Prof. Dr. Olena Palko is a historian specializing in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. She holds the SNSF Professorship at the University of Basel's Department of History, focusing on East European History. Her research emphasizes Soviet minority policies, cultural politics, and national identity formation in interwar Ukraine. She is a leading scholar with notable works including Making Ukraine Soviet (2021), awarded the 2023 Alexander Nove Prize. Her current SNF-funded project, Red Tower of Babel , examines Soviet minority experiments in Ukraine. Education: PhD from University of East Anglia (2017); Kandydat nauk from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2013). Research Interests: Soviet nationality policy, minority history, Ukrainian twentieth-century history, transnational border dynamics. Her work bridges archival analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing contested borderlands between Poland and the USSR. Key publications include co-edited volumes like Making Ukraine (2022) and Ukraine's Many Faces (2023). She actively contributes to academic governance roles, including co-convening the BASEES Study Group for Minority History and serving on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Council of Europe's history observatory.
Prof. Srdjan Capkun is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and Director of the Zurich Information Security and Privacy Center (ZISC). He holds a Dipl.Ing. from the University of Split (1998) and a Ph.D. from EPFL (2004). His research focuses on system and network security, including wireless security (e.g., secure positioning), trusted computing, blockchain technologies, and privacy-preserving systems. He co-founded 3db Access (acquired by Infineon) and Sound-Proof, addressing secure distance measurement and authentication. Notable achievements include an ERC Consolidator Grant (2016), ACM Fellowship, and IEEE Fellowship. Education: Dipl.Ing., Electrical Engineering / Computer Science, University of Split, 1998 Ph.D., Communication Systems, EPFL, 2004 Research Interests: Wireless security (e.g., UWB, GNSS, cellular) Trusted execution environments (TEEs) Blockchain and cryptocurrency systems Privacy-preserving technologies Awards & Grants: ERC Consolidator Grant (2016) ACM Fellow and IEEE Fellow Leadership of ZISC Advising & Labs: Leads the System Security Group at ETH Zurich Guided postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in security and privacy Companies: 3db Access (secure distance measurement) Futurae (online authentication)
Dr. Robert Huber serves as a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zürich, specializing in Agricultural Economics and Policy. His research focuses on the integration of interdisciplinary knowledge to analyze and evaluate management and policy options that promote sustainable development in the agricultural sector. Institution: ETH Zürich Department: Agricultural Economics and Policy Research Focus: Sustainable Agriculture and Policy Methodologies: Bio-economic and agent-based modeling Dr. Huber's research explores how multifunctional agricultural sectors can provide essential non-market goods and services while maintaining their primary economic function of food production. His work applies bio-economic and agent-based modeling techniques to understand farmers' decision-making processes regarding ecosystem services provision, coupled with economic valuation techniques to analyze societal demand for these services. His research aims to identify effective and efficient policy measures that align supply and demand for ecosystem services at landscape scale. His recent publications demonstrate strong expertise in agricultural policy analysis, climate change mitigation strategies, sustainable farming practices, and innovative modeling approaches. His work spans topics from herbicide-free agriculture using remote sensing technologies to biodiversity enhancement in agricultural landscapes and the cost-effectiveness of different climate change mitigation policies at various scales. Remote sensing applications in sustainable agriculture Behavioral aspects of farmer decision-making Policy evaluation methodologies Climate change adaptation in farming systems Economic valuation of ecosystem services Digitalization impacts on agricultural policy Dr. Huber has published extensively in high-impact journals including Journal of Agricultural Economics, People and Nature, and Q Open. His collaborative research often involves interdisciplinary teams addressing complex agricultural sustainability challenges. His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on practical policy implications derived from rigorous empirical analysis.
