Ten professors appointed at ETH Zurich
The ETH Board has appointed ten professors at ETH Zurich in accordance with the application submitted by ETH Zurich President Lino Guzzella.
Upon application of the President of ETH Zurich, Professor Lino Guzzella, at its meeting of 9/10 March 2016 the ETH Board appointed a total of ten professors and took note of the resignation of ten professors and thanked them for their services.
Appointments ETH Zurich
Dr. David Niklaus Bresch (*1970), who currently holds a management-level position in the private sector, as Full Professor of Weather and Climate Risks. David Bresch is an internationally recognised expert in climate and weather risks. While working for a major reinsurance company, he collaborated closely with research institutions such as ETH Zurich, the University of Bern and, in particular, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss. He made use of scientific findings in groundbreaking global climate change adaptation studies. The appointment of David Bresch is of great importance to the study of climate change in the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich. This joint appointment with MeteoSwiss will significantly strengthen the strategically important alliance between the two institutions in the field of weather and climate risks, climate adaptation and climate mitigation.
Dr. Benjamin F. Grewe (*1980), currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University, California, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Systems and Circuits Neuroinformatics. Benjamin Grewe develops neurotechnological procedures which he uses to investigate information processing in neural networks. This unique combination of technological development and research into biological systems forms an ideal basis for obtaining new neuroscientific findings regarding the principles of information processing in the brain. With the appointment of Benjamin Grewe, ETH Zurich is gaining a promising researcher and strengthening neuroinformatics within the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.
Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Holzer (*1963), currently Full Professor at the University of the Federal Armed Forces, Munich, Germany, as Full Professor of Building Research and Construction History. Stefan Holzer is an internationally acknowledged expert in the documentation and analysis of historic monuments. He is ideally placed to build bridges between the technical sciences – particularly engineering, mathematics and computer science – and the humanities, especially history. The appointment of Stefan Holzer will significantly strengthen ETH Zurich, the Department of Architecture and the Institute of Historic Building Research and Conservation.
Dr. Maryam Kamgarpour (*1982), currently a postdoctoral fellow at ETH Zurich, as Assistant Professor of Control Systems. Maryam Kamgarpour's research focus is on developing methods for verifying safety specifications and for the optimal control of dynamic systems. Awarded with an ERC Starting Grant, she works among other topics on designing controls for energy networks, the safe and CO2-efficient synthesis of aircraft trajectories and automatic support for search and rescue missions in adverse conditions. At the Automatic Control Laboratory Maryam Kamgarpour will boost research into systems for controlling energy and traffic. The Laboratory already enjoys an outstanding international reputation which it will be able to further enhance thanks to the appointment of Maryam Kamgarpour.
Dr. Ender Konukoglu (*1981), currently an instructor at Harvard Medical School and at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Biomedical Image Computing. Ender Konukoglu is an expert in medical image computing and biophysiological modelling. In addition to exploring multivariate methods of evaluating image-based measurements, his primary focus is on machine learning in the area of medical imaging. By appointing Ender Konukoglu, ETH Zurich is adding the strategically crucial field of medicine to imaging research in the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.
Prof. Dr. Torbjörn H. Netland (*1980), currently Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Production and Operations Management. Torbjörn Netland is an internationally renowned expert in increasing the productivity of industrial companies by such means as improved production processes and the use of new technologies. He often conducts his research in close cooperation with global companies. Torbjörn Netland is an excellent academic teacher and researcher who will strengthen and further develop the area of Production and Operations Management at ETH Zurich.
Dr. Hubert Pausch (*1984), currently research assistant at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Animal Genomics. Hubert Pausch has developed statistical and bioinformatic methods for combining sequence data from key animals in a population with incomplete data from animals from the genomic selection. Using cattle as an example, he has successfully identified allelic variations which have economic and health-related effects. Hubert Pausch has a forward-looking vision of customized livestock breeding. His appointment greatly enriches the Institute of Agricultural Sciences and is important to the running of the new Agrovet-Strickhof Education and Research Centre.
Dr. Randall J. Platt (*1987), currently postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering. Randall Platt focuses his research on the analysis of pathogenic genetic defects. He has conducted pioneering work on genetically caused disorders, using genome editing methods he developed himself. Methods he has patented are now used in over 1000 laboratories. Randall Platt has found an ideal way to integrate systems biology and biological systems engineering. He will hold joint professorships at ETH Zurich and the University of Basel.
Prof. Dr. Shana J. Sturla (*1975), currently Associate Professor at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Toxicology. Shana Sturla conducts research on toxicology, working on acute and activated cytotoxicity of food and beverage ingredients as well as the synthesis of the reagents and test methods required for her work. Shana Sturla has made an important contribution to developing the Food Sciences curriculum and fulfils a central bridging function between the two research fields Food and Health. With her appointment as full professor, ETH Zurich retains an outstandingly successful teacher and researcher with a distinguished international reputation and an excellent network of contacts.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Willwacher (*1983), currently Assistant Professor at the University of Zurich, as Associate Professor of Mathematics. Thomas Willwacher is an exceptionally innovative and original mathematician whose work covers a vast spectrum. He conducts research into various aspects of algebra, geometry and topology, always with a close connection to mathematical physics. In his latest work, Thomas Willwacher demonstrates new and promising research approaches in relation to the topology of embedding spaces. His appointment strengthens the traditionally close links between mathematics and physics at ETH Zurich and adds new areas of study to this subject area.
