Find Academic Supervisors

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.

• Sustainable Agriculture
• Agricultural Policy
• Ecosystem Services
• +4 more

Michael Siegrist is a Full Professor of Consumer Behavior at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology. His research focuses on risk perception, risk communication, acceptance of new technologies, and decision making under uncertainty, with particular emphasis on food and consumer behavior. He has established himself as a leading researcher in understanding how people perceive risks related to food, chemicals, and emerging technologies. Dr. Siegrist earned his education at the University of Zurich, where he studied psychology, economics, and mass communication. He completed his dissertation in 1994 and his Habilitation in 2001 at the Faculty of Arts. Between 1998-2000, he was a visiting researcher at Western Washington University, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. He began teaching and research activities at ETH Zurich in 2004 and became a Full Professor there in 2007. His research interests span risk perception and communication, with particular focus on food safety, disgust sensitivity, naturalness perception, and sustainability. His work examines how consumers evaluate risks related to food technologies, chemicals, and environmental issues. He has published extensively on topics including cultured meat acceptance, food labeling, household chemical safety, and the psychological factors influencing consumer decisions under uncertainty. His research often employs cross-cultural approaches, comparing consumer perceptions across different countries and demographic groups. Dr. Siegrist's publications reveal a strong trend toward understanding the psychological mechanisms behind consumer acceptance of novel food technologies, particularly alternative proteins. His recent work increasingly focuses on sustainability issues in food consumption, examining how consumers perceive environmental impacts of food choices and respond to policy measures aimed at promoting sustainable eating habits. He has made significant contributions to understanding how naturalness claims, disgust sensitivity, and cultural factors shape food preferences and risk perceptions. As an active researcher, Dr. Siegrist collaborates with numerous colleagues across disciplines, including veterinary science, nutrition, and agricultural technology. His work spans both theoretical contributions to risk perception frameworks and practical applications for food industry and policy development.

• Risk perception
• Risk communication
• Acceptance of new technologies
• +7 more

Jan Dirk Wegner is an Associate Professor at the University of Zurich, holding the chair in 'Data Science for Sciences' and leading the EcoVision Lab. He previously served as a Postdoc (2012–2016) and senior scientist (2017–2020) at ETH Zurich's Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Group, following his PhD (with distinction) from Leibniz University Hannover (2011). His research bridges machine learning, computer vision, and remote sensing to address environmental and geoscience challenges, focusing on large-scale environmental data analysis, vegetation monitoring, and climate change mitigation. Education: PhD (with distinction) in Geodesy, Leibniz University Hannover (2011) Postdoc, ETH Zurich (2012–2016) Senior Scientist, ETH Zurich (2017–2020) Research Interests: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Remote Sensing, Environmental Science, Climate Science, Geosciences, Explainable AI, Uncertainty Quantification, and Applications in Sustainability. The EcoVision Lab develops data-driven methods for global-scale environmental monitoring, including vegetation parameter mapping, flood prediction, forest degradation detection, and AI-driven ecological modeling. Awards: ETH Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012–2016) Science Prize of the German Geodetic Commission WEF Young Scientist Class 2020 (Top 25 globally under 40) Advising & Leadership: Director of the University of Zurich's Doctoral School in Data Science, leading the EcoVision Lab, and coordinating the CVPR EarthVision Workshops. His roles include Vice President of ISPRS Technical Commission II, member of the ETH AI Center, ELLIS, and UN-ETH Partnership. Labs/Teams: EcoVision Lab focuses on interdisciplinary AI applications for environmental challenges, collaborating with NGOs, governments, and industry to translate research into societal impact.

• Machine Learning
• Computer Vision
• Remote Sensing
• +7 more

Jonas Anderegg is a Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich. He holds a PhD and MSc from ETH Zurich in Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on crop disease phenotyping, precision agriculture, and host-pathogen interactions. Current projects include automated image analysis for disease detection and quantification of Zymoseptoria tritici under field conditions. He has held postdoc positions in Plant Pathology (Institute of Integrative Biology) and Crop Science (Institute of Agricultural Sciences) at ETH Zurich. His work involves developing scalable imaging and deep learning methods for field phenotyping, with applications in quantitative resistance assessment and crop disease management. Education: PhD, Group of Crop Science, ETH Zurich (2016-2020) MSc in Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich (2015) Research interests emphasize high-throughput phenotyping, automated disease detection, and integrating imaging technologies into agricultural practices. Key contributions include datasets like SYMPATHIQUE and FIP 1.0, which provide foundational resources for crop disease research. Grants and advising: While no formal student advisees are listed, his postdoc roles and collaborative projects likely involve mentoring junior researchers. His work aligns with ETH Zurich's focus on sustainable agriculture and technological innovation in plant sciences. Labs and teams: Active member of the Crop Disease Phenotyping group, leveraging UAVs, thermal imaging, and deep learning for field-scale monitoring of crop health and senescence dynamics.

