Joël Mesot appointed new ETH President
Switzerland’s Federal Council has appointed Joël Mesot, Director of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), as the new President of ETH Zurich. On 1 January 2019 Joël Mesot will take over from the current President, Lino Guzzella, who has continued to build the university’s formidable international reputation over the past four years.
With the appointment of Joël Mesot to this prestigious post, ETH has acquired a highly regarded scientist who has “demonstrated impressive abilities in the management of modern science and research institutions”, according to the Federal Council’s press release.
The Federal Council’s appointment for a statutory four-year term of office was based on a motion submitted by Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), supported by a “unanimous recommendation of the ETH Board”, the press release continues. A total of 40 high-calibre candidates – 18 of them women – were considered for the post. The multi-stage application process, including an external assessment, was overseen by a special committee chaired by Fritz Schiesser, President of the ETH Board. The two Presidents of ETH Zurich’s University Assembly and Lecturers’ Conference were also involved in the selection procedure.
“I am absolutely delighted by this appointment and consider it a huge honour to be chosen as President of one of the world’s leading universities. I would like to thank Lino Guzzella for the huge contribution he has made during his time as President,” says Joël Mesot. “I will be working alongside the Executive Board to focus our energies in ensuring that ETH Zurich is able to sustain the impressive level of development it has enjoyed in recent years.”
“I am personally delighted that ETH has found such a safe pair of hands,” comments Lino Guzzella, who will step down as ETH President at the end of the year. “I am convinced that Joël Mesot is the right person for the job. He has a very strong background in technology, science and research, and in his role as Director of PSI he has proven his ability to lead a large research institute.”
Vast experience as a scientist and institute director
The Federal Council press release goes on to say that Joël Mesot’s wide-ranging experience in research and management means he is very well acquainted not only with ETH Zurich, but with the educational and research landscape as a whole and the many associated social and economic themes. As digitalisation becomes a dominant feature of our society, the , the country’s Federal Institutes of Technology fulfil a crucial role in leading Switzerland towards a successful future.
54-year-old Joël Mesot has been Director of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen since 2008 and holds a joint professorship in physics at ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne. Mesot grew up in Geneva and studied physics at ETH Zurich, obtaining a doctorate in solid-state physics in 1992. His main research interests are in the field of strongly correlated materials exhibiting close bonds between electrons, spins and lattices, such as superconductors, metal oxides and quantum magnets. In 1995 he was awarded the IBM prize of the Swiss Physical Society for his research work, and the Latsis prize of ETH Zurich in 2002. After periods spent in France and the USA, he returned to ETH Zurich and joined PSI, where he became Head of the Laboratory for Neutron Scattering in 2004.
Joël Mesot has also been a member of the ETH Board since 2008. French is his mother tongue, but he also speaks fluent German. Under his leadership, the Paul Scherrer Institute has further strengthened its standing as one of Switzerland’s leading research centres for the natural sciences and engineering.
Federal Council and Chairman of ETH Board thank Lino Guzzella
In the press release, the Federal Council expresses its warm thanks to Lino Guzzella, former Rector and current ETH President due to step down at the end of the year, for all he has done for the institute and for research academia in Switzerland Back in May 2018 Lino Guzzella announced he would not be standing for a second term of office. The Council noted that under his leadership ETH Zurich has continued to reinforce its position as a top international university with exceptional outcomes in research, teaching and technology transfer.
The President of the ETH Board, Fritz Schiesser, also took the opportunity to express his personal thanks to the current ETH President: “Through his tireless commitment, Lino Guzzella has played a vital role in further strengthening ETH Zurich’s international reputation. Under his tenure, important milestones have been set for the university’s future development, such as the Critical Thinking Initiative, the ETH+ strategy and the establishment of a new Bachelor’s course in Human Medicine.”
Paul Scherrer Institute under the aegis of Joël Mesot
Under Joël Mesot’s directorship, the Paul Scherrer Institute has strengthened its standing as one of Switzerland’s leading research centres for the natural sciences and engineering. During his time at the PSI, he has significantly expanded the number of joint professorships between both federal institutes of technology and other Swiss universities, thereby reinforcing the link between cutting-edge research and excellent teaching. Under his leadership, the PSI was able to commission the X-ray free-electron laser SwissFEL, a major research installation unparalleled in the world. Other milestones include proton therapy for cancer treatment and the creation of PARK INNOVARE as part of the Swiss innovation park. Joël Mesot has also promoted collaboration with business partners, thereby boosting the transfer of knowledge from basic research into industry for commercial applications in the private sector.
Tasks of the ETH President
The President bears overall responsibility for the university. The President’s specific tasks include chairing the Executive Board and working with other members of the Board to determine the ETH strategy. The ETH President also decides about the budget, allocates funds to the different areas of activity (domains) of the Executive Board and to the departments, and oversees the finances for the entire university.
The President is responsible for appointing professors, he represents the university to the outside world and maintains relationships with public authorities, political bodies and the general public. The university’s communication policy is also part of the President’s remit. He is also is in charge of the internationalisation process, marketing and building strategic alliances.