News & Events

The latest Scientific Staff Survey at ETH Zurich – broken down to the level of departments – offers insights into doctoral and postdoctoral experiences. Despite moderate participation rates, the survey remains an important tool for shaping future improvements and guiding institutional priorities.

The Swiss medical doctor expected excellence at ETH Zurich – and got a genuine spirit of collaboration as a bonus. In this interview, Tanay reflects on arriving at D‑BSSE, crossing academic boundaries and balancing lab work with life on two wheels.

At its meeting on 20 and 21 May 2026 and upon application of Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich, the ETH Board appointed Stephen Quake, currently Professor at Stanford University, USA, as Full Professor of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering at the D-BSSE and faculty member of the Basel Research Center for Child Health (BRCCH). A warm welcome, Stephen!

A newly funded project led by Na Cai will use advanced statistical and machine learning methods to uncover molecular subtypes of major depressive disorder. By analysing large-scale international datasets, the team aims to identify biological signatures of depression and pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments.

Researchers from the Bio Engineering Lab of Andreas Hierlemann have developed a platform to strengthen or weaken connections between neurons with unprecedented precision. Using high-density microelectrode arrays they built a framework that could guide our understanding of how complex neuronal systems remain stable, resilient, and healthy. Published in Advanced Science, this study marks a step forward in our ability to actively reshape the brain’s fundamental building blocks.

Xiang Ge Luo who used single-cell sequencing data to study tumour’s evolutionary trajectory from diagnosis during her doctorate in the Beerenwinkel group, and Adrian Lison from the Stadler lab who monitored the transmission of pathogens using clinical, behaviour, and environmental data, received the 2025 ETH Medals for their doctoral theses. Big congratulations!

On 8 May, 25 Biotechnology and 16 Computational Biology & Bioinformatics graduates attended the D-BSSE graduation ceremony together with their families and friends, in total some 160 guests. We are pleased to also celebrate three Willi Studer Prize and an ETH Medal awardee this year. We warmly congratulate all our graduates and wish them best of success for a bright future!

On 9 June, 6:15 pm, the Laboratory for Multicellular Systems led by Prisca Liberali, is inviting the public to a 1-hour guided tour to take a glimpse into the organisation and regeneration of intestinal organoids (“mini-guts”) - and into the future of biomedical research (tour in German with an introduction in English; please register).

Since January 2025, D-BSSE has a Good Scientific Practice Delegate and a Research Integrity Advisor. Both work on the ethical dimensions in scientific research. An interview with Andreas Moor who took over the function as Good Scientific Practice Delegate from Tanja Stadler in January 2026, and Jack Kuipers on their roles.