Kathryn Hess Bellwald

Kathryn Hess Bellwald is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in both the School of Life Sciences and School of Basic Sciences. She leads the Laboratory for Topology and Neuroscience and serves as Academic Director for the Euler Programme. Her work bridges pure mathematics and interdisciplinary applications in neuroscience, materials science, and data analysis.

• Education: PhD in Mathematics (MIT, 1989), preceded by positions at Stockholm, Nice, and Toronto universities.

Her research spans algebraic topology, homotopy theory, operad theory, and algebraic K-theory, with applications in neuroscience and materials science. She has pioneered topological data analysis methods for classifying neuronal morphologies, microglia phenotypes, and nanoporous materials, creating a parameter-free framework linking neural network structure to activity.

The 15 most recent publications highlight her work on topological inverse problems, neuroinflammation, and equivariant homotopy. These studies often involve collaborations with the Blue Brain Project and EPFL teams in neuroscience, machine learning, and materials science.

• Scientific Awards: Fellow, American Mathematical Society (2017); Distinguished Speaker, European Mathematical Society (2017); Crédit Suisse Teaching Prize (2012); Polysphère d'Or (2013); Full Member, Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (2016); Chaire de la Vallée Poussin (2023); Fellow, Association for Women in Mathematics (2024).

She has mentored numerous PhD students in mathematics and neuroscience, including Adélie Eliane Garin, Varvara Karpova, and Dimitri Zaganidis. Her EPFL Mathematics affiliations include the DIVISION MATH, while her Neuroscience lab operates under the Brain Mind Institute (BMI) in the School of Life Sciences (SV). Grants and collaborations are evident in her work on neurodegenerative diseases, synthetic materials, and machine learning frameworks.