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Prof. Dr. Günther Dissertori is a Full Professor and Rector of ETH Zurich, where he oversees teaching and academic affairs. His academic journey began at the University of Innsbruck, followed by a doctoral position at CERN, and he joined ETH Zurich as an Assistant Professor in 2001 before becoming a Full Professor in 2007. Academic Role: Full Professor of Particle Physics Institutional Leadership: Rector of ETH Zurich (since 2022) Contact: guenther.dissertori@sl.ethz.ch Research Interests: Dissertori's work spans Particle Physics and Experimental Physics , notably contributing to the CMS experiment at CERN, which was instrumental in the Higgs boson discovery. His group also developed cost-effective PET devices, leading to the spin-off Positrigo AG . Research keywords include Detector Development , Medical Imaging , and Quantum Physics . Teaching Excellence: Recognized with multiple Golden Owl awards (2005–2020) and the Credit Suisse Award for Best Teaching (2013), Dissertori is celebrated for his pedagogical impact in the Department of Particle Physics. Scientific Contributions: His publications include advancements in CMOS technology, quantum dynamics, and medical applications, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise in high-speed electronics, environmental science, and architectural history.

• Particle Physics
• High Energy Physics
• Experimental Physics
• +3 more

Vincent Kaufmann is an Associate Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) , leading the Urban Sociology Laboratory (LaSUR) . Since 2010, he serves as Scientific Director of the Mobile Lives Forum in Paris. His career spans teaching at institutions like Lancaster University , Ecole des Ponts ParisTech , and Tongji University , with research focusing on mobility sociology , urban dynamics , and public policy evaluation . Master's in Sociology from University of Geneva PhD at EPFL on transport modal practices His work explores mobility-capital interactions , motility , and rhythmanalysis in contemporary societies. Key themes include urban lifestyle transformations , cross-border regions , and mobility-sustainability nexus , with recent emphasis on new proximities and slow cities . Teaching roles span EPFL departments like Teaching (EDAR) , Architecture and Urban Sciences (SGC) , and Human and Social Sciences (CDH) . He has directed numerous PhD and master's theses on urban mobility topics.

• Mobility Studies
• Urban Sociology
• Transport Planning
• +6 more

Frédéric Kaplan serves as Director of the College of Humanities at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he holds the Chair of Digital Humanities. He also serves as President of the Time Machine Organisation, a nonprofit entity comprising over 600 institutions. His academic appointments span multiple departments including the Digital Humanities Laboratory (DHLAB), School of Architecture (SAR), and School of Humanities (SODH), demonstrating his interdisciplinary leadership across EPFL's academic structure. Dr. Kaplan's research focuses on the intersection of computational methods and humanities, particularly in historical urban analysis, cultural heritage digitization, and the development of the Mirror World concept. His work bridges computational techniques with historical scholarship, creating new methodologies for analyzing historical documents, maps, and urban structures through advanced digital tools. His research has significant implications for how we understand and reconstruct historical urban environments and cultural heritage. His publication record reveals a strong emphasis on computational approaches to historical data, with recent work focusing on LLM applications for historical cadastre navigation, historical map analysis through deformation patterns, 4D city modeling, and language technology applications for historical document processing. This research trajectory demonstrates an evolving focus from basic digitization toward sophisticated analytical frameworks that extract deeper historical insights from digital representations. Kaplan has supervised numerous doctoral students whose work spans digital heritage applications, historical document analysis, computational cartography, and language technology. His research has been supported through multiple institutional frameworks at EPFL and has resulted in practical applications demonstrated through exhibitions at major institutions including the Venice Architecture Biennale, Grand Palais, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He leads the Digital Humanities Laboratory (DHLAB) which serves as a nexus for computational approaches to humanities research. The lab focuses on developing methodologies for historical data analysis, creating digital tools for cultural heritage institutions, and exploring the theoretical implications of computational approaches to historical scholarship. The lab's work with the Time Machine Organisation represents one of the most ambitious efforts to create comprehensive digital reconstructions of historical urban environments.

