Francesco MondadaDr. Mondada received his M.Sc. in micro-engineering in 1991 and his Doctoral degree in 1997 at EPFL. During his thesis he co-founded the company K-Team, being both CEO and president of the company for about 5 years. He is one of the three main developers of the Khepera robot, considered as a standard in bio-inspired robotics and used by more than 1,000 universities and research centers worldwide. Fully back in research in 2000 and after a short period at CALTECH, he participated to the SWARM-BOTS project as the main developer of the s-bot robot platform, which was ranked on position 39 in the list of The 50 Best Robots Ever (fiction or real) by the Wired Journal in 2006. The SWARM-BOTS project was selected as FET-IST success story by the EU commission. He is author of more than 100 papers in the field of bio-inspired robotics and system level robot design. He is co-editor of several international conference proceedings. In November 2005 he received the EPFL Latsis University prize for his contributions to bio-inspired robotics. In 2011 he received the "Crédit Suisse Award for Best Teaching" from EPFL and in 2012 the "polysphère" award from the students as best teacher in the school of engineering. His interests include the development of innovative mechatronic solutions for mobile and modular robots, the creation of know-how for future embedded applications, and making robot platforms more accessible for education, research, and industrial development.
Marco Cantoni1982-1988, Diploma course in Experimental Physics (certificate, 28.10.88)ETHZ Faculty IX MATHEMATICS and PHYSICS, Diploma Thesis: "Abweichungen von der ikosaedrischen Symmetrie in Al-Cu-Li Quasikristallen", Advisor: Prof. H.-U. Nissen 1989-1993, Ph.D. in Experimental Physics (certificate, 23.8.94) ETHZ Physics Department, Laboratory of Solid State Physics, Ph. D. Thesis No. 10421, Title: "Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung der Realkristallstruktur epitaktischer Schichten von Supraleitern des Typs SEBa2Cu3O7-x auf (100)-SrTiO3" Advisors: Prof. H.R. Ott, Prof. H. U. Nissen. 1994-1996,ETH Zürich,Material Science Department, Non-Metallic Materials, Prof. L. Gauckler: Microstructure characterisation of high-tech ceramic materials by means of SEM, TEM and atomic force microscopy: superconductor thick films (Bi-2212 on Ag) and solid oxide fuel cells (ZrO2, CeO2). 1996-1998, National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials NIRIM, Japan Group for Special Research, Prof. S. Horiuchi: TEM of Bi-2223/Ag Tapes, Application of Imaging Plates (IP) in High Voltage TEM, Cryo-Lorentz-TEM of Superconducting Materials (Observation of Flux-Lines) 1998-2000, Ecole polytechnique fédéral de Lausanne, EPFL-CIME Centre interdépartemental de microscopie électronique CIME, Prof. P.A. Buffat: Projet 125, PPO II (programme prioritaire optique): Characterization of materials and devices for optic and optoelectronic applications by electron microscopy. 2001-2003, Ecole polytechnique fédéral de Lausanne, EPFL STI IMX LCCeramics Laboratory, Prof. Nava Setter Characterisation of ferroelectric materials, transmission electron microscopy of relaxor ferroelectric materials 2004, University of Geneva, Physics Department, Condensed matter Physics Group of Prof. R. Flükiger, TEM of Multifilament Nb3Sn superconducting wires, in collaboration with EPFL-CIME Since 1.11.04, EPFL-SB-CIME
Sophia HaussenerSophia Haussener is an Associate Professor heading the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Her current research is focused on providing design guidelines for thermal, thermochemical, and photoelectrochemical energy conversion reactors through multi-physics modeling. Her research interests include: thermal sciences, fluid dynamics, charge transfer, electro-magnetism, and thermo/electro/photochemistry in complex multi-phase media on multiple scales. She received her MSc (2007) and PhD (2010) in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich. Between 2011 and 2012, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Joint Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) and the Energy Environmental Technology Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). She has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. She has been awarded the ETH medal (2011), the Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation award (2011), the ABB Forschungspreis (2012), the Prix Zonta (2015), the Global Change Award (2017), and the Raymond Viskanta Award (2019), and is a recipient of a Starting Grant of the Swiss National Science Foundation (2014). She is a deputy leader in the Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research (SCCER) on energy storage and acts as a Member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Helmholtz Zentrum.
Hannes BleulerSwiss, Born 19.2.1954
1973-78 ETH Zurich, M.S. in Electrical Engineering
1979-84 Teaching Assistant, Doctorate Student at ETH (Inst. of Mechanics)
1984 Ph.D. thesis in Mechatronics (magnetic bearings, Prof. G. Schweitzer)
1985-87 Research Engineer at Hitachi Ltd, Japan, Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory;
1987 Invited researcher at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Precision Mechatronics, Prof. K. Ono)
1988-91 Lecturer and Senior Assistant at ETH ; co-foundation of MECOS-Traxler AG
1991-95 Toshiba Chair of "Intelligent Mechatronics" and then regular Associate Professor at The University of Tokyo (Institute of Industrial Science)
1995-present Full Professor at EPFL Lausanne on microrobotics, biomedical robotics;
2000 Co-founder of xitact SA, Morges (robotic surgery instrumentation & simulators)
2002-2006 President Conference of Professors and Lecturers of EPFL, member of Assemblée de l'Ecole
2006 Chairman of ISMB10 (10th International Symposium on Magnetic Bearings, Martigny, Switzerland)
2006 Nomination as member of the Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences (SATW)
Alcherio MartinoliI received my Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). I am currently an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture, Civil, and Environmental Engineering and the head of the Distributed Intelligent Systems and Algorithms Laboratory. Before joining EPFL I carried out research activities at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of the ETHZ, at the Institute of Industrial Automation of the Spanish Research Council in Madrid, Spain, and at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, U.S.A. Additional information can be found on my full CV.
Berend SmitBerend Smit received an MSc in Chemical Engineering in 1987 and an MSc in Physics both from the Technical University in Delft (the Netherlands). He received in 1990 cum laude PhD in Chemistry from Utrecht University (the Netherlands). He was a (senior) Research Physicists at Shell Research from 1988-1997, Professor of Computational Chemistry at the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) 1997-2007.
In 2004 Berend Smit was elected Director of the European Center of Atomic and Molecular Computations (CECAM) Lyon France. Since 2007 he is Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at U.C. Berkeley and Faculty Chemist at Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Since 2014 he has been director of the Energy Center at EPFL.
Gil RegevGil Regev joined EPFL in 1997 as Senior Researcher after 9 years at Logitech Switzerland and USA. Gil obtained his Ph.D. in Communication Systems in 2003. Since 2008 Gil works both at EPFL and
Itecor
Nicola BraghieriNé en 1967 à Milan, Italie. Vit et travaille entre Lausanne et Genève. Études secondaires classiques et diplôme (magistrale) au Polytechnique de Milan avec un mémoire sur l’architecture alpine. En 1999, il obtient un titre de Docteur (PhD) à l’Université de Gênes à l'issue d'une recherche sur la théorie de la tradition. Actuellement, il est professeur à l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL. Entre 2014 et 2019 a été directeur de la Section d'ARchitecture. Il a enseigné dessin à la Faculté d’Architecture du Polytechnique de Milan. Il a également enseigné projet à l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Zürich ETH et de Lausanne EPFL entre 2003 et 2008 en tant que professeur invité. En 2006, il a été professeur à la Haute École Européenne d’Architecture Urbaine SSEAU de Naples. Entre 2003 et 2008, il a été professeur à la Faculté d’Architecture de Gênes, titulaire de la chaire de Projet et Théorie du Projet, membre du Conseil des professeurs de l’École de Doctorat. En 2010, il fut nommé professeur (i.v.) d’Entwerfen und Raumgestaltung à l’Université Technique de Darmstadt TUD. Il a enseigné projet et il a dirigé les séminaires "Die Wallpaperarbeiten (Die Stadt als einen großen Wandteppich" et "Patchworkarbeiten (Die Fassade als Flickwerk)", sur la relation entre la figuration urbaine et la décoration d'intérieur. Il a donné des conférences, des cours et des critiques dans plusieurs universités européennes, dont l’Université technique de Hanovre TUH, la Leipzig Fachhochshule LFH, la Hochschule Rapperswil HSR-Z, l’Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich ETH-Z, le Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule d’Aix-la-Chapelle RWTH, l'École d'architecture à Marne-la-Vallée ENSA VT, l’Académie d’Architecture de l’Université de la Suisse italienne AAM.... Il a été membre des commissions du Diplôme, ainsi que du concours pour professeur, et évaluateur de projets de recherche d’importance nationale et européenne. Ses études et ses recherches concernent principalement les thématiques de la figuration architecturale, de la tradition, de la rhétorique et de la tectonique. Pendant ses quinze années d’activité d’enseignement, il a cherché à développer une méthode pédagogique élémentaire qui pose en termes réalistes la relation entre la théorie, la pratique et la poétique dans le projet et la figuration de l'architecture. Nicola Braghieri a publié plusieurs ouvrages théoriques: " Architettura, arte retorica ", " Riflessioni intorno alla costruzione e l’assemblaggio "; " Buoni edifici, meravigliose rovine ", autour de l’œuvre de Louis Kahn; " Case di Legno ", traduit en français et en espagnol. Il a introduit, traduit et adapté " Experiencing Architecture " de Steen Eiler Rasmussen. En 2018 à été publié à Berlin pour Divisare Press "Analogous Postcards", une monographie en cinq livrets sur son travail graphique. Il a rédigé des essais édités dans plusieurs revues scientifiques et des articles publiés dans plusieurs magazines d’architecture. Il a également collaboré avec l’hebdomadaire culturel Diario et a été auteur d’une émission d’architecture sur la radio indépendante Radiopopolare. En 2007, il a rédigé plusieurs articles pour les encyclopédies Motta et Einaudi. Depuis 2008, il est rédacteur du magazine d’architecture Casabella. Parallèlement à