Strategic topics with a focus on the next performance period
Zurich, 10.07.2015 - At this year’s retreat of 8/9 July 2015, the ETH Board focused on strategic issues, particularly against the background of the current intermediate evaluation of the ETH Domain and in view of the ERI Dispatch to be drawn up by the Federal Council for the coming performance period of 2017-2020. Furthermore, the ETH Board discussed the appointment preparation procedure for the successor of the President of the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and appointed 14 individuals as professors at the two Federal Institutes of Technology.
Halfway through the ETH Domain’s four-year performance period, an intermediate evaluation is conducted under the leadership of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) to examine the attainment of objectives in the current performance mandate of the Federal Council for the ETH Domain. Among other things, the intermediate evaluation provides the basis for the new performance mandate, as well as for the Federal Council’s Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (ERI Dispatch) to the Swiss Parliament for the next four-year period (2017-2020).
Intermediate evaluation 2015
After the ETH Board had concluded a comprehensive self-assessment of the entire ETH Domain for the current performance period at the end of 2014, the external evaluation was conducted by an independent international group of experts. This group has now submitted its report to the EAER. The ETH Board analysed the report and had an initial detailed discussion about its position, which it will adopt at one of its next meetings.
Appointment preparation procedure for EPFL presidency
The current president of EPFL, Professor Patrick Aebischer, will leave office at the end of 2016. The ETH Board advertised the post in early June. Application documents should be submitted to the ETH Board by the end of July 2015. The ETH Board decided to consult two personalities from among the EPFL professors and two members of EPFL’s Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) as appointment committee participants with an advisory vote. For this purpose Fritz Schiesser, President of the ETH Board, appointed André Hoffmann and Aymeric Sallin from the SAB, the vast majority of which are EPFL graduates. Both personalities have a profound knowledge of the societal, political and economic environment of the university. Aymeric Sallin also chairs EPFL’s alumni association.
14 professors appointed at the two Federal Institutes of Technology
Upon application of the President of ETH Zurich, Professor Lino Guzzella, and the President of EPFL, Professor Patrick Aebischer, the ETH Board appointed a total of 14 individuals as professors, took note of the resignation of one professor and thanked her for her services, and awarded the title of professor to one individual.
Appointments at ETH Zurich
Professor Alessio Figalli (*1984), currently Full Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, as Full Professor of Mathematics. Alessio Figalli conducts research across a broad range of mathematical analysis, working primarily on calculus of variations, optimal transport and partial differential equations in connection with mathematical physics. His work is fundamental, ground-breaking and characterised by the utmost originality and elegance. Through the appointment of Alessio Figalli, ETH Zurich is gaining a leading mathematician with a great future. His international reputation and diverse focus will significantly strengthen the Department of Mathematics.
Professor Robert Finger (*1981), currently Professor at the University of Bonn, Germany, as Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy. Robert Finger is one of Europe's leading agricultural economists. His research interests centre on the fields of general agricultural economics, applied microeconomics, agricultural production systems, risk and risk management in agriculture, as well as climate change impacts and adaptation in agricultural systems. In Robert Finger, ETH Zurich is gaining a very active agricultural economist with an excellent research record who will play a decisive role in reorganising and successfully reshaping the entire subject area.
Dr Alex Hall (*1982), currently Research Fellow at ETH Zurich, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Pathogen Ecology. Alex Hall is a promising young scientist. His research is aimed at increasingly integrating an ecological perspective into investigations of microbial interactions between host and parasite. He combines ecological and evolutionary conceptual approaches with modern methods of microbiology and genetics. Alex Hall's research findings will help with the development of new strategies to control bacterial infections. In view of the sharp increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, ETH Zurich is making an important contribution to current health policy with this research.
Professor Hyung Gyu Park (*1973), currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Nanoscience for Energy Technology and Sustainability. Hyung Gyu Park is an internationally renowned expert in the development of new and more efficient energy conversion devices. His research encompasses theoretical and experimental interdisciplinary studies of ultra-efficient mass transport through carbon nanotubes. The areas of application of his research include the enhancement of fuel cells and the development of materials for water purification and desalination. Hyung Gyu Park's work will yield significant contributions to sustainable water and energy supply.
Dr Petra Claudia Schmid (*1983), currently a post-doctoral student at New York University, New York, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior. Petra Claudia Schmid is an internationally recognised specialist in the impact of social power and emotional mood on psychological information processing. Her interdisciplinary approach to basic researchis of major importance for understanding judgement and decision-making processes in companies and organisations. In Petra Claudia Schmid, ETH Zurich has attracted an outstanding young scientist in a promising field of research.
Ankit Singla (*1986), currently a doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Presently in the process of completing his doctorate, Ankit Singla is regarded as a promising talent. His research interests are in the areas of networked connectivity, computer networks and data centres. Ankit Singla's applications focus on internet architecture and network topologies, with particular regard to the efficiency of infrastructures and the speed of protocols. He links the classic areas of high-performance computing with new methods of protocol design and networks.