• Digital Humanities
• Computational History
• Historical Map Analysis
• +4 more

Prof. Claudio J. Tessone is a Professor of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies at the Department of Informatics, University of Zurich. He serves as Head of the Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies group, Chairman of the UZH Blockchain Center, and is incharge of the NetSci Society. His academic background includes a PhD in Physics (Complex Systems) and an Habilitation in Complex Socio-Economic Systems from ETH Zurich. Education: PhD in Physics (2006): Thesis on synchronization in stochastic systems, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain Habilitation (2015): Thesis on agent-based modeling of socio-economic systems, ETH Zurich Master in Physics (1999): Thesis on stochastic resonance, Instituto Balseiro, Argentina Research Interests: Prof. Tessone specializes in modeling complex socio-economic and socio-technical systems, with a focus on blockchain-based systems. His work explores crypto-economics, blockchain scalability, decentralized finance (DeFi), and the interplay between micro-level agent behavior and macro-level emergent properties. Notable areas include transaction network analysis in Bitcoin/Ethereum, consensus mechanisms (Proof-of-Stake/Work), and blockchain governance models. Publications Trends: Recent articles emphasize empirical blockchain analysis (e.g., Ethereum microvelocity, Bitcoin mesoscopic structure), DeFi arbitrage strategies, and privacy-preserving blockchain applications in healthcare. His work bridges theoretical agent-based models with real-world blockchain datasets, addressing both technical and socio-economic dimensions of distributed ledger technologies. Grants & Labs: Director of the UZH Summer School on Blockchain and Certificate of Advanced Studies program. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations through the URPP Social Networks (2015–2021) and ETH Zurich’s Systems Design group (2007–2014). Labs/Initiatives: Leads the UZH Blockchain Center, a hub for academic-industry research on blockchain applications in finance, governance, and digital transformation.

• Blockchain Technology
• Cryptocurrency Systems
• Complex Socio-Economic Systems
• +5 more

Simone Fior is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science , ETH Zürich , focusing on ecological genetics and plant adaptation. Their research integrates genomic, quantitative genetics, and ecological field experiments, particularly on Dianthus (Caryophyllaceae) along altitudinal and climatic gradients. Recent work explores climate-induced range shifts, local adaptation, and genomic responses to environmental changes. Professional experience includes roles at ETH Zürich since 2013 (Senior Assistant, Postdoc) and prior positions at the Edmund Mach Foundation (2009-2012) and University of Insubria (2007-2008). Education spans a PhD in Plant Biology (University of Milan, 2007) and an MSc in Natural Sciences (University of Milan, 2003). Simone co-organizes the Bioinformatics for Adaptation Genomics Winter School . Key research areas include adaptive divergence , polygenic adaptation , climate change biology , and phylogenomics . Articles emphasize genomic selection signatures, functional-structural modeling, and ecological-genetic interactions. Notable collaborations involve Jake Alexander, Alex Widmer, and interdisciplinary teams at ETH Zurich.

• Ecological Genetics
• Plant Adaptation
• Population Genomics
• +5 more

Inès Lamunière is an Honorary Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where she previously held roles including Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture (2008–2011). She is also a renowned architect, leading the firm dl-a, designlab-architecture SA in Geneva. Her academic career includes positions as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich (1991) and Visiting Professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (1996, 1999, 2008). She directed the LAMU-EPFL Laboratory (2001–2018), focusing on urban architecture and mobility. Education: Architect degree from EPF Lausanne (1980), followed by studies at the Swiss Institute in Rome and assistant lectureship under Werner Oechslin at ETH Zurich. Research Interests: Urban planning, sustainability, architectural history, and the integration of infrastructure into urban environments. Notable projects include the revitalization of Bellerive-Plage and the LAMU Laboratory’s studies on risky urban objects. Awards: 2011 Meret Oppenheim Prize (Swiss Art Award) and 2017 Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (France). Her work emphasizes context-sensitive design and sustainable urban development. She has supervised numerous theses and contributed to publications on architectural pedagogy, urban theory, and historical analyses of Le Corbusier’s work. Active in academic governance, she served as Vice President of the EPFL WISH Foundation (2006–2016) and on the Fondation pour le Développement des Arts et de la Culture board since 2016.

• Architecture
• Urban Planning
• Sustainability
• +3 more

Rudy Hirschheim is a Professor at the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems within the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University. He previously held faculty positions at the University of Houston, Templeton College - Oxford, London School of Economics, and McMaster University, with visiting appointments at Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Bayreuth, University of Jyvaskyla, University of Warwick, and University of Paris-Dauphine. PhD in Information Systems, London School of Economics (1985) MS in Computer Science, University of Toronto (1974) BCom in Business Administration, University of Toronto (1975) His research interests span outsourcing, management of information systems, research methods, and philosophical issues in research. His recent publications focus on agile software development, crowdsourcing, social justice in IT, service-oriented architecture maturity, and theoretical critiques of the IS discipline. He emphasizes methodological rigor and philosophical foundations in information systems research. Key scientific awards include the LEO Award for lifetime achievement (2013), two honorary doctorates (University of Oulu, 2006; University of Bern, 2012), and Fellow status from the Association for Information Systems (2007). He has also received multiple best paper awards and LSU's Rainmaker Award (2012).