Josie Hughes is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) within the School of Engineering's Institute of Mechanical Engineering. She leads the Computer Robot Design and Fabrication Laboratory (CREATE Lab) and serves on the doctoral program committee for Robotics, Control and Intelligent Systems. Her roles include teaching courses in product development, engineering design, and data-driven manufacturing methods while maintaining active research and student supervision. Her research centers on soft robotics with emphasis on adaptive design, fabrication techniques, and real-world applications. Key areas include agricultural robotics (exemplified by the GraspBerry raspberry harvester), biomimetic materials like self-healing e-skins, and developmental robotics (BabyBot project). She pioneers approaches integrating morphological computation, variable stiffness mechanisms, and machine learning for robotic control, while championing open-source principles and diversity in robotics through accessible educational initiatives like balloon robot kits. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant trends in soft robotics adaptability, particularly in variable-stiffness structures, sensor integration, and task-specific optimization. Her work bridges fundamental material science with practical applications in agriculture, food science, and human-robot interaction, frequently employing computational methods like Bayesian optimization and neural networks for design and control. Scientific awards: No specific awards were mentioned in the source materials. Dr. Hughes actively supervises 16 doctoral students across diverse projects including soft grippers for agriculture, biomimetic locomotion, and robotic manipulation systems. Her advising portfolio shows strong alignment with her research themes, with current students working on topics like modular soft arms, agricultural automation, and developmental robotics. While grant details weren't specified, her high publication volume indicates robust research funding. The CREATE Lab under her leadership focuses on holistic co-design of hardware and software for soft robotic systems, with notable projects including the GraspBerry agricultural harvester and BabyBot developmental platform. The lab emphasizes open-source development and educational outreach, maintaining strong industry and academic collaborations while pushing boundaries in reconfigurable robotics and human-centered applications.
Dr. Elisa Donati is a researcher and independent group leader at the Institute of Neuroinformatics , affiliated with both the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich . Her work bridges neuromorphic engineering, biomedical signal processing, and wearable healthcare technologies, with a focus on creating brain-inspired systems for neuroprosthetics and rehabilitation. Affiliation: Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich Email: elisa@ini.uzh.ch Elisa’s research emphasizes developing neuromorphic signal processing strategies for wearable and embedded systems, enabling real-time closed-loop interactions with the nervous system. She specializes in translating neuroscience insights into energy-efficient technologies for digital health applications, including neuroprosthetics and personalized biomedical devices using neuromorphic hardware. Her recent publications (2024–2025) highlight advancements in gesture recognition via EMG and event-based systems, neuromorphic heart rate monitoring , and spiking neural network architectures . These works span biomedical signal processing, low-power computing, and adaptive algorithms, reflecting her commitment to robust, real-time, and brain-inspired solutions for healthcare. Elisa’s contributions to neuromorphic computing are evident in her exploration of heterogeneous population encoding , event-driven processing , and ultra-low-power microcontrollers . Her projects often integrate wearable systems with neuroscience, aiming to improve prosthetic control and rehabilitation technologies .
David Basin is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, and heads the Information Security Group. He has held academic positions since 2003, including roles at the University of Freiburg (1997–2002) and the Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik (1992–1997). His research focuses on Information Security, including methods and tools for secure systems, formal verification, and cryptographic protocols. He is Editor-in-Chief of the ACM Transactions on Privacy and Security and Springer's Information Security and Cryptography book series. Basin founded the Zurich Information Security Center (ZISC) in 2003 and led it until 2011. Education: B.Sc. in Mathematics (Reed College, 1984), Ph.D. (Cornell University, 1989), and Habilitation (University of Saarbrücken, 1996). Research interests span formal methods for security protocol verification, privacy-preserving systems, and cryptographic implementations. He has contributed to foundational work on security protocols, including the Tamarin verification framework. His work addresses real-world systems like payment protocols (EMV), DNS security, and database isolation guarantees. Awards: ACM Fellow (2018) for contributions to Information Security and Formal Methods, IEEE Fellow. He has organized numerous conferences, including IEEE S&P, Euro S&P, and ACM CCS. Labs/Teams: Leads the Information Security Group at ETH Zurich and co-founded Anapaya Systems, a startup focused on network security solutions. His team develops tools like VeriMon (formally verified monitoring) and Tamarin for protocol analysis.
