New professors appointed
Experimental epidemiology; bio-inspired micro- and nanorobotics; ultrafast processes in materials; forest resources Management; construction heritage and preservation; social networks: the incoming professors work in a wide range of cutting-edge research fields.
The appointment of the three men and three women followed the proposal by ETH President Joël Mesot and was made by the ETH Board at its meeting on 13 and 14 May 2020. In addition, the ETH Board awarded the title of professor to three other ETH researchers.
The new professors in brief:
Professor Verena C. Griess (*1977), currently Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada, as Full Professor of Forest Resources Management. Verena C. Griess conducts research into forest resources, drawing on knowledge from a number of different disciplines in order to develop computer-assisted decision-making models and systems that can be used to devise sustainable exploitation systems. Her particular research focus will enable her to use the newly created professorship to synthesise key findings from allied disciplines and contribute to both fundamental and applied research. (Departmental Affiliation: D-USYS)
Professor Steven L. Johnson (*1975), currently Associate Professor at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Physics. Steven L. Johnson’s main interest is the investigation of ultrafast processes in materials whose properties derive from strongly correlated electrons. His wide range of activities in a very competitive field has brought Steven L. Johnson considerable national and international visibility, which benefits the entire Department of Physics at ETH Zurich. He also has an excellent track record as a member of the SwissFEL management team at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
Professor Silke Langenberg (*1974), currently Professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Germany, as Full Professor of Construction Heritage and Preservation. The research topics covered by Silke Langenberg include the preservation and continued use of post-war modernist monuments. With her appointment, the Department of Architecture is substantially boosting the range of competencies available within the Institut für Denkmalpflege und Bauforschung (Institute of Construction History and Preservation), as well as strengthening its networks. Silke Langenberg will place particular emphasis on the treatment of newer and recent monuments and on further developing the theory of monuments. (Departmental Affiliation: D-ARCH)
Professor Metin Sitti (*1970), currently Head of Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, as Affiliated Professor of Physical Intelligence. Bio-inspired micro/nanorobotics is Metin Sitti's main research focus, particularly the integration of microrobots into MRI technology with the aim of using miniature robots in healthcare, biotechnology and environmental monitoring. The appointment of Metin Sitti is of strategic significance because of ETH Zurich’s commitment to medical and health technology and its investment in the most up-to-date imaging procedures. (Departmental Affiliation: D-ITET)
Professor Christoph Stadtfeld (*1982), currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Social Networks. Christoph Stadtfeld studies the emergence, development and dynamics of social networks and their impacts on individuals. He is mostly noted for his excellent interdisciplinary research profile, especially in the fields of informatics, statistics and social research. In 2018 he received the Raymond Boudon Award from the European Academy of Sociology for his work in the area of quantitative sociology, as well as a Digital Lives grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). (Departmental Affiliation: D-GESS)
Dr Yuko Ulrich (*1983), currently SNSF Ambizione Fellow at the University of Lausanne, as Assistant Professor of Experimental Epidemiology. Yuko Ulrich's main research focus is on social insects, which are highly suitable subjects for the laboratory-based study of the transmission of infectious diseases. She devotes particular attention to the dynamics of infections within colonies of social insects. Yuko Ulrich is therefore well placed to play a leading role in the relatively new area of experimental epidemiology – a key discipline of the future. The assistant professorship is being fully funded via an ERC Starting Grant and an SNSF Eccellenza Professorial Fellowship. (Departmental Affiliation: D-USYS)
Award of the title of “Professor” at ETH Zurich
Dr Lukas Gallmann (*1973), currently Lecturer at the Department of Physics at ETH Zurich, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Lukas Gallmann studies electron dynamics in solids over the shortest time scales (attoseconds) and develops laser sources which enable him to carry out his research within new parameter ranges. In 2018 he was awarded the title of Fellow of the Optical Society of America.
Dr Martin Mächler (*1959), currently Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics at ETH Zurich, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Martin Mächler has earned global recognition for his work at the interface of statistical computing, software development and methodological research in statistics. His groundbreaking work contributed to the creation and development of R, a statistical programming language.
Dr René Rossi (*1967), currently Lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich and Deputy Head of the Materials Meet Life department at Empa, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. René Rossi studies the interactions between materials and the human body. He also participates in leading national and European research projects such as Zurich Heart and CCMX.
Departures from ETH Zurich
Professor Dario Neri (*1963), currently Full Professor of Biomacromolecules, will leave ETH Zurich with effect from 30 September 2020. Dario Neri joined ETH Zurich in 1996 and became a full professor in 2002. His research, which has won multiple awards, has a particular focus on specific antibody-drug conjugates for combating tumours. Dario Neri now wishes to concentrate on Philogen, the biotech company he co-founded, where he will be developing drugs for the treatment of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Professor Michael B. Zimmermann (*1958), currently Full Professor of Human Nutrition, is to retire at the end of 2022. Michael B. Zimmermann was a senior scientist at ETH Zurich from 1996 to 2005 and became a full professor in 2012. He specialises in micronutrient deficiencies and the development of food-based strategies to correct them. His areas of expertise include trace element biochemistry, novel biomarkers, nanotechnology for nutrition and stable isotope techniques. Michael B. Zimmermann has won a number of awards for his research.