• Outsourcing
• Management of Information Systems
• Research Methods
• +7 more

Nathalie Pignard-Cheynel is a Full Professor of Journalism and Digital Communication at the University of Neuchâtel since 2020, where she leads cutting-edge research on digital transformations in journalism. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Neuchâtel (Assistant Professor, 2016-2020), University of Lorraine (2013-2016), and Grenoble 3 University (2005-2013), where she earned her doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences (2004). Doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences, University of Grenoble 3 (2004) Full Professor of Journalism and Digital Communication, University of Neuchâtel (2020-present) Assistant Professor in Digital Journalism, University of Neuchâtel (2016-2020) Lecturer in Information and Communication Sciences, Grenoble 3 University (2005-2013) Her research focuses on: Mutations in journalistic practices during digital transformations Social media usage by journalists, media, and audiences Participatory journalism and media-audience relationships Journalism and data practices Disinformation content dissemination and reception Platformization of information and algorithmic roles Digital formats analysis in journalism She has led multiple funded research projects including: PANDA (2023-2026, CHF 499,986) on pandemic data communication #sad2 (2021-2022, CHF 138,460) on disinformation architectures LINC (2018-2021, CHF 184,586) on local journalism innovation International collaborations on pandemic communication and digital media Her teaching includes: Digital technology courses for economics students NewsLab projects for journalism master's students Advanced seminars on digital media and communication Innovative journalistic format production She serves in leadership roles for: President of the Scientific Council, Initiative for Media Innovation (2018-2022) Board Member, Hirondelle Foundation (2021-present) Editorial Board Member, Cahiers du journalisme (2020-present) Qualis Commission, University of Neuchâtel (2019-present)

• Digital Journalism
• Social Media Communication
• Audience Engagement
• +3 more

Sebastijan Dumancic is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology, focusing on neuro-symbolic AI through program synthesis and probabilistic programming. He leads the RAIL lab and collaborates with institutions like Harvard, MIT, and CNRS. His research bridges symbolic AI and machine learning, applying program synthesis to scientific discovery, transportation, and robotics. He holds an FWO-funded PhD from KU Leuven and has participated in initiatives like ELLIS and the Symbolic Computation and Machine Learning Initiative. Program synthesis Probabilistic programming Neuro-symbolic AI Constraint-based learning His recent articles highlight advancements in program synthesis, neuro-symbolic integration, and constraint satisfaction. Projects like Find2Fix and Intelligent Greenhouse Horticulture (funded by NWO) demonstrate practical applications. ELLIS Membership University Teaching Qualification He supervises numerous MSc and PhD students in projects involving logic programming, program synthesis, and probabilistic modeling. Active in workshops and symposia, he contributes to neuro-symbolic AI and scientific discovery.

• Program Synthesis
• Probabilistic Programming
• Neuro-Symbolic AI
• +2 more

Prof. Flavio Anselmetti is a Full Professor of Quaternary Geology and Paleoclimatology at the University of Bern , where he has been employed since 2012. He also serves as the Managing Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences . Prior to this, he held significant roles at ETH Zurich, including SNSF Assistant Professor, and at EAWAG Dübendorf as Head of the Sedimentology Group, while remaining a Titular Professor at ETH Zurich until 2012. His academic training includes a Diploma in Geology (1990) from the University of Basel , followed by a PhD (1994) from ETH Zurich and University of Miami (USA) . He spent three years as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at the University of Miami between 1994 and 1997. Paleoseismology : Using lacustrine and marine sediments to reconstruct earthquake and tsunami records Climate Change Studies : Investigating Holocene and Pleistocene climate shifts through sediment cores Sediment Dynamics : Analyzing source-to-sink systems and glacial sediment properties His recent publications focus on sedimentary archives in Science Advances , Quaternary Research , and Environmental Modelling and Software , with an emphasis on deep learning applications in sediment analysis , multi-proxy paleoenvironmental reconstructions , and human impact assessments over millennia. He has contributed to major projects in the Alpine foreland and Caribbean regions . Prof. Anselmetti leads the Quaternary Geology and Paleoclimatology Research Group and collaborates with international teams on ICDP-DOVE drilling campaigns and multibeam bathymetry mapping in Swiss lakes. His work extends to geohazard assessment , carbonate-siliciclastic shelf dynamics , and subaqueous fault analysis in active tectonic zones.

