Appointment of EPFL professors

New appointment at EPFL

Sophie Delhay, architect and head of the architectural firm Sophie Delhay Architecte in Paris, currently visiting professor at EPFL, is nominated as Associate Professor of Architecture in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC).
Sophie Delhay’s work interrogates the design and construction of social housing. Her practice places particular emphasis on the perspective of the residents, which she aligns with ecological dimensions. A winner of numerous prestigious awards, she will in the future explore broader sustainability issues in connection with adaptive re-use, new relationships between urban and rural areas, and the critical revision of the concept of living as a result of changing lifestyles.

Promotions at EPFL

Professor Jean-Philippe Brantut, currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at EPFL, as Associate Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Jean-Philippe Brantut's research has a focus on cold atomic gases and quantum simulations using innovative experiments assemblies that he developed in his laboratory. This work has placed him at the forefront of research into the physics of ultracold atoms in optical cavities. He and his team discovered a novel material for interactions between light and matter. His research attracted an ERC Starting Grant in 2016 and an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2022. He is very successful at obtaining research funding and is a dedicated teacher.

Professor Corentin Fivet, currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at EPFL, as Associate Professor of Architecture and Structural Design in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC)
Corentin Fivet develops computational methods and design processes for increasing the circularity of building structures. He heads the Structural Xploration Lab (SXL), which is part of the Smart Living Lab, located in Fribourg. The SXL, which excels in the fields of structural optimization and the realization of innovative large-scale demonstrators, has forged a solid international reputation under his leadership. Corentin Fivet has won numerous awards and is considered a pioneer in circular construction research.

Professor Fabio Nobile, currently Associate Professor at EPFL, as Full Professor of Mathematics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB)
Fabio Nobile’s research is concerned with numerical fluid dynamics, multilevel analyses using random coefficient models, and mathematical methods of uncertainty quantification. His achievements with the multilevel Monte Carlo method are regarded by the scientific community as a breakthrough and have opened up a whole new field of research. This internationally acclaimed researcher combines innovative and collaborative approaches at the interface with other disciplines in order to produce specific applications relevant in a number of different fields, particularly engineering. His appointment will boost EPFL's reputation.

Professor Alexandre Persat, currently Tenure Track Assistant Professor at EPFL, as Associate Professor of Life Sciences in the School of Life Sciences (SV)
Alexandre Persat’s research focuses on mechanobiology, which plays a key role in understanding microbial infections in the natural environment. He is regarded as a pioneer in this field. At EPFL he has directed a very successful infection biology research programme which is of great importance not only for basic research into infectious diseases but also for applied research in the clinical area. Alexandre Persat is also a highly dedicated teacher. In addition, his multidisciplinary profile is reflected in the fact that he is a co-affiliate of both the Global Health Institute and the Institute of Bioengineering.

Award of the title of Professor

Professor Rudolf Mahrer, currently Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne, as Adjunct Professor at EPFL in the College of Humanities (CDH)
Rudolf Mahrer works in the field of linguistics and has identified the material and technological conditioning of language as a previously underestimated factor of transformation in our linguistic behaviour. In addition to his professorship at the University of Lausanne, Rudolf Mahrer will head the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) programme at EPFL’s College of Humanities, and has been appointed as an adjunct professor in connection with this role.

Award of the title of “Professor of Practice”

Dr Andrea Dunbar, currently Department Leader for Edge AI and Vision at CSEM, a leading technology innovation center in Neuchâtel, is appointed as Professor of Practice in the College of Management of Technology at EPFL (CDM)
Andrea Dunbar leads R&D projects on machine learning under resource constraints and has a particular interest in IoT applications. She has experience in fundamental and applied research and her missions at EPFL will include teaching at MS level, supervising Master’s projects in industry and accordingly forging links with industry partners.