New at ETH Zurich: Susanne Ulbrich

What motivated you to come to ETH Zurich?
Susanne Ulbrich: ETH Zurich is strengthening its field of agricultural sciences, and plans to establish a new research station with partners, called "Agrovet-Strickhof". It is a unique opportunity to collaborate in this major project. It opens a long-term perspective which I need for my work. Because in order to explore how environmental factors affect the development of livestock, you have to observe the processes over several generations.

What fascinates you about animal physiology?
I am fascinated by how life begins, evolving from initially identical cells to a creature with numerous cells, tissues and organs that take very different tasks. I'm interested in the interaction of this development with the environment, because the embryo is particularly sensitive to external influences. Failure in the reproduction, whose causes are still unknown to a large extent, can cause significant yield losses in the production of food of animal origin. The findings from this research can, under certain circumstances, be transferred to other species and are also relevant for human medicine.

Where do you find the balance to your work?
I actually have always felt my work as a balance to my family with our four children. From both, I recover myself by riding with my e-bike between ETH Zurich and the Zurich Oberland where I live - a nice distance without distraction during which my head can relax and sometimes the best ideas come up.