Appointments at EPFL
Dr Kumar Agrawal (*1984), currently a post-doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA, as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Chemical Process Engineering. Kumar Agrawal is an outstanding young scientist. His internationally acclaimed research also embraces the synthesis and application of membranes as well as the phase changes of fluids in nanoporous structures such as graphene and zeolites. The results of his work open the way to new strategies for the synthesis of nanoporous films, including the sequencing of biomolecules. Given the focus of his research, Kumar Agrawal will add to the prestige of EPFL Valais Wallis. Among the areas to which he is set to make key contributions is the development of novel energy storage methods.
Professor Michael Herzog (*1964), currently Associate Professor at EPFL, as Full Professor of Life Sciences. Michael Herzog is a world-renowned expert on the processes of visual perception in the human brain. He works in the traditional research field of psychophysics. His core research interest is the question of why humans can effortlessly perceive the world around them with all its complex objects, while computer-based visual systems are unable to do so. Pursuing a multidisciplinary approach at the interface between biology, neurosciences and mathematics, Michael Herzog has garnered international recognition for his important discoveries regarding the analysis of visual stimuli in the brain.
Professor Brian McCabe (*1972), currently Associate Professor at Columbia University, New York, USA, as Associate Professor of Life Sciences. Brian McCabe's research focuses on the development and functioning of the neuromuscular synapse. This is the junction in the human body where nerve cells meet muscle cells and support muscle activation. With a unique combination of methods from a range of areas including physiology, imaging and biochemistry, he has advanced a deeper understanding of the electrophysiological processes at this crucial site for the locomotor system. He is currently using his findings to improve the treatment of neuromuscular diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy.
Professor Marcel Salathé (*1975), currently Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University, State College, USA, as Associate Professor of Life Sciences. Marcel Salathé is a young researcher who has both enormous potential and entrepreneurial flair. His focus is on the area of digital epidemiology. He attracted international attention by developing new models to forecast infectious disease spread. Marcel Salathé's highly innovative approach utilises digital data, for example on the movements of and contacts between individuals. Against a backdrop of increasing globalisation and the concomitant risk of epidemic outbreaks, his profile is an excellent fit with the strategy of the EPFL's Global Health Institute.
Professor Dimitri Van De Ville (*1975), currently SNSF professor at EPFL and the University of Geneva, as Associate Professor of Bioengineering. Dimitri Van De Ville is a specialist in medical imaging systems. His highly interdisciplinary work is directed at researching and advancing our understanding of human brain function using non-invasive techniques. His findings could make it possible in the future to detect certain pathological developments in the brain at an early stage. Dimitri Van De Ville has received international recognition for his scientific contributions and is today one of the world's leading proponents in his area.
Dr Christophe Van Gerrewey (*1982), currently a post-doctoral student at the University of Ghent, Belgium, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Theory of Architecture. Christophe Van Gerrewey represents a young generation with their own new take on architecture and its historical foundations. His vision also references philosophy and literature. Christophe Van Gerrewey's remit will be to convey to students the value of the theory of architecture as an important tool in architectural and urban design and discourse. His strong analytical skills and intellectual rigour will stand him in good stead.
Professor Matthieu Wyart (*1978), currently Associate Professor at New York University, New York, USA, as Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics. Matthieu Wyart is a highly experienced, internationally renowned physicist whose work focuses on statistical physics. He has made important contributions in fields such as glassy and biological systems, as well as econophysics, an interdisciplinary branch of research where methods and theories from physics are applied to problems in economics. Matthieu Wyart's appointment will strengthen Theoretical Physics teaching and research at EPFL.
Professor Kenneth Younge (*1968), currently Assistant Professor at Purdue University, Indiana, USA, as Associate Professor of Corporate Entrepreneurship. Kenneth Younge is an expert in strategic and corporate management with an exceptional résumé. Following positions at various universities at the start of his career, he switched to industry and founded several companies, before returning to academia. His primary research interests are the two topics of big data and experimental economics. Kenneth Younge's research focus and broad wealth of practical and entrepreneurial experience will make him a very valuable addition to EPFL and its College of Management of Technology.
Award of the title of Professor
Dr John C. Reed (*1958), Member of the Enlarged Corporate Executive Committee of Roche, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. John C. Reed is a renowned cell biologist and cancer specialist with an outstanding network of contacts. Ideally embodying the strategic goals of the Department of Biology in the area of personalised medicine, he will be instrumental in entrenching this promising field at ETH Zurich.
Departure from ETH Zurich
Professor Stefanie Bailer (*1973), currentlyAssistant Professor of Global Governance, is leaving ETH Zurich with effect from 31 October 2015. Stefanie Bailer was appointed to ETH Zurich in 2009. Her research interests include decision-making processes at the European and international level. Stefanie Bailer has been appointed Professor of Political Science at the University of Basel.
The ETH Board would like to thank the departing professor for her services to science, teaching and academic administration.
Address for enquiries
Alex Biscaro
Head of Communication of the ETH Board
CH-8092 Zürich
alex.biscaro@ethrat.ch
+41 44 632 20 03
Publisher
Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology
https://www.ethrat.ch/en
