The ETH Board has reformed its strategic planning for the period 2012-2016 for the internal consultative procedure at the six institutions (ETH Zurich, EPFL, PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag). The ETH Board had previously recorded the priority areas in which the portfolios of the two universities and four research institutes are to be developed further.

The ETH Board also decided to incorporate the competence centers of the ETH Domain in the strategic planning for 2012-2016. This concerns the Energy and Mobility CCEM-CH, Environment and Sustainability CCES, Materials Science and Technology CCMX centers, as well as – providing the pending evaluation turns out positively - Biomedical Imaging NCCBI.

These centers for topic-oriented research, which were brought into being in 2006 with start-up funding from the ETH Board, have achieved visible successes and boosted the cooperation in the ETH Domain. It is looking to gradually reduce the direct funding from its own budget, but encourages the centers to continue their work and thereby to strengthen their external funding. The Board then incorporated the further implementation of the national strategy for high-performance computing (HPCN) with the national supercomputer at the Swiss National High Performance Computing Center (CSCS) in Ticino, the construction of the free-electron x-ray laser “SwissFEL” at the PSI as well as the neuroinformation project “Blue Brain” at the EPFL in its strategy.

Furthermore, the ETH Board declared itself in favor of continuing the two national initiatives for systems biology, SystemsX.ch, and for information and nanotechnologies, Nano-Tera.ch. The two research initiatives launched throughout Switzerland in 2008 each make a considerable contribution towards a focus area of the ETH Domain and combine the research efforts of all Swiss universities.

With regard to a flexibilization of the real estate management in the ETH Domain, the President is instructed by the ETH Board to prepare further steps and introduce them in discussions with the federal authorities and enter into negotiations accordingly. Which effects and advantages a transfer of the property to the ETH Domain real estate would have will be examined intensively by the ETH Board, in order to decide whether such a transfer could be declared a medium-term goal.

New Professors of ETH Zurich

At the request of Ralph Eichler, ETH-President, the ETH Board has appointed the following people as Professors:

• Dr. Timothy I. Eglinton (*1960), currently Senior Scientist at the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, USA, as Full Professor of Biogeosciences. Timothy I. Eglinton is viewed as the world’s best contemporary isotope biogeochemist and as a pioneer for new analytic techniques such as component-specific radiocarbon analysis. His research activities range from the genesis of oil to examining organic matter in ice cores in Greenland.

• Dr. John Lygeros (*1968), since 2006 has been an Associate Professor of Control and Computation at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Control and Computation.
  John Lygeros is a very productive researcher in the fields of modelling, analysis and control of hierarchical hybrid systems, with applications to biochemical networks. He is also an expert in large-scale systems such as automated highways and air traffic management and control over wireless networks.

• Prof. Dr. Edoardo Mazza (*1969), since 2006 has been an Associate Professor of Mechanics at ETH Zurich and Head of the Department of Mechanics for Modelling and Simulation, as Full Professor of Mechanics. Edoardo Mazza has an excellent record in research in the field of experimental continuum mechanics. His interdisciplinary research projects involve biomechanics as well as high-temperature materials and adaptive materials. In 2006, Mazza was awarded the ‘Golden Owl’, the popularity prize awarded by the students of ETH Zurich.

• Prof. Dr. Daniel Jobst Müller (*1965), currently Professor of Cellular Machines at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, as Full Professor of Biophysics.
  Daniel Müller is a leading international researcher in the field of bionanotechnology, biophysics and imaging processes to quantify molecular interactions in cells. The technology he developed for automatic power spectroscopy with robots demonstrated why leukaemia cells display increased adhesion to bone marrow.

• Prof. Dr. Javier Pérez-Ramírez (*1974), currently ICREA Research Professor at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Tarragona, Spain, as Full Professor of Catalysis Engineering.
  Javier Pérez-Ramírez is a world-renowned specialist for heterogeneous catalysis processes and their potential in solving today’s resources, energy and environmental problems. The aim of this professorship is to extend the cooperation with the chemical industry further.

