The Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology has announced the appointment of 20 professors at EPFL. Among them, seven women and five men, newly appointed, join the EPFL.
Professor Andrea Ablasser was named as Associate Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Andrea Ablasser is a promising young researcher. She investigates the question of how cells defend themselves against viral and bacterial attack and, in particular, how microbes are recognised by immune cells. Her focus is on the functioning of the innate immune system, and she is working to develop new therapies in the field of immunology. Andrea Ablasser has already been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for her research results, and she received the national Latsis Prize in 2018. By promoting her, EPFL is strengthening its international position in the area of biomedicine.
Dr Mitali Banerjee was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Mitali Banerjee is a scientist with exceptional potential. She attracted particular international attention for designing and setting up an experimental installation for measuring thermal conductivity in two-dimensional materials. In doing so, she rose to an exceptionally difficult challenge which many experts had regarded as impossible. With her appointment, EPFL is recruiting a scientist who will make key contributions to both research and teaching.
Dr Anne-Florence Bitbol was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Anne-Florence Bitbol is an up-and-coming biophysicist with a solid grounding in physics, mathematics and computer science as well as a strong methodological approach to biology. Her main subject is the modelling of protein-protein interactions. She makes use of methods she developed herself in order to predict the form of interaction partners from phylogenetic data in protein sequences. Anne-Florence Bitbol's profile is an excellent fit with EPFL's strategy of strengthening the future-oriented field of computational and quantitative biology.
Professor Anne-Clémence Corminboeuf was named as Full Professor of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Anne-Clémence Corminboeuf has attracted international recognition for her ground-breaking contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry, particularly for her novel approaches of electronic structures driven by non-covalent phenomena, opening promising perspectives in the domains of catalysis and organic electronic materials. Her work based on non-covalent interactions was already supported by two ERC Grants and has major impact on the design of homogeneous catalysts and organic semi-conductors. By promoting Anne-Clémence Corminboeuf, EPFL is strengthening its position in a future-oriented field of study.
Professor Beat Fierz was named as Associate Professor of Biophysical Chemistry in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Beat Fierz has gained worldwide recognition as one of the top specialists in the structure, regulation and dynamics of chromatin - the main component of chromosomes. His research approach combines biophysics and chemical biology in a unique way; he has already been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant and has been published in leading academic journals. Beat Fierz has the increasingly important ability to work successfully in a multidisciplinary context. His dynamism and high potential will further strengthen the international reputation of EPFL.
Professor Anna Fontcuberta i Morral was named as Full Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering (STI) and in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
An internationally renowned scientist, Anna Fontcuberta i Morral specializes in the synthesis of nanostructures within semiconductors and, in particular, in nanowire crystal growth techniques. The results of her research aid in the development of materials with innovative physical and chemical properties and are used, for example, to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic cells and in quantum computing. The promotion of Anna Fontcuberta i Morral underlines EPFL's strong position in materials science and engineering.
Dr Mika Göös was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Communication Systems in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC)
In his scientific work, Mika Göös focuses on solving fundamental theoretical problems in the computer sciences and mathematics. His approach starts by investigating the problems in simpler models before going on to confirm the results in more complex systems. He has published or co-authored an unusually large number of publications for someone of his age, including important articles on communication complexity and circuit complexity. Mika Göös is a highly productive researcher who will strengthen EPFL's position in a fundamental area.
Dr Charlotte Grossiord was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Terrestrial Ecology in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC)
Charlotte Grossiord is a highly innovative young researcher. She has achieved international recognition for her work on the contribution of biodiversity to the ability of forests to withstand climate change. In recent years she has focused on the survival potential and acclimatisation of plants as temperatures rise. Among other experiments, she used heat-controlled chambers to investigate the effects of drought on trees under real conditions. Charlotte Grossiord will work closely with WSL, which is co-funding her professorship at EPFL.
Professor Frédéric Kaplan was named as Associate Professor of Digital Humanities in the College of Humanities (CDH)
Frédéric Kaplan is a talented and internationally acclaimed scientist. His work makes a substantial contribution to positioning EPFL as a leading institution in digital humanities, which combine information technology, big data and methodological practice in the human and social sciences. The "Venice Time Machine" project, which facilitates the spatial visualisation of history and historical documents from the State Archives of Venice, is one example of Frédéric Kaplan's trailblazing approach.
