A German national, she was born and raised in Germany, finishing high school in her hometown of Guetersloh (in Northrhine-Westfalia) before going to college at the University Osnabrueck (in Lower-Saxony). She received her undergraduate degree in physics (Diplom) from that institution in 1996. To be awarded this degree, a one-year research work was required. The research was performed while a guest at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.