• Sedimentary records as indicators for environmental and climate change
• Paleoseismology and natural hazards
• Sediment budgets of source-to-sink systems
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Kenny R. Cupers is Professor of Architectural History and Urban Studies at the University of Basel , affiliated with the Department of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences . He co-founded and leads the Urban Studies division, focusing on the intersections of architecture, urbanism, colonialism, and planetary design in African and European contexts. PhD, Harvard University (2010) M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Architecture, Catholic University of Leuven Studies in Visual Culture and Urban Theory, Goldsmiths College, London His research centers on architectural modernism, housing, infrastructure, and decolonization . Key themes include the planetary politics of design, coloniality of infrastructure, and the role of architecture in state transformation. He is currently working on two book projects in Kenya: one on unmaking the plantation system through arts and architecture, and another on post-independence Nairobi’s urban history. Recent publications include The Earth that Modernism Built: Empire and the Rise of Planetary Design (2024) and The Social Project: Housing Postwar France (2014). He leads the Sinergia project Governing through Design (2020–2025) and previously directed the SNF-funded How Infrastructure Shaped Territory in Africa (2018–2022). His work appears in journals such as e-flux Architecture , Antipode , and Architectural Theory Review . Scientific Awards: No specific awards listed in the provided text. As an educator, Cupers promotes engaged pedagogy and collaborative research, co-editing What is Critical Urbanism: Urban Research as Pedagogy (2022). His public research projects include Swiss Corporate Coloniality and Lamu Futures . He has advised multiple PhD and Master’s students, though specific names are not listed. He is part of a vibrant research team including Dr. Ernest Sewordor, Dr. Laura Nkula-Wenz, and Dr. Prita Meier. Laboratories and Research Teams: Urban Studies, University of Basel Critical Urbanisms Program Sinergia Project: Governing through Design How Infrastructure Shaped Territory in Africa (completed) Infrastructure Space and the Future of Migration Management (completed)

• Architectural History
• Urban Studies
• Architectural Modernism
• +7 more

Michel Steinmetz is a Full Professor in the Department of Practical Theology at the Faculty of Theology, University of Fribourg. His academic career spans both French and Swiss institutions, with significant contributions to liturgical theology and sacred music studies. His educational background includes: Master's degree in Sacred Art from the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP) Doctorate in anthropology and history of religions from the Sorbonne Doctorate in theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris (dissertation on "The Official Function of Church Music") Professor Steinmetz's research focuses on the theology of liturgy, exploring how to build theological understanding from the multifaceted activity of the Ecclesia orans. His work examines the relationship between liturgy and ecclesiology, liturgy as a resource for rooting oneself in living tradition, and the relationship between liturgy and the arts. His scholarship demonstrates a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary liturgical practices, with particular attention to the role of sacred music within liturgical contexts. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a consistent focus on liturgical theology, with particular attention to the relationship between liturgy and ecclesiology, the role of sacred music, and contemporary liturgical challenges. His work spans historical analysis of medieval liturgical practices, theological reflection on current liturgical reforms, and practical applications for contemporary worship. A notable theme across his recent work is the exploration of how liturgical practices can serve as resources for spiritual formation and ecclesial renewal. Professor Steinmetz is actively involved in several research communities: Research team "Rites et Spiritualité" (Pôle "Textes et Herméneutiques" of the research unit "Religion, Culture et Société" EA 7403) Editorial committee of the journal La Maison-Dieu AKL (Association of Catholic Liturgical Scholars in the German-speaking area) Before his academic career, Professor Steinmetz served as a priest in the Diocese of Strasbourg, where he was parish priest and Director of the Diocesan Service for Liturgical and Sacramental Pastoral Care, Sacred Music, and Sacred Art for twelve years. He also served as president of the Union Sainte-Cécile and as Master of Ceremonies for the Archbishop of Strasbourg, providing him with practical experience that informs his academic work.

