07

In May 2020, the Scientific Staff Association of the D-BSSE presented the results of a comprehensive “Survey on Supervision and Working Conditions at the D-BSSE” conducted amongst doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. This survey was in response to an earlier ETH-wide survey, which had indicated that doctoral students at D-BSSE were dissatisfied with their supervision, and to the measures implemented since then in the department. Interview with Niko Beerenwinkel, Head of the D-BSSE.

Lucas Armbrecht’s doctoral thesis on the development of a microfluidic platform which isolates circulating tumor cells was nominated for this year’s MaP Award. Lucas was a member of the Bioanalytics group led by Petra Dittrich. Mario Saucedo from the same group won the MaP Image Contest and MaP Poster Award presenting his research with a cartoon-like illustration during an excellent 2-minute ‘Flash Talk’. The Prices are awarded by the Competence Centre for Materials and Processes.

Organised by the D-BSSE meets Industry initiative, on 14 July at 6 PM the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will give an introduction to the world's largest private foundation and illustrate the role of scientists in designing and shaping Global Health projects. Register to this online webinar at http://u.ethz.ch/7TgsA.  

Burcak Yesildag from the D-BSSE spinoff InSphero and Patrick Misun from the Bio Engineering Laboratory at the D-BSSE talk about a new testing platform that will help diabetes researchers to find new drugs and to get deeper insights into underlying biological mechanisms.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the D-BSSE spinoff InSphero grasped the opportunity and offered companies and research institutions alike its test kit for free. As new projects and collaborations arise, the young company well manages the current uncertainties in economic development: “We decide on strategy again actively instead of reactively”. Interview with Jan Lichtenberg, CEO and co-founder of InSphero.