Summary

The ETH Board at its meeting of 20/21 May 2026 appointed a total of 19 professors and conferred 7 persons with titular professorships or the title of "Professor of Practice". At the same time, 15 resignations were acknowledged with appreciation. The appointments concern chairs at ETH Zurich and EPFL in the fields of physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics, life sciences and management. Over the past 12 months, the proportion of women among new appointments was 48% (25 women, 27 men). The decisions were made on the proposal of ETH Zurich President Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot and EPFL President Prof. Dr. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral.

Persons

Topics

  • Academic staffing policy in the ETH Domain
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Sustainable energy systems and electrocatalysis
  • Quantum technology and spintronics
  • Computational neuroscience
  • Environmental geophysics and climate research
  • Particle accelerators and photonics

Clarus Lead

The high proportion of women at 48% among new appointments over the past 12 months marks a strategic turning point: the ETH Board is approaching gender parity in the professoriate – a goal that many European research institutions have yet to achieve. At the same time, the appointments in the field of machine learning and AI systems – with at least five relevant chairs in a single session round – reinforce the picture of a deliberate concentration of expertise in the global AI competition. The departure of Nicola Marzari to Cambridge University as the tenth Cavendish Professor simultaneously signals that the ETH Domain, despite its strength, continues to face recruitment pressure in the international talent market.

Detailed Summary

Focus on AI and Data Science: Five appointments directly address AI-relevant fields. Shivaram Venkataraman (University of Wisconsin-Madison) takes over a chair in computer science with a focus on resource-efficient training of ML models and cloud architectures. Fan Yang is promoted to Associate Professor of Computer Science; her research on robustness and theoretical guarantees of ML models addresses a central weakness of today's AI systems. Tu Ni (Harvard Business School) brings experimental methods from operations management into the context of data science and investigates trust in AI decision-making processes. Nicolas Flammarion receives an associate professorship at EPFL with the aim of creating scientific foundations for safer and more efficient AI language models. Mathieu Salzmann receives a titular professorship; as Deputy Chief Data Scientist at the Swiss Data Science Center, he institutionally connects EPFL, ETH Zurich and PSI.

Energy, Sustainability and Materials Science: Maria Lukatskaya is promoted to Associate Professor of Electrochemical Energy Systems. Her multidisciplinary approach combines electrolyte and electrode research with CO₂ capture. Nicolas Noiray advances to Full Professor of Combustion, Acoustics and Fluid Physics; his work on hydrogen burners and thermoacoustic instabilities has positioned ETH Zurich as a leader in hydrogen combustion research. Raffaella Buonsanti (EPFL Valais Wallis) becomes Full Professor of Chemical Engineering; her nanocrystal syntheses for electrocatalysis have been recognised with two ERC grants. Benjamin Peherstorfer (New York University) takes over a chair in computational and applied mathematics at EPFL with applications in space propulsion, plasma physics and wildfire modelling.

Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Fundamental Research: Alexander Mathis and Mackenzie Mathis are both promoted to Associate Professors of Life Sciences. Both are co-developers of DeepLabCut, an open-source software for marker-free movement analysis of animals; Mackenzie Mathis additionally developed the algorithm CEBRA for linking neural activity with behaviour. Stephen Quake (Stanford University) – already awarded an honorary doctorate from ETH in 2020 – receives a chair in Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering; he is considered a pioneer of prenatal molecular diagnostics and created the first genome sequence of a single human cell.

Departures and Retirements: Among the 15 departing professors, Nicola Marzari stands out, moving to Cambridge as the tenth Cavendish Professor – joining a lineage that includes J. C. Maxwell, J. J. Thomson and E. Rutherford. Jérôme Faist retires after establishing quantum cascade laser research and holding 35 patents. David Basin leaves behind the Tamarin Prover, a widely used tool in cybersecurity, and seven patents.

Key Findings

  • The ETH Board filled 19 professorships and conferred 7 titles in a single session; the 12-month proportion of women among new appointments is 48%.
  • At least five appointments target AI, machine learning and data science directly – a clear strategic signal from both institutions.
  • The move of Nicola Marzari as Cavendish Professor to Cambridge illustrates the ongoing international competition for top researchers.
  • Several appointments connect fundamental research with industry-oriented applications, for example in electric mobility, hydrogen combustion and implantable medical technology.
  • The joint professorships with PSI, Empa and MeteoSwiss strengthen the institutional networking of the ETH Domain with national research infrastructures.

Critical Questions

  1. (Evidence/Data Quality) The women's share of 48% refers to a 12-month period – to what extent is this figure representative of structural change, or is it a snapshot with high variability?
  2. (Source Validity) The press release originates from the ETH Board itself. Which independent sources confirm the stated research achievements and awards of the appointed individuals?
  3. (Conflicts of Interest/Independence) Several appointments are internal promotions (e.g. Lukatskaya, Noiray, Coletti, Yang). What external evaluation procedures ensure the independence of such decisions?
  4. (Conflicts of Interest/Incentives) Some appointed individuals hold patents or are involved in spin-offs. How does the ETH Domain regulate potential conflicts of interest between academic research and commercial activities?
  5. (Causality/Alternatives) The accumulation of AI appointments is presented as a strategic decision. What alternative explanations – such as candidate availability or third-party funding pressure – might account for the distribution of chairs?
  6. (Counter-Hypotheses) The departure of several renowned researchers (Marzari, Faist, Basin) could indicate structural issues with institutional attractiveness. Is this aspect adequately reflected in the ETH Board's communications?
  7. (Feasibility/Risks) Several appointments are based on joint professorships with external institutions (PSI, Empa, MeteoSwiss). What risks arise in the event of diverging institutional interests or budget cuts at partner organisations?
  8. (Side Effects) The concentration of resources on AI and data science – visible in at least five appointments – could structurally disadvantage other disciplines. How does the ETH Board address this imbalance?

References

Primary Source: ETH Board: Professors May 2026 – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/zjyowJECuGkblhupmGZs5

Supplementary Sources: none provided

Verification Status: ✓ 22.05.2026

This text was created with the assistance of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-check: 22.05.2026