Four professors appointed
At its meeting of 7 and 8 December 2022 and upon application of Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed four professors and awarded the title of professor once. At the same time, the Board also bid farewell to eight professors and thanked them for their service.
New appointments
Professor Emily S. Cross (*1979), currently Full Professor at Western Sydney University, Australia, as Full Professor of Cognitive and Social Neuroscience in the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences. Emily S. Cross specialises in social and cognitive neuroscience. Her research focuses on observational learning in connection with action and perception in social contexts. She has an impressive list of publications in leading academic journals and has received numerous awards, including an ERC Starting Grant in 2016 and an ERC Proof of Concept Grant in 2022. This acclaimed researcher is constantly expanding her already wide collaborative network thanks to frequently being invited to events and serving on major committees.
Professor Claudia Mohr (*1982), currently Associate Professor at Stockholm University, Sweden, as Full Professor of Aerosol Chemistry in the Department of Environmental Systems Science. Claudia Mohr is an internationally recognised expert in the field of aerosol chemistry, covering the scientifically and socially topical themes of air quality, climate change and health. She specialises in the characterisation of the chemical composition of aerosol particles by means of advanced mass spectrometric techniques. Claudia Mohr has won multiple awards and has cultivated an extensive network. She is much in demand as a partner in EU projects and other international programmes. Her appointment will make an excellent contribution to strengthening the cooperation with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
Dr Jacqueline Claudia Pauli (*1982), currently a member of the Executive Board of ZPF Ingenieure and Lecturer at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Structural Design in the Department of Architecture. Jacqueline Claudia Pauli’s research is concerned with the quest for highly efficient and practicable load-bearing structures based on resource optimisation processes. She makes use of a number of standardised ecological parameters, together with forward-looking production techniques such as additive manufacturing and robotic (pre-)fabrication. By appointing Jacqueline Claudia Pauli, ETH Zurich is again making a significant contribution to achieving a successful transition to ecological architecture and a sustainable construction culture.
Promotions
Professor Francesco Corman (*1982), currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Transport Systems in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. Francesco Corman develops tools for analysing, modelling, forecasting and optimising public transport systems and logistics networks. He is a committed university lecturer, supervisor and mentor, as shown by his nomination for the Art of Leadership (ALEA) Award 2020. In addition, he makes a significant contribution to the research community by regularly serving as an expert referee for international conferences and academic journals. He is also very successful at procuring external funding, grants and research contracts.
Award of the title of “Professor”
Dr Erich Fischer (*1978), currently Senior Scientist and Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Systems Science, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Erich Fischer’s research on extreme climatic events combines physical science with studying the effects on ecological and human systems. He has won several awards for his work, including three SNSF grants and two Horizon 2020 grants. In addition he has co-organised a number of conferences and is regularly invited to lectures.
Retirements/departures
Professor Karsten M. Borgwardt (*1980), currently Full Professor of Data Mining in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, is leaving ETH Zurich at the end of January 2023. Karsten M. Borgwardt conducts research into efficient, computer-based retrieval from fast-growing datasets. This internationally recognised researcher has been awarded a number of prizes and grants. He is leaving ETH Zurich to take up a new post as Director of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Munich.
Professor Eric Dufresne (*1974), currently Full Professor of Soft and Living Materials in the Department of Materials, will leave ETH Zurich at the end of June 2023. Eric Dufresne’s research investigates how to control and exploit the structure and dynamics of soft materials. These include most living tissues as well as materials that have been developed technologically. He uses findings from biological research to assist him in his specialist area. Eric Dufresne is leaving ETH Zurich in order to pursue his career at Cornell University, USA.
Professor Annette Gigon (*1959), currently Full Professor of Architecture and Construction in the Department of Architecture, and Professor Mike Guyer (*1958), also currently Full Professor of Architecture and Construction, are to retire at the end of July 2023. Annette Gigon has worked in various architecture firms. She joined ETH Zurich as a visiting professor in 2001 and has been a full professor since 2012, sharing a joint professorship with Mike Guyer. Mike Guyer obtained practical experience in several architecture firms. He joined EPFL as a visiting lecturer in 2002, and ETH Zurich as a visiting lecturer in 2009. Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer founded the architecture firm Gigon Guyer Architects in 1989. During their long career they first attracted attention with their museum buildings, later expanding their portfolio to include residential and office buildings, such as Prime Tower in Zurich (completed 2011). They have received a number of prestigious awards for their work and have been represented at the Venice Biennale of Architecture on several occasions. The two professors are valued as dedicated teachers within the Department, where they have made important contributions to expanding Design as a research area.
Professor Christophe Lacroix (*1958), currently Full Professor of Food Biotechnology in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, will retire at the end of July 2023. Christophe Lacroix joined ETH Zurich as a full professor in 2002. His research focuses on probiotic lactic acid bacteria. He founded the ETH spin-off PharmaBiome AG (2017), for which he received the Spark Award 2018 from ETH Zurich. During his career he has published over 330 peer-reviewed articles and obtained 15 patents. His expertise is also much appreciated internationally, as shown by his appointment to numerous evaluation committees for research programmes and bodies. In addition he is a popular lecturer.
Professor Thomas Van Boeckel (*1985), currently Assistant Professor of Health Geography and Policy in the Department of Environmental Systems Science, is to leave ETH Zurich at the end of December 2022. Thomas Van Boeckel’s research lies at the interface between science and policy and aims to accelerate an internationally coordinated response to the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance. He is leaving in order to pursue his career at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Professor Sara van de Geer (*1958), currently Full Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics, will retire at the end of July 2023. Sara van de Geer joined ETH Zurich as a full professor in 2005. Her main research area is mathematical statistics. She has conducted pioneering work on statistics for high-dimensional data. Sara van de Geer has won multiple awards and serves on various bodies, including the Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation, and has been a member and chair of ERC Advanced Grant panels on several occasions. She was the first female full professor in the Department of Mathematics and has made a lasting contribution to the strong position now held by statistics at ETH Zurich.
Professor Konrad Wegener (*1958), currently Full Professor of Production Technology and Machine Tools in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, is to retire at the end of July 2023. Konrad Wegener joined ETH Zurich as a full professor in 2003. His research covers machine tools, production processes and process chains. He has published numerous articles in leading academic journals and holds 17 patents. Konrad Wegener enjoys an outstanding international reputation in both academia and industry, as demonstrated by his membership of a wide range of committees. During his long career at ETH Zurich he has not only supervised countless undergraduates and PhD students, but also, and more particularly, given an important boost to production technology and promoted Switzerland as a centre of industry.