6 professors at ETH Zurich appointed
The ETH Board appointed six professors at ETH Zurich as part of its meeting of 4/5 March 2015, 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 4/5 March 2015 the ETH Board appointed six individuals as professors, took note of the resignation of six professors and thanked them for their services, and awarded the title of professor to two individuals.
Lino Guzzella attended the meeting of the ETH Board in his new role as ETH President for the first time. The presidents of ETH Zurich and EPFL are ex officio members of the Management and Supervisory Board of the ETH Domain.
Appointments at ETH Zurich
Professor Habib Ammari (*1969), currently Director of Research at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, France, and Professor of Applied Mathematics at the ?cole Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris, as Full Professor of Applied Mathematics. Habib Ammari is a world expert in several areas of applied mathematics. His research is notable for its breadth as well as its mathematical rigour and depth. He is currently working on mathematical principles and numerical methods in relation to imaging, which is a research focus of several departments at ETH Zurich. The appointment of Habib Ammari strengthens ETH Zurich's leading role in this and other fields of mathematics.
Professor Adrienne Grêt-Regamey (*1973), currently Associate Professor at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Landscape and Environmental Planning. Adrienne Grêt-Regamey is one of the world's leading scientists in the field of landscape and environmental planning. Since joining ETH Zurich in 2008, she has launched successful research projects and financed them to a significant degree through third-party funding. Adrienne Grêt-Regamey's particular contributions are primarily concerned with the evaluation of ecosystem services, modelling decision-making processes, and 3D visualisation of landscape planning developments. Her interdisciplinary work has resulted in numerous joint projects within ETH Zurich, thus helping to expand the networks of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering even further.
Dr Will Merry (*1984), currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich, as Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Will Merry works on symplectic and contact geometry. This field of research has developed very rapidly, forging cross-connections with many other areas of mathematics and theoretical physics. Will Merry is already one of the world's leading experts on ?Rabinowitz Floer homology?, a key branch of symplectic and contact geometry. His broad-based research orientation, international reputation and dynamic teaching style greatly enrich ETH Zurich and the Department of Mathematics.
Dr Lo?c Pellissier (*1984), currently a Research Group Leader at the Université de Fribourg, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Landscape Ecology. Lo?c Pellissier conducts pure and applied research in the field of biodiversity and spatial ecology. He focuses on climate change and evolutions in land use as key driving forces. Lo?c Pellissier's appointment is of great importance to the study of ?Biological diversity and adaptation to changing environmental conditions? at the Department of Environmental Systems Science of ETH Zurich. His appointment is a joint one with WSL, thus significantly strengthening the strategically important alliance between the two institutions.
Professor J?rg Stelling (*1969), currently Associate Professor at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Computational Systems Biology. J?rg Stelling's research interests are focused on the analysis and synthesis of biological networks using – and further developing – methods from systems theory and computer science. The highly interdisciplinary nature of his research projects is reflected in his international network of cooperation partners from different disciplines. J?rg Stelling occupies an important position in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering with his focus on systems biology in general and computational biology in particular; he bridges the gap between bioinformatics and bioengineering.
Dr Rico Zenklusen (*1981), currently Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Rico Zenklusen is a world leader among the younger generation of scientists in the field of combinatorial optimisation. In his research he makes use of combinatorial and probabilistic methods, among others, and also investigates applications of combinatorial optimisation in other scientific disciplines. With the appointment of Rico Zenklusen, ETH Zurich is gaining a highly creative and communicative mathematician who will enable the Department of Mathematics and the Institute for Operations Research to broaden the range of subjects they cover.
Award of the title of Professor
Dr Stephen Cairns (*1961), Scientific Director of the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) in Singapore, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Stephen Cairns is an architect with an impressive academic record and a strong international reputation. Since joining FCL he has made significant contributions to the success of the joint programme with ETH Zurich.
Dr Werner Eugster (*1964), Senior Scientist and Lecturer at ETH Zurich, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Werner Eugster is a recognised expert in several areas of micrometeorology, especially the exchange of trace gases between the biosphere and the atmosphere. He has an excellent international network of contacts and plays a leading role in several important organisations.
Departures from ETH Zurich
Professor Daniel L. Chen (*1977), currently Associate Professor of Law and Economics, will leave ETH Zurich at the end of July 2015. Daniel Chen has worked at ETH Zurich since mid-2012. In his research he has attained prominence through large-scale empirical studies on the relationship between law, social norms and the enforcement of legal norms, and on judicial systems.
Professor Roger Diener (*1950), currently Full Professor of Architecture and Design, will retire with effect from 1 August 2015. Roger Diener is a globally recognised architect. He was appointed to his present role at ETH Zurich in 1999. Roger Diener currently runs ETH Studio Basel at the Department of Architecture, together with Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron and Marcel Meili. This external ?experimental laboratory? was founded in order to explore new ways of teaching architecture. Roger Diener has received numerous awards for his work, including the architecture prize of the Académie Fran?aise in 2002. In 2011 he also won the Heinrich Tessenow Medal for his architectural work.
Professor Salomé LeibundGut (*1973), currently Assistant Professor of Infection Immunology, is leaving ETH Zurich at the end of March 2015. Salomé LeibundGut has worked at ETH Zurich since 2010. Since then, she has established a successful research group and gained international recognition in the field of fungal immunology. She is leaving ETH Zurich in order to set up a new research group in the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich.
Professor Peter M?rkli (*1953), currently Full Professor of Architecture and Technology, will take early retirement at the end of July 2015. Peter M?rkli is one of the key exponents of Swiss architecture and was appointed to ETH Zurich in 2003. In terms of content his work represents a very self-contained, precise kind of architecture which is at the same time elemental and direct. His well-known designs include that of La Congiunta museum in Giornico, Ticino. He also designed various residential projects in his characteristic style, which often combines sculpturally fractured or distorted, yet strong, building structures with the earthy colours and materials typical of his work.
Professor Bernhard Plattner (*1950), currently Full Professor of Computer Engineering, will retire on 1 August 2015. Bernhard Plattner has worked at ETH Zurich since 1985. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1994. He has gained international acclaim for his research and publications. His main focus is on new architectures, protocols and systems for the Internet and for computer networks in general. Bernhard Plattner played a key role in developing the Internet for the Swiss universities and can justifiably be described as an Internet pioneer. He was responsible for the official registration of the country domain ?.ch? in 1987.
Professor Josef Zeyer (*1950), currently Full Professor of Environmental Microbiology, is to retire on 1 August 2015. Josef Zeyer's primary focus is on investigating microbial structures and functions in terrestrial and aquatic systems. His main research topics include the characterisation of microorganisms using molecular methods, the in situ quantification of the microbial production and oxidation of methane and the microbial degradation of pollutants. Josef Zeyer enjoys a high reputation in the academic world. His services to ETH Zurich include many years as Director of the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics. He has also been a member of the ETH Zurich Research Commission.
The ETH Board would like to thank the departing professors for their services to science, teaching and academic administration.