• Plant Pathology
• Precision Agriculture
• High Throughput Phenotyping
• +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

Ueli Grossniklaus is an Ordinary Professor at the University of Zurich within the Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences , affiliated with the Department of Plant and Microbiology . His work focuses on plant developmental biology, particularly epigenetic and genetic mechanisms governing reproduction and adaptation. Key Courses: Epigenetics, Plant Biology Workshop, Group Seminars on Current Research Laboratory Techniques: Advanced methods in plant cell mechanics, transcriptomics, and genome editing Research Interests span plant epigenetics, reproductive biology, and the interplay between environmental stress and genetic regulation. He investigates: Mechanistic control of gametogenesis and fertilization Epigenetic contributions to plant adaptation Evolutionary implications of asexual reproduction Biophysical forces in plant cell growth Publication Trends (2025–2018) reveal expertise in: Arabidopsis and fern model systems Epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation, histone dynamics) Apomixis and hybrid seed failure mechanisms Biomechanics of pollen tubes and carnivorous plants Genome editing tools (CRISPR) and long-read sequencing Scientific Collaborations include interdisciplinary projects on: Microfluidic devices for plant cell analysis Gene drive ecology and ethics 3D imaging of plant reproductive structures Advising and Grants focus on mentoring through research internships in developmental biology, genetics, and systems biology. His lab engages in: Epigenetic response to environmental stress Cell wall mechanics in reproduction Computational modeling of plant growth Laboratory Teams integrate plant biologists, bioengineers, and computational scientists to study: Mechanistic gene regulation Evolutionary developmental biology Microrobotics for cellular force measurement

• Plant Developmental Biology
• Epigenetics
• Plant Genetics
• +5 more

Nina Goldman is a human geographer and lecturer at the University of Basel's Department of Environmental Sciences. Currently, she is based at the University of Manchester on a two-year mobility fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. Her work focuses on understanding social connection in urban environments and addressing loneliness through place-based interventions. She also conducts research for the World Health Organization and serves as a guest editor for a special issue on "Loneliness and the Built Environment" in the Journal Health & Place. Dr. Goldman teaches an annual introductory course in social science methods for the Land Use Changes research group at the University of Basel and has developed various courses since 2017, including "Introduction to Empirical Social Research" and "Urban Geography and Urban Health." Her teaching extends to field excursions across Switzerland, Germany, France, and China, focusing on urban health, poverty, sustainability, and spatial transformations. Her research interests center on the intersection of human geography, urban health, and social connection. Specifically, she investigates which place-based factors are most crucial in determining social connection in cities that, despite offering abundant opportunities for social contact, often leave residents feeling isolated. This work combines geographical analysis with social science methodologies to understand urban loneliness and develop interventions. Dr. Goldman's scholarly work reveals a strong evolution from spatial epidemiology of influenza transmission (reflected in her PhD "The Taming of the Flu") to her current emphasis on loneliness as a critical urban health challenge. Her publications demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach bridging geography, public health, and social science, with increasing focus on policy implications across 52 countries. Swiss National Science Foundation Mobility Fellowship Dr. Goldman has advised numerous students through her courses and field excursions. Her research for the World Health Organization on governmental approaches to addressing loneliness represents a significant contribution to public health policy. She organizes international workshops on place-based interventions for loneliness, fostering global collaboration on this pressing issue. While not explicitly mentioned as leading a formal lab, Dr. Goldman collaborates with the Land Use Changes research group at the University of Basel and participates in international research initiatives related to urban health and social connection. Her work with the World Health Organization and her guest editorship for the Journal Health & Place indicate active engagement in shaping research agendas in her field.

• Human Geography
• Urban Health
• Social Connection
• +3 more

Alexander Damm is a Professor and head of the Remote Sensing of Water Systems (RSWS) group, holding a joint appointment between the Department of Geography at the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). His research integrates advanced Earth observation technologies with environmental science to study water systems under changing climatic and anthropogenic pressures. University: University of Zurich Institutional Affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) Department: Department of Geography Alexander Damm obtained his MSc and PhD in remote sensing from Humboldt-University Berlin. Since 2008, he has been contributing to UZH’s leadership in imaging spectroscopy and Earth observation science. MSc, Remote Sensing, Humboldt-University Berlin PhD, Remote Sensing, Humboldt-University Berlin His research focuses on the fundamentals of remote sensing as applied to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, particularly in studying water dynamics and environmental change impacts. He specializes in sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), imaging spectroscopy, and the development of methods to monitor ecosystem productivity, drought responses, and biogeochemical cycles. His work bridges physics, ecology, and environmental engineering to improve understanding of plant-water relations and ecosystem resilience. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in using airborne and satellite-based spectroscopy to assess vegetation health, water stress, forest dynamics, and atmospheric constituents. Key themes include SIF retrieval, drought monitoring, canopy structure modeling, and air quality estimation. These works span applications from croplands and forests to tundra and inland waters, reflecting a broad interdisciplinary approach grounded in quantitative remote sensing. Alexander Damm is involved in several high-profile research initiatives, including: ESA’s FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission SNSF projects: FLUO4ECO, Spatial-sustainable-finance, DeltAs MeteoSwiss: UrbanNature EU Horizon: NextGenCarbon He leads the RSWS group, which develops and applies cutting-edge remote sensing methodologies for water system monitoring. The team collaborates across disciplines and institutions, focusing on integrating field measurements, airborne campaigns, and satellite data for environmental assessment. Damm’s leadership in projects like FLEX and HyPlant underscores his role in advancing spectroscopic remote sensing for global ecosystem monitoring.