Mathias Payer is an Associate Professor at EPFL's School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC), leading the HexHive Laboratory . His work focuses on software security, particularly addressing memory corruption and type violations through binary analysis and compiler-based techniques. He contributes to research in secure system design, fault isolation, and fuzzing methodologies. Current PhD students : Di Bartolomeo Luca, Feng Zhiyao, Hofhammer Florian, Lyu Tao, Mao Philipp Yuxiang, Zhang Chibin, Zheng Han Past EPFL PhD students: Badoux Nicolas Daniel, Bhattacharyya Atri, Hazimeh Ahmad His research explores software security in areas like: Protecting applications from vulnerabilities Binary exploitation and mitigation Compiler-driven security hardening Strong sanitization and privilege separation Memory corruption detection The HexHive group develops tools and frameworks for: Automated fuzz driver generation Gradual compartmentalization State inference for feedback optimization Secure cell architectures Recent publications highlight advancements in: Fuzzing hybrid approaches (e.g., DUMPLING, MendelFuzz) Memory safety validation (QMSan, Pacmem) Compiler-assisted defenses (Gradient, Type++)
Nicolas Thomä is a Full Professor and head of the Thomä Lab at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he holds the Paternot Chair in Cancer Research. He is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences (SV) and the Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ISREC), leading the UPTHOMAE research unit. His work bridges structural biology, chemical biology, and cancer research, with a focus on transcriptional regulation and targeted protein degradation. His research interests center on chromatin biology and the molecular mechanisms by which transcription factors access gene promoters within chromatin. He investigates how multi-protein complexes regulate gene expression, particularly focusing on the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases and molecular glues in targeted protein degradation. His lab combines structural techniques (including cryo-EM), biochemical assays, and functional genomics to unravel how small molecules can rewire protein interactions and induce degradation of disease-relevant proteins, especially transcription factors involved in cancer. The recent publications of his lab demonstrate a strong trajectory in understanding the structural basis of transcription factor binding to nucleosomes (e.g., OCT4-SOX2, MYC-MAX, CLOCK-BMAL1) and the mechanism of action of molecular glues like thalidomide. These studies highlight a shift toward therapeutic innovation through chemical biology, aiming to develop novel strategies for targeting 'undruggable' proteins in human diseases. Scientific Awards No specific awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants Thomä actively supervises a team of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including David Domjan, Laurin Tim Kanis, Alessandro Minafra, and Pierre Alexander Miranda Herrera. His lab is supported by institutional funding from EPFL and likely external grants related to cancer research, structural biology, and chemical biology, though specific grants are not mentioned. The lab’s interdisciplinary approach suggests collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotech partners. Labs and Teams The Thomä Lab, based at EPFL’s SV building, includes a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technical specialists, and administrative support. Key members include Fiona Bello (Technical Specialist), Regina Baur, Alexandra Bendel, Manuel Carminati, and others. The lab is structured around two main research pillars: Transcription Factors in Chromatin Biology and Ubiquitin Biology and Molecular Glues, reflecting its dual focus on fundamental mechanisms and therapeutic applications.
Deborah M. Weissman is the Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. Her work focuses on domestic violence, gender and human rights, political economy, and critical legal theory. She has published extensively on intersections between law, social control, and marginalized communities. Research Interests: Her scholarship examines the political economy of gender-based violence, neoliberalism's impact on legal advocacy, and the criminalization of survivors. She advocates for community-driven legal reforms and human rights frameworks. Collaborations: Weissman frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and institutions like the University of Miami School of Law, Syracuse University, and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Scientific Awards: Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law Recent Publications: Highlights include analyses of lifelong criminalization of gender violence survivors (2025), economic justice in domestic violence policy (2023), and critiques of carceral systems (2021). Her work spans journals like Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy and North Carolina Law Review .
Prof. Dr. Eling de Bruin is a Lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST) at ETH Zurich. His research focuses on developing and evaluating exergame-based interventions targeting neurocognitive disorders, motor-cognitive training for aging populations, and stroke rehabilitation. He leads studies on personalized exergame protocols (e.g., PEMOCS framework) and their impact on cognitive function, gait recovery, and fall prevention. His work integrates wearable sensor technology, biofeedback systems, and clinical assessment tools to improve outcomes for chronic conditions like stroke, diabetes, and sarcopenia. Key areas include exergame design, hybrid training modalities, and biomarker validation (e.g., heart rate variability for neurocognitive screening). His research also explores sports biomechanics in youth athletes and injury prevention strategies for alpine skiers. Collaborative projects involve interdisciplinary teams from rehabilitation medicine, biomedical engineering, and computer science to create user-centered exergame solutions. Current initiatives emphasize home-based interventions and tele-rehabilitation to enhance accessibility for older adults and long-term care residents. Methodological contributions include validation of motor-cognitive assessment systems using virtual reality and inertial measurement units.
