Maike Scherrer

Prof. Dr. Maike Scherrer is a Professor at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Engineering, where she leads research in sustainable mobility and supply chain management. Her work focuses on developing innovative solutions for sustainable and circular supply chains, urban logistics, and resilient transportation systems. She directs multiple research projects including Sustainable and Circular Supply Chains for the MEM-industry and the Sustainable Mobility Lab, collaborating with industry partners to address critical challenges in sustainable logistics and mobility.

Prof. Scherrer's research spans several key areas in sustainable operations and supply chain management. Her work in sustainable supply chains examines how to achieve net-zero emissions through circular economy principles and systemic approaches. In urban logistics, she develops innovative concepts like Smart Urban Multihub systems to reduce freight traffic and improve city livability. Her research on supply chain resilience investigates how to design networks that can withstand disruptions while maintaining mission-critical supplies. She also explores the electrification of freight fleets and temperature-controlled supply chains to reduce environmental impacts.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying operations research and systems thinking to sustainability challenges. Key trends include using agent-based modeling to assess circular economy supply chains, developing optimization approaches for resilient networks, and examining the spatial aspects of pharmaceutical supply chains. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, particularly in the Swiss context but with implications for global supply chain sustainability.

Prof. Scherrer leads multiple significant research projects including Sustainable and Circular Supply Chains for the MEM-industry (ongoing), Techno-Economic Grid Connection Optimization for Electric Freight Fleets (ongoing), and Designing and simulating resilient supply chain networks (ongoing). She serves as Deputy Project Leader for the Sustainable Mobility Lab and has completed notable projects such as User-based redistribution for free-floating car sharing and Predictive replenishment of urban distribution centres.

Her research group operates within the Sustainable Mobility research focus at ZHAW's School of Engineering, collaborating with industry partners across multiple sectors including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and urban transportation. The team applies interdisciplinary approaches combining operations research, systems analysis, and sustainability science to develop practical solutions for complex mobility and logistics challenges.