• Remote Sensing
• Earth Observation
• Imaging Spectroscopy
• +7 more

Prof. Zerihun Tadele is a Professor and Group Leader in the Department of Crop Breeding and Genomics at the University of Bern's Institute of Plant Sciences. His research focuses on improving the orphan African cereal Eragrostis tef (tef) through genomic, agronomic, and biotechnological approaches. Key areas include drought tolerance, genetic diversity, and sustainable agricultural practices. He leads projects on tef variety development, mutant breeding, and mycorrhizal symbiosis effects. Research emphasizes Genetic improvement of tef and other underutilized crops Omics technologies for crop resilience Climate-smart agricultural techniques Seed systems and policy for orphan crops Recent work highlights innovations like somatic embryogenesis for Ethiopian potato and nitrogen-use efficiency studies. His team collaborates on global initiatives to enhance food security through underutilized crops. Publications (2022–2025) span over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on tef genetics, breeding strategies, and environmental adaptation. He actively promotes tef as a strategic crop for Africa's food systems.

• Plant Breeding
• Genomics
• Agricultural Science
• +4 more

Mutian Niu serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, where he leads the Professorship for Animal Nutrition. His research addresses critical sustainability challenges in livestock production through innovative approaches to methane mitigation and precision animal nutrition. His primary research domains include Animal Nutrition , Dairy Science , and Methane Mitigation , with specific expertise in feed additives (3-nitrooxypropanol, microalgae), rumen fermentation dynamics, and physiological responses in dairy cattle. He integrates computational methods including machine learning for respiratory monitoring and video-based behavioral analysis, bridging animal science with environmental sustainability. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary trajectory focused on practical methane reduction solutions. Key trends include methodological advancements in methane measurement validation, meta-analyses of feed additive efficacy, and emerging applications of computer vision for non-invasive health monitoring in dairy operations. His work consistently emphasizes environmental impact reduction while maintaining production efficiency in ruminant systems.

• Animal Nutrition
• Dairy Science
• Ruminant Nutrition
• +5 more

Alberto Ferrante is a Lecturer and Researcher at the Faculty of Informatics of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), affiliated with the IDSIA (Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence) USI/SUPSI. His work bridges cybersecurity, embedded systems, and AI applications, particularly in IoT and pest control. He holds a PhD from Università degli Studi di Milano (2006) and an MSc from Politecnico di Milano (2002). Research Interests: Ferrante focuses on Secure communication protocols and embedded systems security Malware detection and resource-optimized hardware solutions Machine learning applications for IoT, including agricultural pest monitoring and healthcare diagnostics Cyber-physical systems design and security-enhanced embedded systems His publications emphasize practical implementations, such as AI-driven UAVs for pest control and low-power drone systems for environmental monitoring. He actively contributes to tech transfer projects with industry partners and participates in major conferences like ICC and Globecom as a TPC member. He teaches the Master’s course Edge Computing in the IoT and collaborates on hardware-software co-design for security-critical systems. His work often integrates real-world constraints like energy efficiency and computational resource limitations. Key contributions include frameworks for dynamic security adaptation in wireless sensor networks and hardware-accelerated security for embedded systems.

• Communication Security
• Embedded Systems Security
• Design of Embedded Systems
• +4 more

Markus Enzweiler serves as Professor of Computer Science and Autonomous Systems at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences within the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He concurrently holds the leadership position of Director at the Institute for Intelligent Systems, where he oversees research initiatives focused on intelligent systems development for real-world autonomous applications. His research program centers on computer vision for autonomous systems , with specialized expertise in visual-inertial SLAM, collective perception, and neural rendering techniques. Key investigation areas include environmental robustness across agricultural and urban settings, real-time processing constraints for embedded systems, sensor fusion methodologies (particularly camera-radar integration), and the application of generative models for perception enhancement. His work consistently addresses practical implementation challenges such as computational efficiency and sensor calibration in unstructured environments. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Advancement of lightweight perception systems through stixel-based representations and neural rendering; (2) Development of infrastructure-supported collective perception frameworks with datasets like CoopScenes and OPNV; and (3) Rigorous benchmarking of SLAM components in domain-specific contexts including agricultural robotics and multi-season navigation. His recent systematic review on LLM-based vulnerability detection also demonstrates expanding interest in software security for autonomous systems. As Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems, Prof. Enzweiler leads a research ecosystem focused on translating theoretical advances into practical autonomous vehicle technologies. His team develops specialized datasets (Rover, OPNV) and software stacks for smart city environments, emphasizing the integration of novel perception approaches with vehicle dynamics modeling and real-time operational constraints.