Cecilia Boschini is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute for Theoretische Informatik (Theoretical Computer Science) at ETH Zürich. Her work focuses on advanced cryptographic systems, particularly in post-quantum cryptography, lattice-based protocols, and privacy-preserving technologies. She contributes to developing secure digital signature schemes, threshold cryptography, and efficient cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computing threats. Her research bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications in cybersecurity and distributed systems. Key contributions include innovations in fail-stop signatures, two-round threshold signatures (Ringtail), and lattice-based multi-signature systems (MuSig-L). Boschini’s work emphasizes balancing security with efficiency, often addressing challenges in mobile device security and memory encryption. She has published extensively in top-tier venues, with a focus on cryptographic protocols that enhance privacy and data integrity without compromising usability.
Dr. Ivan Puddu is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute for Information Security at ETH Zürich. His work focuses on advancing cybersecurity, particularly in the realms of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), hardware security, and privacy-preserving technologies. He explores vulnerabilities in modern computing systems, including attacks on enclave-based security mechanisms and side-channel exploits. His research also addresses distributed systems, blockchain, and FPGA-accelerated architectures, aiming to enhance system sovereignty and data integrity. Notable contributions include studies on code confidentiality in TEEs, disaggregated memory systems, and mitigating security threats in low-power networks.
Dr. Alessandro Ottaviano is a Researcher affiliated with the Department of Digital Integrated Circuits and Systems at ETH Zürich. His work focuses on advanced computer architecture and embedded systems, particularly in the domains of RISC-V processors, real-time systems, and heterogeneous computing. He contributes to the design of time-predictable virtual memory solutions, mixed-criticality systems, and energy-efficient hardware-software interfaces. Key research areas include modular processor architectures, hardware monitoring for safety-critical applications, and power management in high-performance computing (HPC) systems. His recent projects involve developing controllers for 2.5D systems-in-package and creating open-source networking solutions for mixed-criticality environments. Ottaviano’s work often emphasizes open-source hardware design and scalable system-level approaches to address challenges in autonomous systems and edge computing. He collaborates on advancements in interrupt handling for virtualized systems, peripheral event linking for IoT devices, and FPGA-based thermal emulation for many-core processors. His research bridges theoretical computer architecture principles with practical implementations in embedded and real-time systems.
Christiane Barz is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Zurich's Institute for Business Administration since 2016. Previously, she held academic roles at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the Chicago Booth School of Business, and the Technical University (TU) Berlin. Her research focuses on stochastic dynamic systems, Markov decision processes, and their applications in revenue management. She emphasizes making mathematical tools accessible and practical for real-world problem-solving, particularly in optimizing decision-making under uncertainty. Education includes a degree in industrial engineering and a doctorate from the University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany. Her career path includes postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and roles as an Assistant Professor at UCLA. She combines academic excellence with balancing family life, advocating for gender equity in STEM fields. Her research explores risk-sensitive decision-making frameworks, dynamic pricing models for transportation and healthcare, and optimizing resource allocation in complex systems. Recent work includes applications in FlixBus, air cargo networks, and improving patient admission scheduling in hospitals. Barz's teaching philosophy prioritizes demystifying mathematics for students, encouraging critical engagement rather than fear of complexity. She collaborates with industry partners to apply operations research methods to real-world challenges, emphasizing both theoretical rigor and practical relevance.
Prof. Peter Müller is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich since 2008. Previously, he held positions as Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich (2003-2008), Researcher at Microsoft Research Redmond (2007-2008), and IT project manager at Deutsche Bank. He earned his Diploma in Computer Science from Technical University of Munich (1996) and his Dr. rer. nat. from University of Hagen (2001) with a dissertation on modular verification of object-oriented programs. His research focuses on enabling correct software development through programming languages, verification methods, and tools. Key areas include formal verification for Rust and Go programs (Prusti and Gobra projects), separation logic, security protocols, and distributed systems verification. Müller's work emphasizes practical verification techniques for real-world systems, including secure router implementations and smart contract verification. Recent research trends highlight advancements in hyperproperties, modular reasoning for iterators and closures in Rust, and formal validation of verification tools. His methodologies bridge theoretical foundations with industrial applications, addressing challenges in concurrency, memory safety, and security assurance. Notable contributions include the SCION internet architecture, the Prusti verifier for Rust, and formal verification frameworks for distributed systems. His work often integrates rigorous mathematical foundations with scalable software engineering practices.
