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On 7 May, 2 to 4 PM in the Science Lounge, the Scientific IT Services is offering another opportunity for drop-in advice and assistance with programming and software development. If you would like to have an experienced software engineer review your code, assist in designing efficient algorithms, or help you debugging, then you are most welcome to stop by the code clinic.

Last November, news from China shook the research community. Scientist He Jiankui claimed he had edited the genomes of twin girls with the CRISPR/Cas technology. Effy Vayena, Professor of Bioethics at ETH Zurich, and Hantao Zhao, a Chinese PhD student at Disney Research and the Chair of Cognitive Science at ETH Zurich, discuss the ethical implications of this case.

The latest QS ranking by subject reveals that ETH Zurich stepped up its game across almost all subject areas. ETH ranks in first place in the earth sciences, a position it has maintained for several years. The D-BSSE and related engineering & technology disciplines are listed on place 3 of the world university ranking.  

On 26 February, D-BSSE was welcoming District President Monica Gschwind and members of the cantonal government of Basel-Landschaft for a joint lunch and lab visits of the Bioanalytics Group and the Synthetic Immunology Group. The event offered great opportunities to discuss collaborations with academic institutions, industry and the regional startup community.  

...principal investigator Dagmer Iber and entrepreneur Irene Wüthrich. Join us on 18 March, 8:45 AM, in the Misrock Hall for an inspiring breakfast and learn about different career paths! This event is open only to D-BSSE students and staff. Registration is required.  

The ETH Alumni Association is turning 150 years old. To celebrate this occasion, the D-BSSE Biotech Alumni Association distributed freshly baked muffins on Friday, 22 February in the Science Lounge. Joining the Biotech Alumni Association brings about lots of advantages and benefits - and a persistent link to the D-BSSE extensive network as well as current and future activities.  

For the past 10 days, D-BSSE members were invited to free coffee all day long in order to make a choice between four different varieties of coffee beans which supply the well-frequented coffee machines. Great opportunity and bottom-up initiative! The winners are Lavazza Gusto Pieno and Illy Café Napoli.

During the past few months, various cases of harassment and power abuse at Swiss universities have surfaced. Team members in the group of D-BSSE Professor Tanja Stadler are particularly satisfied with the group situation, and together with Tanja Stadler comment on leadership and management style, individual choices and overall challenges in scientific careers. Listen to the radio programme (“Es geht auch anders”, in German).  

Every year, thousands of students from around the world meet at iGEM, the world's largest Synthetic Biology Competition. The 2019 ETH Zürich team is currently calling for applications to build an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, Bachelor and Master level. Apply before 3 March!  

The Swiss postdoctoral researcher in the Machine Learning and Computational Biology Lab of Karsten Borgwardt is applying data analysis tools to biological systems with the aim to better understand their molecular properties. After a two-year fellowship in Canada, Catherine is enjoying to be back home – and to no longer miss soccer games of her favorite football team, FC Basel.