son activité d’enseignement et de recherche, il a travaillé en tant qu’architecte indépendant. Il a participé à des concours, fait des projets et réalisé des bâtiments. Il a ouvert son studio à Milan en 1996, après plusieurs années de formations et d’expériences professionnelles en Suisse et en Allemagne. Entre le 1998 et le 2007, il est associé à Valeria Cosmelli et Marlene Dörrie. En 2007, il a été co-fondateur avec son épouse Alessandra Spada de EX_M Architetti (www.ex-m.eu) basé à Milan et de 2013 à Genève. Nicola Braghieri a travaillé ces dernières années sur des projets publics de première importance. Il a participé à de nombreux concours d’architecture en Italie et à l’étranger, a reçu des prix. Par conséquent projeté et réalisait de nombreuses architectures. En 2002, il a gagné le concours international pour un nouveau quartier d’habitations à loyer modéré à Settimo Milanese, construit en 2013, et en 2011 le concours Vandœuvres Esplanade dans le Canton de Genève, actuellement en construction. En 2003 il a été finaliste du concours international pour le Centre de formation professionnelle à Sasso Marconi, en 2007 pour la transformation et pour l’élargissement de la Bibliothèque de Stockholm, en 2012 pour le Pavillon Suisse dans l’Expo 2015 et en 2014 pour un quartier de 2000 habitants à Genève Le Vernets. Ses projets sont publiés dans des volumes collectifs et sur les magazines Domus, Casabella, Area, Archi, d’Architettura, Il Giornale dell’Architettura, Werk, Bauen Wohnen, Bauwelt, Wettbewerbe Aktuell, Arkitektur and Arquitectura Viva. Son travail a été l’objet d’une exposition personnelle sous le patronage du Ministère allemand des Affaires Étrangères et aussi dans plusieurs expositions collectives. Il est assez actif, sous plusieurs pseudonymes, dans le domaine des Beaux-Arts numériques. Il produit collages numériques et mécaniques, s'occupe de falsification photographique et contrefaçon postale. Philippe BuffatBorn in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1942. EPUL physics engineer diploma in 1967 and EPFL PhD in physics in 1976. From 1966 he studies at the Experimental Physics Laboratory (Prof. J.P. Borel) the physical properties peculiar to the very small size metal crystals and gets a PhD degree for his thesis "Abaissement de la température de fusion de petits cristaux d'or par effet de taille thermodynamique" (Lowering of the melting temperature of small gold crystals by thermodynamic size effect). In 1971, he starts to develop an electron microscopy facility available to all EPFL students and researchers (nowadays Centre Interdisciplinaire de Microscopie Electronique CIME) that he manages till 2007. In parallel he teaches the principles of electron microscopy and the Experimental methods of physics at the Physics/Basic Sciences School (SB). In addition, he trains a large part of the facility users. Honorary professor BS/EPFL he carries-out a free-lance research at CIME and in collaboration with the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICRAS, Moscow) and the International Centre of Electron Microscopy for Material Science (IC-EM AGH Krakow) This activity covers all the techniques related to transmission and scanning electron microscopy applied to materials science and solid-state physics. His interest is directed towards the structure of nanocrystals, their size effects and behavior under strong electron irradiation, the phase transitions in perovskites, the characterization of nanophases, multilayer and interface structures of crystalline materials and bioceramics. More recently a large research part has moved to understanding/pointing-out the adequacy between the limits of the instruments and their interpretation means in regard of their use in a multiusers facility with a large turnover and a wide range of materials/structures. He is past-president (2006-2007) of the Société Française des Microscopies (Sfµ), honorary member of the Sfµ and of the Swiss Society of Optics and Microscopy (SSOM).
Jeffrey HuangJeffrey Huang is the Director of the Institute of Architecture at EPFL (starting May 1, 2020), that comprises 25 laboratories and groups. He is also the Head of the Media x Design Laboratory and a Full Professor in Architecture and Computer Science, at the Faculty of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC), and at the Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). He holds a DiplArch from ETH Zurich, and Masters and Doctoral Degrees from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Gerald McCue medal for academic excellence. He started his academic career as a researcher at MIT’s Sloan School of Management (Center for Coordination Sciences). In 1998 he returned to Harvard as an Assistant Professor of Architecture and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2001. In 2006 he was named Full Professor at EPFL in Switzerland where he holds joint professorships at I&C and ENAC, and heads the Media x Design Lab. He was also a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University, a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s d.school, a Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, and a Berkman Fellow and Faculty Associate at Harvard University (Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society). Professor Huang’s research examines the convergence of physical and digital architecture. His recent work investigates new artificial design paradigms (design decoding and encoding), theories of experience design, and the application of algorithmic urbanism in Chinese cities. His current teaching examines the possible role of artificial intelligence in architecture (see MxD studios). In collaboration with Muriel Waldvogel, he heads Convergeo, an award-winning, international strategic and experience design firm. From 2014-2017, while on leave from EPFL, he led the creation of a ground-breaking, new school of architecture in Singapore, as the Head of the Architecture and Sustainable Design Pillar at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), established in collaboration with MIT.