Twelve professors appointed at EPFL

Miguel A. L. Nicolelis has been named as Professor of Neurosciences, at 50%, in the School of Life Sciences. Professor Nicolelis is recognized as the leading expert worldwide and pioneer in the multidisciplinary field comprising: neuro-engineering, brain–machine interfaces, and neuroprosthetics. Before founding the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience at Natal in Brazil, Miguel Nicolelis was already Professor of Neurosciences at EPFL from 2005 to 2007. This new professorship is based at EPFL’s Center for Neuroprosthetics, which is sponsored by the Bertarelli Foundation - it will enable EPFL to pursue its goal of improving the quality of life of those suffering from neurological conditions.

Oliver Hantschel has been appointed as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of School of Life Sciences. His clinical studies have made a significant contribution to the understanding of an oncogene that plays a central role in chronic myeloid leukemia. Mr. Hantschel will work at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) within the Life Science faculty, where he will hold the first ISREC Foundation Chair of Translational Oncology, with a budget of 3 million Swiss francs over a period of six years. The objective of this appointment is to stimulate synergies and interactions between scientists, doctors and surgeons working in oncology.

Sylvie Roke has been named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Engineering. The appointment of Dr. Roke as Professor, holding the Dr Julia Jacobi Chair of Photomedicine, will enable the positioning of basic research as a foundation for the photomedicine of the future, while enriching existing clinical research. This field of medicine includes the use of light for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, and extends to its interaction with biological matter at the level of molecules, membranes, cells and organs, as well as new optical imaging techniques and applications for biological systems. “The existence of several innovative research projects in photomedicine, undertaken with success by scientists at EPFL, was a factor in my choice of the Institute as a place to create”, explained Dr. Julia Jacobi.

Urs von Gunten has been appointed as EPFL Professor of Drinking Water Treatment at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). The chair is jointly financed by EPFL and EAWAG, one of the most reputable research institutes worldwide in the field of water treatment. Mr. von Gunten has a large number of contacts with the water industry and the public services in charge of water provision, in both Switzerland and abroad.

Camille-Sophie Brès has been named as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the School of Engineering. Ms. Brès is currently working as a research assistant at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of California, San Diego, USA.

Andreas Peter Burg has been appointed as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the School of Engineering. Mr. Burg is an expert in the field of circuits and telecommunications systems.

Michael Gastpar has been named as Professor of Communication Systems at the School of Computer and Communication Sciences. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Professor at Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. He also holds an affiliation with the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

Colin N. Jones becomes Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Mechanics at the School of Engineering. In 2007, he co-founded the spin-off Apex Optimization, focusing on the inefficiencies that exist in medium-to-large companies.

Marc Gruber has been promoted to the rank of full Professor at the College of Managment of Technology. He is currently Associate Professor at EPFL, and has held the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization since 2005. Mr. Gruber offers a major/minor designed to help students who wish to follow a career in the area of company creation.

Stéphanie P. Lacour has been appointed as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Microtechnology at the School of Engineering. She is currently University Research Fellow of the Royal Society in the Department of Engineering of Cambridge University, where she heads the Stretchable Bioelectronics Group.

Nicola Marzari has been named as Professor of Materials Science at the School of Engineering. He will bring to EPFL his significant teaching experience at the Graduate and Master levels, within the Doctoral School, but also in the domain of modelization and digital simulation, as well as – more generally – atomic structures.

Alessandro Spadoni has been appointed as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the School of Engineering. Mr. Spadoni’s research work is focused on the topological nature of “meta-material” structures and associated phenomena.