Professor Adam Marcus was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Mathematicsin the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Adam Marcus is regarded as one of the most talented mathematicians of his generation. He attracted worldwide attention in 2013, when he and other scientists solved the Kadison-Singer problem - a problem posed in 1959 in the theory of operator algebras and functional analysis. At EPFL; Adam Marcus will build up a strong research group in combinatorial analysis, continuing the Federal Institute's long tradition in this field. He will also help strengthen the link between mathematics and theoretical computer science.
Dr Alexander Mathis was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Alexander Mathis is a scientist who has already has already made significant contributions. He investigates the processing of neural data and the mechanisms for encoding adaptive behaviour in the brain. His achievements include developing a well-regarded theory on the coordinated activity of grid cells. He has also obtained results relating to the encoding of olfactory stimuli and adaptive behaviour in motor control. By appointing Alexander Mathis, EPFL is gaining important expertise at the interface of theory and experimental methods.
Dr Mackenzie Mathis was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
At a young age, Mackenzie Mathis has attracted considerable attention internationally with her work towards understanding the neural mechanisms that enable bodily movements to recalibrate constantly. Among other achievements, she developed the first behavioural model for investigating motor adjustments in the movement sequences of mice, and discovered that the somatosensory cerebral cortex plays a key role here. Mackenzie Mathis and her research approaches are an excellent fit with existing research activities at EPFL.
Dr Christoph Merten was named as Associate Professor of Bioengineeringin the School of Engineering (STI)
His highly valued research focuses on the development of micro-fluidic technology to address complex biomedical science questions and includes the development of micro-fluidic platforms for cellular and biochemical analyses. The results of his research contribute to the development of new drugs and antibodies, which are used, for example, to advance personalized cancer therapies. As an interdisciplinary researcher, entrepreneur and start-up creator, Christoph Merten has the perfect profile to provide new impetus to bioengineering at EPFL.
Dr Julia Schmale was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Extreme Environmentsin the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC)
Julia Schmale is an atmospheric scientist with a global reputation. She actively represents Switzerland on multidisciplinary, international research projects in the Arctic. She is a member of the Atmosphere Working Group of the International Arctic Science Committee, for example. Thanks to her innovative scientific and methodological ability, Julia Schmale will strengthen EPFL's reputation in areas that are important for the future of society, and contribute to training environmental engineers within the school.
Professor Mahsa Shoaran was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in the School of Engineering (STI)
A very promising young researcher, Mahsa Shoran has already built an international reputation in a transdisciplinary field at the intersection of circuit design, machine learning and neuroscience. Her research, conducted in close collaboration with clinicians, aims to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic devices for drug-resistant neurological disorders. Her work is perfectly integrated into EPFL's strategy, with its ambition to develop the next generation of brain-machine interfaces.
Dr Amir Zamir was named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Communication Systems in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC)
Amir Zamir is a brilliant researcher in the fields of computer vision, machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotic perception. He has set himself the challenging target of developing a digital visual perception method that functions as part of a larger intelligent system. By appointing Amir Zamir, EPFL is securing an ambitious and talented scientist whose broad-based systemic vision and transdisciplinary approach are an excellent match with the Federal Institute's strategy.
Professor Jocelyne Bloch was named as Adjunct Professor at EPFL in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Jocelyne Bloch is an internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon and neuroscientist. She collaborates closely with EPFL on various projects. Her formal integration into the Federal Institute reinforces the importance of clinical research for EPFL's research projects.
Professor Jacques Duparc was named as Adjunct Professor at EPFLin the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Jacques Duparc has gained worldwide recognition as an expert in descriptive set theory, game theory and their applications in theoretical computer science. He has been a successful teacher at EPFL for more than ten years.
Dr François Fleuret was named as Adjunct Professor at EPFL in the School of Engineering (STI)
François Fleuret is a member of the independent IDIAP Research Institute, which is affiliated with EPFL. His work focuses on machine learning, with a particular focus on computational aspects and applications in the field of computer vision.
Dr Graham Knott was named as Adjunct Professor at EPFL in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Graham Knott is head of the technology platform at the Faculty of Life Sciences for the use of electron microscopes in biological research. As a researcher he has made key contributions to the understanding of the structure of neuronal synapses in the brain.
