Lucio Isa

Prof. Dr. Lucio Isa is a Full Professor of Soft Materials and Interfaces at ETH Zurich's Department of Materials. His research focuses on colloidal systems, fluid interfaces, and active matter, with applications in soft materials engineering and nanotechnology. He holds leadership roles in initiatives like Swiss Soft Days to foster soft matter research in Switzerland.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Soft Matter Physics (University of Edinburgh, 2008)
• Masters in Nuclear Engineering (Polytecnico di Milano, 2004)
• Postdoctoral roles at ETH Zurich (2008–2013), UC Santa Barbara (2012), and promotions to SNSF Assistant Professor (2013), Associate Professor (2019), and Full Professor (2024).

Research Interests: Prof. Isa investigates colloidal particles, fluid interfaces, and responsive materials. Key areas include

• Colloidal gels and their mechanical properties
• Active matter dynamics in confined environments
• Surface-driven assembly of soft particles
• Applications in biocompatible materials and microfluidics

Awards & Honors: Recognized with prestigious grants and awards such as the ERC Consolidator Grant (2020), Vernon Harrison Award (2008), and multiple Marie Curie fellowships. He is an EPJ Distinguished Referee (2017) and Soft Matter Lectureship awardee (2015).

Teaching & Labs: Teaches courses in materials science, statistical thermodynamics, and surface science. Leads the Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, pioneering studies on microswimmers, adaptive systems, and colloidal assembly.