Appointment of EPFL professors

Professor Andrea Cavallaro, currently Full Professor at Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom, as Full Professor of Electrical Engineering in the School of Engineering (STI) and Director of the Idiap Research Institute.
Andrea Cavallaro works on machine learning for multi-modal perception and modelling, computer vision, audio processing and information privacy. He is an internationally recognized expert in signal processing, perception, and machine learning. The appointment of Andrea Cavallaro will strengthen the research and teaching activities done at EPFL on these strategic topics, boost the academic links between EPFL and Idiap and contribute to maintaining and reinforcing the leading role of those two institutions in data science and machine learning.

Dr Camille Goemans, currently Postdoctoral Researcher at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Camille Goemans is active in the field of microbiome research, with particular reference to the development of antimicrobial resistance. She belongs to a new generation of microbiologists who combine advanced quantitative and experimental research technologies with approaches to data analysis that have a basis in computational biology. Camille Goemans is a promising researcher in this vital area of medicine. Her appointment opens the way to numerous collaborations and will further strengthen the School of Life Sciences and EPFL as a whole.

Dr Laura Grigori, currently Director of Research at the National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (INRIA), France, as Full Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Laura Grigori’s interdisciplinary research lies at the interface between numerical linear algebra, high-performance computing and their various applications. She is a global leader in the field of numerical algebra. At PSI she will head the Laboratory for Simulation and Modelling (LSM), thus taking a managerial role as well as acting as an important bridge between the two institutions.

Dr Manuel Guizar-Sicairos, currently Senior Scientist at PSI, as Associate Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Manuel Guizar-Sicairos’ research investigates digital imaging for the next generation of X-ray sources, particularly for nanotomography. His work on the connectome is especially significant because it delivered the first X-ray images of mammalian synapses, for which he was recognised by the scientific community. The future research of this internationally acclaimed specialist could have a major impact on the neurosciences. At PSI, Manuel Guizar-Sicairos will be Group Leader for the mathematics and physics of imaging.

Dr Michael Herbst, currently Postdoctoral Researcher at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Mathematics and of Materials Science and Engineering, in the Schools of Basic Sciences (SB) and Engineering (STI) respectively.
Michael Herbst works on the theory and modelling of the electronic structure of materials, at the interdisciplinary boundary of mathematics,computational materials science, and computer science. He develops efficient and reliable algorithms for the high-throughput screening of calculations for materials, a field in which he has already obtained significant results. The aim of the joint professorship at the two Schools is to develop a future-oriented research programme for both disciplines. Michael Herbst will have an important role to act as a bridge between the Institutes of Mathematics and Materials.

Professor Sebastian Waszak, currentlyGroup Leader at the University of Oslo, Norway, and Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, USA, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Sebastian Waszak’s research is in the field of neuro-oncology, particularly brain tumours in children. He investigates the hereditary causes of cancer with the aim of making recommendations for genetic screening. As a bioinformatics specialist with an excellent knowledge of biology and the medical context, he makes use of computational research methods because the volume of clinical and experimental data is increasing so rapidly. The cancer research community at EPFL will benefit greatly from his extensive network of partnerships.

Dr Fides Zenk, currently Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich in Basel, as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Fides Zenk’s research is concerned with immunobiology and epigenetics, particularly transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and developing cerebral organoids with the assistance of new single-cell technologies. Her groundbreaking work on the epigenetic regulation of early embryonic development has made a significant contribution to scientific knowledge. Furthermore, this particular research area is not currently represented at EPFL, so Fides Zenk will be an ideal addition to the School. The appointment of this up-and-coming researcher will also facilitate new cooperations within EPFL’s multidisciplinary environment.

Promotions at EPFL

Professor Kumar Agrawal, currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at EPFL, as Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Sciences in the School of Basic Sciences (SB) at EPFL Valais Wallis.
Kumar Agrawal works on the development of molecular separation systems for industrial product streams. This promising researcher is regarded as a leader in the field of membranes made of two-dimensional materials for filtering gases. A group of chemical engineers under his direction has developed a porous graphene filter which can extract carbon dioxide from the mix of gases emitted by industrial facilities. He and his team aim to expand the applications of nanoporous graphene membranes to include the separation of hydrocarbon mixtures.

Professor Li Tang, currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at EPFL, as Associate Professor of Bioengineering in the School of Engineering (STI)
Li Tang conducts research in biomaterials and immunology, with a special focus on cancer research. He uses a multidisciplinary approach and attempts to combine metabolic, mechanical and chemical methods in order to drive forward the fight against cancer. Thanks to his creative research approach, he is regarded as a leading international expert on immunoengineering for the treatment of certain types of tumour. He has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant in 2018. Li Tang’s research activities and clinical collaborations, as well as his high-quality teaching, represent a key contribution to EPFL.