2017
New professors at D-HEST: Ori Bar-Nur, Rafael Polania and Michael Leunig
15 Dec 2017 - At its meeting of 13/14 December 2017, the ETH Board appointed two new professors at D-HEST and awarded one title of adjunct professor:
Dr Ori Bar-Nur, currently a post-doctoral student at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Regenerative and Movement Biology. Quote ETH News: "Ori Bar-Nur’s research focuses on the transformation of adult cells into stem cells – an important area of tissue engineering. He is especially interested in cutting-edge transgene systems, which he combines with innovative small molecule screening in order to improve the transformation into stem cells. With the appointment of Ori Bar-Nur, the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich is boosting its research into biomaterials and regenerative technologies, and into healthy ageing."
Recording of Ori Bar-Nur's inaugural lecture on 20 November 2018
Dr Rafael Polania, currently a post-doctoral student at the University of Zurich, as Assistant Professor of Decision Neuroscience. Quote ETH News: "Rafael Polania investigates how the human brain makes decisions and turns them into targeted action. His highly interdisciplinary approach combines modelling neural processes and behaviour with modern imaging techniques and non-invasive brain stimulation. This allows him to affect neural communication within the brain in a targeted manner and explore its impact on human behaviour. Rafael Polania’s research was awarded an ERC Starting Grant this year. His appointment enables ETH Zurich to strengthen human research, among other disciplines."
Recording of Rafael Polania's inaugural lecture on 6 November 2018
Dr Michael Leunig, currently a Departmental Head at the Schulthess Clinic in Zurich and Lecturer at ETH Zurich, as Adjunct Professor at ETH Zurich. Quote ETH News: "Michael Leunig has not only achieved global recognition as a top surgeon, but is also known for his innovative teaching and as one of the world’s leading researchers in his field. At ETH Zurich he combines problems arising from his everyday work at the hospital with topics in the natural and engineering sciences."
New professorships at D-HEST: Simone Schürle, Effy Vayena und Marcy Zenobi-Wong
19 May 2017 - At its meeting of 17 May 2017, the ETH Board appointed three new professors at D-HEST:
Dr. Simone Schürle, currently a post-doctoral researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Responsive Biomedical Systems. Quote ETH News: "The focus of Simone Schürle’s research is the development of micro and nanometric tools for the investigation or manipulation of biological processes in cells and organs. She has designed activatable and reactive nanosystems to meet the rapidly growing demand for accurate tools. The appointment of Simone Schürle enables the Department of Health Sciences and Technology to strengthen the links between the research areas of robotics, nutrition, health and neuroscience in an ideal manner."
Recording of Simone Schürle's inaugural lecture on 02 May 2018
Prof. Dr. Eftychia ("Effy") Vayena, currently SNSF Professor at the University of Zurich, as Full Professor of Bioethics. Quote ETH News: "Eftychia Vayena is an internationally sought-after expert on ethical questions relating to the digital revolution in healthcare. She explores the individual’s rights to his or her own genome and health data, for example. The increasing importance of personal data gathered by means of smartphone sensors is a particular interest of hers. By appointing Eftychia Vayena, ETH Zurich is underlining the importance of health ethics, with particular reference to the future training of medical students, while establishing a connection with the strategic focus area of big data."
Recording of Effy Vayena's inaugural lecture on 01 October 2018
Prof. Dr. Marcy Zenobi-Wong, urrently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication. Quote ETH News: "Marcy Zenobi-Wong’s research interests revolve around the biomechanics of cartilaginous tissue. She is exceptionally skilled at combining mechanical and biological perspectives. This enables her to pursue innovative paths in order to apply the latest knowledge of cellular and mechanobiology to regeneration methods. She is thus in an excellent position to assume a key role in tissue and cartilage engineering in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich.