Michael Kramer studied physics in Cologne/Bonn and obtained a PhD at the University of Bonn in 1995. After being staff astronomer at MPIfR (1996-1998), Max-Planck-Otto-Hahn fellow at the University of California at Berkeley (1998-1999), lecturer (1999-2003), senior lecturer (2003-2005), reader (2005-2006) and professor (since 2006) at the University of Manchester, he was appointed director at MPIfR in 2009. He is member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council and various advisory committees. His work in data intensive astronomy focuses on observations of experimental tests of gravitational physics, developing novel techniques to cope with large data processing needs.