In 1895 he earned his doctorate from the University of Vienna, and subsequently became an assistant to Franz Serafin Exner (1849–1926). In 1904 he became an associate professor of meteorology at the University of Graz. In 1910 he replaced Leopold Pfaundler (1839–1920) as professor of physics, a position he kept until 1936 (forced retirement). In 1945 he resumed his duties in physics at Graz.