Markus Zeitlinger studied medicine at the Medical University of Vienna and graduated in 2000. He completed his training as specialist in Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and advanced to his main current position as Head of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology. In 2007 he received his post-graduate diploma in Clinical Research. Beside clinical trial design his scientific interests cover antimicrobial agents with focus on early phases of clinical research and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD). He has published over 260 peer reviewed publications and book chapters in particular in the areas of antimicrobial agents, vaccines and imaging and is ad hoc reviewer of over 30 journals. As scientific expert to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) he was actively involved in more than 400 scientific advice procedures given by the agency, including 1/3 of all rapid scientific advice procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore he is holds key positions in several national and international scientific societies as well as in a number of national and six European research consortia. International functions include e.g. chairing of the PK/PD working group of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) while national functions include memberships in the Safety Board of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and the Austrian National Health Board. He is also member of the Senate of the Medical University of Vienna.