• Instrumental analytical chemistry (mass spectrometry/photoionisation)
• Analysis of complex environmental, biological and industrial systems
• Health effects of aerosols and biomedical analysis

• 1991 Diploma (chemistry), TU Munich
• 1995 Graduation (Dr. rer. nat.), TU Munich/Weihenstephan
• 1999 Research sojourn University of Antwerp, Belgium
• 2001 Professorship in analytical chemistry (C3), University of Augsburg; division manager at bifa-Umweltinstitut in Augsburg and team leader GSF (at the research centre)
• 2001 state doctorate (environmental chemistry and analysis), TU Munich/Weihenstephan
• since 2008 Chair in analytical chemistry (W3) and head of the Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre of the University of Rostock and the Helmholtz Zentrum München
• since 2022 Head of Department Life, Light & Matter (LLM)

Welthagen W, Schnelle-Kreis J, Zimmermann R. Search criteria and rules for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of airborne particulate matter. Journal of Chromatography A 2003;1019(1-2):233–49.

Bente M, Sklorz M, Streibel T, Zimmermann R. Online laser desorption-multiphoton postionization mass spectrometry of individual aerosol particles: Molecular source indicators for particles emitted from different traffic-related and wood combustion sources. Analytical Chemistry 2008;80(23):8991–9004.

Hanley L, Zimmermann R. Light and molecular ions: The emergence of vacuum UV single-photon ionization in MS. Analytical Chemistry 2009;81(11):4174–82.