Michael Jon Mattle

Michael Jon Mattle is a Lecturer at the Institute of Environmental Engineering (SSIE) within the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). His expertise lies in water and wastewater treatment, with a focus on process engineering, virus inactivation, and environmental chemistry. He has extensive professional experience in both academic and industrial settings, including roles at EPFL, Eawag, and HOLINGER SA.

• PhD in Environmental Sciences, EPFL (2009–2013)
• M.Sc. in Chemistry (Physical Chemistry focus), EPFL (2005–2007)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry, EPFL (2002–2005)
• Exchange year at Universidad de Sevilla, Spain (2004–2005)
• Master project at Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India (2006–2007)

Michael Jon Mattle's research centers on environmental processes critical to public health and sustainable water systems. His work spans photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, solar disinfection (SODIS), virus inactivation mechanisms, and process optimization in communal and industrial wastewater treatment. His interdisciplinary background combines chemistry, engineering, and environmental science to develop practical, scalable solutions for water quality challenges.

His publication record reflects a strong focus on the fate and control of viruses in water systems, particularly through UV and chemical disinfection, with attention to the impact of viral aggregation and shielding. He has also contributed to research on microplastics in effluents and the development of carbon-doped TiO2 photocatalysts for degrading stable organic molecules using sunlight.

• Why weaker is stronger (News journal article on aggregation studies), Swiss National Science Foundation (2013)
• Fluoride Removal in Ethiopia, Eawag (2009)
• Improving Fluoride Removal Efficiency, Eawag (2008)

Mattle has advised on defluoridation projects in Ethiopia and has worked as a scientific advisor and process engineer. His teaching includes applied wastewater engineering at EPFL, where he continues to contribute to the education of future environmental engineers. He is fluent in German, French, English, and Spanish, with good oral skills in Italian and Portuguese, reflecting his international experience across three continents.

He has held positions as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at EPFL, and as a process engineer at HOLINGER SA. His field experience in Ethiopia with Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS/EPER) demonstrates a commitment to applying scientific knowledge in real-world, resource-limited settings.