• Theology of Liturgy
• Ecclesiology
• Sacred Music
• +5 more

Laurent Matthey is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva's Department of Geography and Environment since 2014. He directs the Urban Planning orientation of the joint UNIGE-HES-SO Master's in Territorial Development and co-directs the UNIGE-EPFL MAS in Urban Planning. His work bridges ethnography and literary studies, examining political issues in urban narrative production through sensitive registers and attentional regimes. Current affiliations: CRESSON team (UMR AAU) since 2023 Active in EspaceSuisse committee and RAMAU network management Research focuses on epistemology of urban planning knowledge , organized into two streams: Planning discourses and narrative studies Ethnography of urban projects His research-creation explores intersections between: Communication and urban planning Fiction and urban planning Narrative and sensitive methods Urban social quality Current projects include "Participez! Neighborhood makers" (FNS Division 1 funding) and completed works like "The narrative making of the city" (FNS-COST 18126) and "Developing housing cooperatives in Greater Geneva" (Interreg V France-Switzerland). He has supervised doctoral students in Geneva, including Hugo Campi ("Flowers to Convince"), Nicole Peccoud ("Social emergency in Geneva"), and Morgane Rudaz ("Feminist collages"). Key scientific contributions appear in GeoHumanities , Planning Theory , and Social Inclusion , with recent emphasis on: AI's role in urban narrative (2024) Decolonial planning approaches (2023) Affective urbanism (2018) Teaching encompasses: Urban geography and ecology (T206059 BGEO) Research-creation seminar (T416007 MDT) Creative methods in metropolitan foresight Professional engagements include urban quality studies for Geneva's Urban Planning Office and Lausanne's Roads Department. He has co-authored foundational texts on Swiss urbanism with Christophe Mager and David Gaillard, exploring topics like "Urbanism fictionnel" (2011) and "Being an urban planner" (2016).

• Urban Planning
• Ethnography
• Literary Studies
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Anna Pawlak is a Full Professor of Modern Art History at the University of Zurich since September 2025. She previously held a W3 Professorship in Early Modern Art at the Institute of Art History, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (2020–2025) and was First Deputy Spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Center 1391 "Other Aesthetics" (2022–2025). Her research focuses on intermediality, visual rhetoric, and cultural hybridity in early modern Dutch art, canon formation, and the epistemic potential of printed works. University of Zurich (2025–present) Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen (2014–2025) Her projects, such as SFB 1391 Subproject C4 "Intermedialität und Repräsentation," explore Latin epigrams and Dutch prints as sites of aesthetic and political negotiation. She has published extensively on topics like Hendrick Goltzius' engravings, Juan de Valdés Leal's hieroglyphs, and the cultural dynamics of Antwerp's festivals. Recent awards include the 2012 Offermann-Hergarten Prize for her dissertation on Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Co-editor of "Plurale Autorschaft" (2023) Co-editor of "Andere Ästhetik meets Andere Ästhetik" (2024) Her articles analyze the intersection of Latin texts and visual art, emphasizing how intermediality shaped European cultural memory. She collaborates with institutions like the University of Zurich, Tübingen's Graphische Sammlung, and the Bibliotheca Hertziana, Rome. Active in organizing workshops and exhibitions, including "Heemskerck & Co. Welt/Bewegend" (2022), she continues to bridge art history with interdisciplinary aesthetics.

• Early Modern Art
• Intermediality
• Aesthetics
• +7 more

Mathias Lerch serves as Lecturer and Head of the Urban Demography Laboratory (URBDEMO) at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). With expertise spanning population dynamics, urbanization, and demographic estimation, he bridges demography with urban planning and environmental science through interdisciplinary research on mortality, fertility, and migration patterns. His research centers on Population and Development, International Demography, and Urban Demography, examining how socioeconomic and environmental factors interact with demographic change. Methodologically, Lerch specializes in data collection, linkage, quality assessment, and advanced statistical modeling for demographic estimation and multi-regional projection, with particular focus on migration systems, fertility transitions, and mortality disparities in urban contexts. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2017-2025) reveals consistent investigation into migration patterns across rural-urban continua, fertility transitions in developing regions, and mortality outcomes in urban environments. His work demonstrates methodological innovation through multi-regional projection techniques and large-scale dataset integration, significantly advancing demographic estimation practices and policy-relevant insights for urban population growth. Dr. Lerch currently advises PhD students Beckendorff Dorothee and Du Wenxiu while teaching courses including Urban Demography and Border Forensics at EPFL. His advisory work focuses on training the next generation of demographers in quantitative methods and urban population analysis. As head of URBDEMO, Lerch leads a research team developing systemic frameworks for understanding urban population dynamics. The laboratory's work integrates demographic methods with urban studies to address contemporary challenges in urbanization, migration flows, and sustainable city development through innovative data linkage and modeling approaches.

• Population and Development
• Demography
• Migration Studies
• +3 more