Maike Tesch, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., is junior professor at the Leibniz University of Hanover. She was born in Neumünster, Germany, in 1976 and attended school in Bad Bramstedt. She studied mathematics and physics at the university of Kiel, passed the 1st state examination in 2002 and received a doctoral degree in science education in 2005. In 2005 she worked as a science teacher in school (Gymnasium). In 2006 she deputized for an academic assistant in science education at the University of Oldenburg. After working on assessment tools for empirical studies in a software company, she returned to the IPN in 2008. Since 2010 she has been a junior professor for science education (physics) at the Institute for mathematics and physics education in Hanover. She works for the NEPS as an item reviewer in Pillar 1 (Competence Development in the Life Course) in the area of science.