Michael Schindhelm grew up in the former GDR and completed his Abitur with an emphasis on chemistry. He studied at the Voronezh State University in the former USSR graduating with a master degree in quantum chemistry. From 1984 to 1986 he started his work as assistant professor for the "Zentralinstitut für physikalische Chemie" of the East Berlin Academy of Science where he worked in the department of theoretical chemistry (director: Lutz Zülicke) along with the current German chancellor Angela Merkel. He then worked as translator, author, and dramatic advisor until 1990.