• Prof. Dr. Janos Vörös (*1970), since 2006 has been an Associate Professor of Bioelectronics at ETH Zurich, as Full Professor of Bioelectronics. Janos Vörös is a very distinguished and productive scientist in the research field of bioelectronic systems. His research activities relate to linking biological components with electronics and optoelectronics. He is also responsible for the masters program in Biomedical Engineering, which is experiencing ever-increasing demand from students.

• Prof. Dr. Robert Weismantel (*1965), currently C4 Professor of Mathematical Optimization at the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany, as Full Professor of Mathematics (Operations Research). Robert Weismantel is world-renowned mathematician in the field of discrete optimization and in interdisciplinary research areas such as the structural analysis of biological systems. He has also gained an excellent reputation in developing the ‘Dynamic Systems in Biomedicine and Process Technology’ research centre at Magdeburg University.

• Prof. Dr. Philip Ursprung (*1963), currently Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art at the University of Zurich, as Full Professor of Art and Architectural History.
  Philip Ursprung is one of the leading art historians of his generation with a specialization in modern and contemporary art including architecture. He uses his methodical skills to combine art theory competently with historical, social and economic sciences.

As Associate Professors of ETH Zurich were appointed:

• Prof. Dr. Jeroen van Bokhoven (*1971), currently SNF Professor at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Heterogeneous Catalysis at ETH Zurich. Jeroen van Bokhoven has an excellent scientific record in the field of heterogeneous catalysts and exceptional management qualities. Jeroen van Bokhoven’s professorship is linked to the management of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). The joint professorship deepens the research cooperation between ETH Zurich and the PSI in the field of catalyst characterization.

• Prof. Dr. Andreas Wallraff (*1971), since 2006 has been a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Solid State Physics at ETH Zurich, as Associate Professor of Solid State Physics.
  Andreas Wallraff is a highly respected international researcher who is one of the founders of the new research area of circuit quantum electrodynamics. For his innovative research approach, Andreas Wallraff received one of the prestigious and highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Starting Independent Research Grants.

As an Assistant Professor of ETH Zurich the ETH Board has appointed the following person:

• Prof. Dr. Claus M. Azzalin (*1972), since 2009 has been a SNF Professor of Genome Stability at ETH Zurich, as Assistant Professor of Genome Stability. Claus Azzalin is an excellent researcher in the field of genome stability and telomer biology. His groundbreaking findings on the telomers (the ends of chromosomes) of mammals led to Claus Azzalin receiving one of the prestigious and highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Starting Independent Research Grants in the autumn of 2009.

As a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of ETH Zurich were appointed:

• Dr. Christian Franck (*1973), currently a group leader for “high voltage systems” in the research centre of the energy and automation technology concern ABB in Baden-Dättwil, Switzerland, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of High Voltage Technology.
  Christian Franck is an excellent researcher in the field of switches and switch simulation as well as an innovative developer of new technical solutions for current interruption, limitation and gas isolation as well as a successful manager of research and development groups.

The ETH Board has re-appointed the following person as an Assistant Professor of ETH Zurich:

• Prof. Dr. Laurent Stalder (*1970), currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Architectural Theory at ETH Zurich, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Architectural Theory.
  Laurent Stalder is a very distinguished and productive scientist with specializations in the research of conventions of architectural practise, the influence of the specialist press on the theory of architecture as well as in the analysis of the diffusion, reception and reflection of architecture at the International Congresses of Modern Architects (CIAM) in the post-war era.

As an Adjunct Professor of ETH Zurich the following person was appointed:

• Dr. Martin Schroth (*1963), currently a Senior Scientist and lecturer at the Department of Environmental Sciences at ETH Zurich, as Adjunct Professor of ETH Zurich.
  Martin Schroth is a researcher of international acclaim in the fields of environmental biology, multi-phase currents and contaminant transport. His research program has provided significant findings to reduce contaminants in aquifers and to transport greenhouse gases in the ground.