Departures from ETH Zurich
Professor Göran Andersson (*1951), currently Full Professor of Electric Power Systems, will retire with effect from 1 August 2016. Göran Andersson has worked at ETH Zurich since April 2000. His research focuses on the application of systems theory methods of control technology. He has developed various models and tools for companies in the electricity and energy sectors. The liberalisation of the energy markets opened up new research areas, requiring different approaches, to him and his research group. Göran Andersson is a member of several international scientific bodies. At ETH Zurich he was head of the Energy Transmission and High Voltage Laboratory for many years.
Professor Chiara Daraio (*1978), currently Full Professor of Mechanics and Materials, will leave ETH Zurich at the end of August 2016. Chiara Daraio has worked at ETH Zurich since the beginning of 2013. Her laboratory's research focus is on the propagation of stress waves in nonlinear, ordered and disordered solid media. The findings are being used to develop new materials and methods for engineering applications.
Professor Andreas Diekmann (*1951), currently Full Professor of Sociology, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Andreas Diekmann joined ETH Zurich in spring 2003. He is a researcher with an international network who is active primarily in the fields of environmental, labour market and population sociology. His research projects use game theory models to explore the formation of social norms and the development of systems of social cooperation. In other projects, he is investigating social change in relation to environmental behaviour, labour markets and family formation. In the area of methodology, Andreas Diekmann tests out statistical techniques for the detection of data falsification.
Professor Josef Jiricny (*1951), currently Full Professor of Functional Genomics, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Josef Jiricny joined the University of Zurich in 1996 as a full professor and since autumn 2003 he has also been a full professor and holder of the Bonizzi-Theler Chair of Functional Genomics at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on the mechanisms of mismatch repair in human cells. His goal is to identify all the proteins involved in this process in order to set the repair process in motion again with purified recombinant proteins. In parallel, Josef Jiricny, who has gained worldwide recognition and developed an international network of contacts, researches the connection between the malfunctioning of mismatch repair and colorectal cancer.
Professor Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani (*1951), currently Full Professor of History of Urban Design, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani joined ETH Zurich in 1994 after holding various posts in the USA and Europe. He is in demand throughout the world as an expert, and in addition to his academic achievements he has made a great contribution as a member of advisory boards and on the juries of architecture competitions. Furthermore, he has won a number of prizes in architecture. As well as his unusually strong commitment to teaching and to the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture, Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani has served as a Delegate of the President for Faculty Appointment Procedures since 2000. From 1998 to 2001 he was also head of the Department of Architecture.
Professor Vikram Govind Panse (*1972), currently Assistant Professor of Ribosome Biogenesis and Quality Control, will be stepping down at the end of July. Vikram Panse has been working at ETH Zurich since 2007 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2010. He is concerned with the regulation and quality control of ribosome biosynthesis. His research contributes to the understanding of growth control, and is therefore relevant to a number of human diseases. Vikram Panse is to take up a position as a professor ad personam at the Institute of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich.
Professor Felicitas Pauss (*1951), currently Full Professor of Experimental Particle Physics, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Felicitas Pauss has worked at the Institute for Particle Physics (IPP), ETH Zurich, since 1991 and was appointed to the post of full professor in 2000. Her research activity has included pioneering work on high-energy accelerators in the field of the basic building blocks of matter and their interactions. From 2009 to 2013 Felicitas Pauss was also responsible for international relations at CERN. She supported the President as a Delegate for Faculty Appointment Procedures for many years, and was Head of the Institute for Particle Physics. Since 2013 she has been Chairperson of the Advisory Board of ETH Global, the staff unit for international relations at ETH Zurich.
Professor Tapio Schneider (*1972), currently Full Professor of Climate Dynamics, is stepping down at the end of August 2016. Tapio Schneider joined ETH Zurich at the beginning of 2013. He is an expert in the climate dynamics of the Earth and other planets, and he and his research group investigate questions such as surface temperature, winds and precipitation patterns.
Professor Gábor Székely (*1951), currently Full Professor of Medical Image Analysis and Visualisation, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Gábor Székely has been working at ETH Zurich since 1997, and as a full professor since 2008. His research focuses on medical image analysis, a field in which he has conducted pioneering work on the automatic recognition of organs in CT and MRI data. This has resulted in substantial contributions to the computer-assisted planning and implementation of surgical interventions. With other driving forces, he has developed his Computer Vision Laboratory into one of the leading global centres for training surgeons using virtual reality simulation methods.
Professor Eugene Trubowitz (*1951), currently Full Professor of Mathematics, will retire at the beginning of August 2016. Eugene Trubowitz was appointed to ETH Zurich in 1983. His research interests cover a vast range of topics. He has published ground-breaking articles in diverse areas of mathematics. These include Fermi liquids and the development of mathematical tools and methods for the precise description of large changing systems which have no inherent energy or length scales (e.g. electron gas). The tools and methods he developed can also be used in other fields such as economics and finance.
The ETH Board would like to thank the departing professors for their services to science, teaching and academic administration.