2025    | Inaugural UNAM Research Chair in Astronomy, Univ. of Namibia _NAM   
• 09/2021–09/2025 | Associate Professor of Physics, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 04/2016–08/2021 | Senior Lecturer, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 04/2013–03/2016 | Lecturer, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 01/2011–03/2013 | Research Associate, Collaborative Research Center SFB 876, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 02/2008–12/2010 | Research Assistant, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2006–01/2008 | Graduate Teaching Assistant, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2003–08/2004 | Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Univ. of Dortmund _D

Other Academic Appointments

•    since 12/2025    | Extraordinary Professor, North-West Univ. _RSA
•    since 01/2024    | Regular Associate, International Centre for Theoretical Physics _I
•    since 10/2020    | Founding Head: Virtual Institute for Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 03/2018    | Academic Visitor, Univ. of Oxford _UK
•    since 10/2015    | Co-Principal Investigator of the AMT and AMT Group Leader at Univ. of Namibia _NAM
•    since 09/2015    | H.E.S.S. Group Leader at Univ. of Namibia _NAM
• 12/2021–11/2025 | Extraordinary Associate Professor North-West Univ. _RSA
• 11/2017–11/2021 | Extraordinary Senior Lecturer, North-West Univ. _RSA

Collaboration Memberships

•    since 06/2023    | Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
•    since 10/2015    | AMT Collaboration, Founder Member
  • ^{Member: Collaboration Board (since 10/2015)}
•    since 04/2013    | H.E.S.S. Collaboration
  • ^{Member: Collaboration Board, Member: Steering Committee (both since 09/2015)}
  • ^{Runner-up: Chair of Collaboration Board (2022 & 2025)}
  • ^{Member: Director Search Committee (2025)}
•    since 04/2013    | CTA/CTAO Collaboration
•      2007–2013      | MAGIC Collaboration
•      2006–2013      | DWARF/FACT Collaboration, Founder Member
  • ^{Responsible for International Relations}

Professional Memberships

•  since 2019   | European Astronomical Society (EAS)
•  since 2017   | Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA)
•  since 2015   | International Astronomical Union (IAU)
•  since 2013   | African Astronomical Society (AfAS)
•  since 2010   | German Astronomical Society (AG)
•  since 2002   | German Physical Society (DPG)
• 2010–2015   | Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)

Education

• 02/2008–01/2012 | Ph.D. in Physics, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
  • ^{Degree: Dr. rer. nat. (equiv. to Ph.D.)}
  • ^Thesis:
• 01/2006–03/2010 | Certificate in International Studies, International Office, TU Dortmund Univ. _D
• 10/2004–01/2008 | M.Sc. in Physics TU Dortmund Univ. _D
  • ^{Degree: Dipl.-Phys. (equiv. to M.Sc.)}
  • ^{Thesis: (in German)}
• 01/2006–03/2006 | Studies Abroad in Astrophysics, Univ. of Birmingham _UK
• 10/2002–09/2004 | Undergraduate Studies in Physics, Univ. of Dortmund _D