Datenschutzerklärung nach Art. 13 DSGVO · Privacy information under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
We take the protection of your personal data seriously. This notice explains which data is processed when you visit this website, on what legal basis, and which rights you have. This website is operated by a research group of Kiel University; the general data protection statement of Kiel University applies in addition.
1. Controller
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, represented by the Präsidium
Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Tel.: +49 431 880-00 · E-mail: praesidium@praesidium.uni-kiel.de
Responsible for this website within the university:
Dr. Michael Habig, Fungal Evolutionary Genetics (CeTEB), Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel · mhabig@bot.uni-kiel.de
2. Data protection officer
Die behördliche Datenschutzbeauftragte der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Christian-Albrechts-Platz 4, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Tel.: +49 431 880-3581 · E-mail: sthoben@uv.uni-kiel.de
3. Hosting and server log files
This website is hosted on WordPress.com, operated by Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA (“Automattic”). When you visit this website, your browser automatically transmits data to Automattic’s servers, which is stored in server log files: the page requested, date and time of the request, amount of data transferred, success of the request, browser type and version, operating system, referrer URL and the IP address of the requesting device.
This processing is necessary to deliver the website, to ensure its stability and security and to detect errors. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with § 3 of the Schleswig-Holstein Data Protection Act (LDSG SH) – performance of a task carried out in the public interest (public relations and information work of the university) – and, with regard to the technical operation by Automattic, Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR (legitimate interest in the secure and efficient provision of the website).
Automattic processes data on our behalf under a data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR. Automattic is based in the USA; transfers are safeguarded by the EU–US Data Privacy Framework, under which Automattic is certified, and by the EU Standard Contractual Clauses. Details: Automattic privacy policy and privacy notice for visitors of sites hosted by Automattic.
4. Cookies and site statistics
This website does not use cookies for tracking or advertising. WordPress.com may set technically necessary cookies that are required to deliver the site securely (for example for load balancing or, if you are logged in to WordPress.com, for your session). These cookies are not used to identify you across other websites. Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR and § 25 (2) TDDDG.
WordPress.com collects aggregated, anonymised visitor statistics (page views, referrers, country) for the site operator. IP addresses are not shown to us and are anonymised by Automattic for this purpose. You can prevent this by blocking requests to pixel.wp.com and stats.wp.com in your browser, or by using a content blocker.
5. Contacting us
If you contact us by e-mail or telephone, the data you provide (name, e-mail address, content of your message) is processed solely to handle your request. Legal basis: Art. 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with § 3 LDSG SH; for enquiries about employment or thesis projects, Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR and Art. 88 GDPR / § 15 LDSG SH. Data is deleted once your request has been dealt with, unless statutory retention obligations apply. This website does not offer a contact form and does not allow comments.
6. Links to external services
This website links to external services such as the publishers of our publications, the European Research Council, Kiel University and our profile on Bluesky (Bluesky Social PBC). Only when you click such a link is data transmitted to the respective provider; their own privacy policies then apply. No content from these providers is embedded on our pages, so no data is transferred to them merely by visiting this site.
7. Images of persons
Photographs of group members shown on the Team page are published with the consent of the persons concerned (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Consent can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future by contacting the person responsible named above; the image will then be removed.
8. Storage period
Server log files are deleted by the hosting provider within a short period after the visit, unless they are required for the investigation of a specific security incident. Other personal data is stored only as long as necessary for the purposes stated above or as required by law.
9. Your rights
Under the GDPR you have the right to obtain information about the personal data we process about you (Art. 15), to have inaccurate data rectified (Art. 16), to have data erased (Art. 17), to have processing restricted (Art. 18), to data portability (Art. 20) and to object to processing based on Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR on grounds relating to your particular situation (Art. 21). Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time with effect for the future (Art. 7 (3)). To exercise these rights, please contact the person responsible for this website or the data protection officer named above.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR). The supervisory authority responsible for Kiel University is:
Unabhängiges Landeszentrum für Datenschutz Schleswig-Holstein (ULD)
Holstenstraße 98, 24103 Kiel, Germany
Tel.: +49 431 988-1200 · mail@datenschutzzentrum.de · www.datenschutzzentrum.de
10. Changes to this notice
We may update this privacy notice to reflect changes in the law or in the services used by this website. The current version is always available on this page. Last updated: November 2026.