News

A new molecular test method developed in the group of Prof. Robert Grass (ICB) helps to prove the authenticity of works of art. The new method could also help to make passwords secure against quantum computers.

A recent publication in “Matrix Biology”, which resulted from a collaboration between D-​CHAB (Wennemers group) and D-​BIOL (Werner group) within the frame of the SKINTEGRITY.CH project, demonstrates that an innovative chemical sensor offers visualization of collagen remodeling during tissue repair.

Nowadays, finding successful women scientists is not hard. However, there are still cases where women scientists encounter obstacles that their male colleagues may not, raising the question of where women in STEM stand today. A small exhibition at the Chemistry | Biology | Pharmacy Information Center celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 explores the landscape of women in STEM, showcases literature, and highlights some stories. The exhibition is open until March 22, 2024.

Dr. Nathalie M. Grob, currently Postdoctoral Researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Peptide-based Drug Discovery. Nathalie M. Grob’s research involves developing efficient methods of discovering new, peptide-based medications. Her teaching and research have a particular focus on pathologies that principally affect women and have been little studied to date. She was awarded an SNSF Starting Grant for her work.

To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in February, D-CHAB, in partnership with EducETH and WiNS, invited interested schoolgirls to look behind the scenes of the department on February 14, 2024. Here is a review of an afternoon full of bright, colorful, sustainable, and applied chemistry, from nanocrystals to artificial hearts.

Artificial intelligence and automated laboratory infrastructure are massively accelerating the development of new chemical catalysts. With these tools, researchers led by Paco Laveille (Swiss Cat+, D-CHAB) are developing catalysts for efficiently and cost-​effectively synthesising the energy source methanol from CO₂.

Javier Pérez-Ramírez will receive the prestigious 2024 Award for Excellence in Natural Gas Conversion for his groundbreaking advances in reshaping the landscape of catalytic materials and processes to address critical energy, resource, and environmental challenges. The award will be presented at this years National Gas Conversion Symposium in Xiamen, China, and brings together more than 100 renowned researchers from academia and industry. 

Dr. Erich Meister has been at ETH Zurich for 40 years. For 35 of those, he has successfully further developed the PC practical course and always put a lot of energy into teaching – whether to train students or curious kids at open lab days. Now he is retiring and handing over the reins to Dr. Takuya Segawa. In an interview with Nonô Saramago (editor of Exsikkator), he talks about his times at ETH, chances, programming languages, calligraphy and paradise. We say thank you with a video. 

Computer tomography (CT) is indispensable in modern medicine, but CT scanners could achieve so much more with better imaging and less X-​ray exposure. In a project with industrial partner ams International AG, ETH researchers led by Maksym Kovalenko are testing new materials for the promising photon counting method.