Christian Ludwig

Christian Ludwig is an Adjunct Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Engineering (ENAC) and the Department of Environmental Engineering. He also leads the joint EPFL-PSI Professorship in Solid Waste Treatment, heading the Ludwig Group (GR-LUD) at EPFL and the Chemical Processes and Materials (CPM) group at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). His research focuses on sustainable resource management, including waste treatment technologies, nanoparticle synthesis, and recycling of critical materials like rare earth elements. Ludwig holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Berne and has extensive experience in academia and industry, with roles spanning from postdoctoral research to senior leadership at PSI since 2000.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, University of Berne (1993)
• Master's in Chemistry, University of Berne (1990)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships at UC Davis and EAWAG

Research Interests: Solid waste treatment, bioenergy technology, nanoparticle characterization, trace element fate analysis, and resource recovery from waste. His work emphasizes developing innovative materials and processes for cleaner energy and sustainable resource cycles.

Publications: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, with recent contributions in Environmental Science & Technology, ACS Nano, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Research trends include supercritical water gasification, aerosol analysis, and rare earth metal recycling.

Grants & Awards: Multiple projects funded by Swiss National Science Foundation and EU Horizon programs, focusing on circular economy and environmental technologies. Recognized as a 'World's Best Scientist' in 2025.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Ludwig Group (GR-LUD) at EPFL, collaborating with PSI's CPM group to advance chemical processes and material sciences. Active in interdisciplinary projects merging environmental engineering with nanotechnology.