• Autonomous Driving
• Computer Vision
• Robotics
• +3 more

Roger Stirnimann serves as a Lecturer in Agricultural Engineering at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, specifically within the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Department of Agronomy in Zollikofen. With over a decade of academic experience since 2013, he has established himself as a specialist in agricultural machinery and tractor technology. His educational background includes an Executive Master of Business Administration from Kalaidos Fachhochschule Bern (2007-2008), a degree in Economics Engineering from Private Hochschule für Wirtschaft Bern (2000-2002), and an Agricultural Engineering degree from SHL Zollikofen (1993-1996). He further enhanced his academic teaching skills with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in University Teaching and e-Learning (2013-2014). Agricultural Engineering in general Tractor Technology and development Transport Technology in agriculture Self-propelled harvesting machinery Alternative drive systems for agricultural vehicles Emissions from Nonroad Mobile Machinery Terramechanics and soil-vehicle interaction Trailer braking systems His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output, particularly in tractor technology and agricultural machinery. The analysis of his 15 most recent articles reveals a strong focus on tractor development, engine and transmission systems, alternative drive concepts, and classification methodologies. His work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in agricultural machinery, with particular emphasis on performance optimization, sustainability, and technological innovation in farming equipment. Max Eyth commemorative coin in silver (DLG) Stirnimann actively contributes to academic and industry organizations, serving as a co-author for the Yearbook of Agricultural Engineering, Swiss delegate for OECD's Tractor Test Codes, and chair of DLG's Vehicle Technology examination commission. His industry experience prior to academia, particularly with Ammann Schweiz AG and Matra, provides valuable practical context to his academic work. His research often addresses real-world challenges in agricultural machinery, focusing on performance, efficiency, and environmental impact. His work with various tractor chassis concepts, soil pressure analysis, and alternative drive systems demonstrates his commitment to advancing sustainable and efficient agricultural technology. Through his memberships in organizations like ISTVS (International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems) and the Club of Bologna, he maintains strong connections between academic research and industry applications.

• Agricultural Engineering
• Tractor Technology
• Transport Technology
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Bruno Studer is a Full Professor at the Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, and Head of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center. His research focuses on plant genetics, genomics, and agricultural innovation, particularly in crop improvement, disease resistance, and microbiome interactions. He leads projects on genomic selection, plant breeding, and phenotyping technologies, addressing challenges in food security and environmental resilience. Affiliations: Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich; Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center Research interests span plant-microbe interactions, genetic diversity in forage crops, and the development of tools for precision agriculture. His work integrates genomic prediction, digital phenotyping, and machine learning to enhance crop yields and environmental adaptability. Recent studies address bacterial leaf spot diseases, stomatal trait variation, and root rot resistance mechanisms in plants. Publications highlight advancements in genomic approaches for apple and ryegrass breeding, as well as microbial community dynamics linked to plant health. He contributes to initiatives like the Swiss Apple Core Collection and develops technologies like the FruitPhenoBox for rapid fruit trait analysis.

• Plant Genetics
• Agricultural Science
• Genomics
• +6 more

Laura A. Foster is an Assistant Professor at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law, with research focusing on the intersection of intellectual property law, gender studies, and social justice. Her scholarly work examines how patent law and intellectual property frameworks interact with feminist theory, indigenous knowledge systems, and biotechnology. Her research interests include Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Gender Studies, Biotechnology Law, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Social Security Law. Foster's work critically analyzes how legal frameworks impact marginalized communities, with particular attention to race, gender, and indigenous rights within intellectual property systems. Foster's publication record shows a consistent focus on the intersection of law, gender, and technology. Her most recent work examines smart farming technologies in East Africa through the lens of indigeneity, gender, and data sovereignty. Earlier works explore patent law struggles over breast cancer genes and the Hoodia plant, feminist perspectives on the public domain, and race and gender discrimination in social security systems. Her scholarship demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach, connecting legal theory with anthropology, gender studies, and technology studies to examine how intellectual property frameworks shape social relations and power dynamics.

• Intellectual Property Law
• Patent Law
• Feminist Legal Theory
• +6 more