2022

The ETH student magazine Polykum dedicated one page to a feature on D-BSSE - thanks to the new VMB comms representative Anika John. Great to see this spotlight on our department in Basel!

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells involved in the control of intestinal inflammation. Yet, eosinophils have been difficult to study and so far have remained invisible to single-cell transcriptomics, a tool used to construct tissue atlases in health and disease. A Nature study co-led by Costanza Borrelli from the Moor lab and colleagues at the University of Zurich, now provides novel insights into the biology of this cell type.

D-BSSE wishes all members and friends Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Peaceful Year 2023! At the Townhall on 31 January, 11 AM, we will review the year 2022 and look into the future, putting a spotlight on the new D-BSSE leadership, the finalisation of our new building BSS and updates from our many initiatives. Until then: stay safe and all the best!

The speakers at the Ethics of Engineering Life Conference held in September 2022 in Rome agreed on a pronouncement which calls for a continuation of the fruitful dialogue among different disciplines and relevant stakeholders, saying: “In a world in which engineering life is rapidly improving, and new challenges arise in its application, a common effort to disentangle the moral issues would imply universal benefits in terms of ethical admissibility and allow to find the right path forward”.

Three research images produced by D-BSSE scientists that had turned into artwork were first exhibited and then sold at an auction at Kunsthalle Zürich to support needs-based scholarships for ETH students. The event was organised by the company headcount in collaboration with the ETH AI Centre and ETH Foundation.

A postdoctoral researcher starting his own group, a pioneer in academic-industry collaboration, and a startup entrepreneur: they all share the vision of finding their personal career paths. Interviews with three members of the Bioprocess group led by Sven Panke on their career goals, personal interests and their needs to become independent.

Networking and mentoring clearly represent the most important door-openers in young scientists’ careers. The group around Andreas Hierlemann entertains a bi-annual reunion of current lab members with lab alumni, international guests and previous lab members, who have become entrepreneurs. At their latest meeting on 19 November, some 85 scientists gathered and discussed ‘Emerging Topics in Science’ at D-BSSE premises. 

In order to support the cantons and the Confederation with scientific expertise even after the dissolution of the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force, a new scientific advisory body for the Covid-19 pandemic will be established. The advisory body is chaired by Tanja Stadler, ETH-professor at D-BSSE, and comprises 14 members from different institutions and disciplines. The mandate runs provisionally until the end of June 2023.

Congratulations to Andreas Moor, head of the Systems Physiology Lab at D-​BSSE, on being elected member of the Young Investigator Programme of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). The growing EMBO network promotes excellence in life sciences and shapes their direction in research, fosters the careers of young scientists and strengthens the research communities in Europe and beyond.

The Golden Owl honours lecturers distinguished by exceptional teaching and motivates them to continue with their excellent teaching. The Owl is awarded by ETH Zurich’s student association. This year, the Owl was awarded to Roman Vetter at D-BSSE, Lecturer and Senior Research Associate in the Computational Biology lab. Congratulations, Roman!