The Rössler Prize supports exceptional young ETH professors during the expansion phase of their scientific careers. Worth 200,000 Swiss francs, it is ETH Zurich’s most generously endowed prize and has been awarded since 2009 thanks to a donation from ETH alumnus Dr Max Rössler. The recipients over the years include numerous researchers exploring science’s basic principles.
A selection
Maksym Kovalenko, chemistry
Kovalenko’s work delivers important inputs for both basic research and new applications. His insights into brightly
luminescent nanoparticles, for instance, are of interest to quantum information processing and hold potential for
more energy-efficient displays with improved colour resolution.
Paola Picotti, biology
Protein researcher Picotti has developed technologies that
enhance our understanding of the fundamental processes affecting human health – including the biochemical mechanisms that lead to diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s.
Her work is laying the foundation for personalised therapies.
Andreas Krause, computer science
Krause is one of Europe’s leading researchers in the rapidly evolving field of machine learning. He explores how
to teach machines to learn for themselves, combining mathematical elegance with a strong sense of social responsibility.
Olga Sorkine-Hornung, computer science
The ETH professor has made herself a name for her innovative methods of modifying and animating the surfaces of complex geometrical shapes in real time. She is a global leader in the field
of geometric modelling and digital geometry processing.
Siddhartha Mishra, mathematics
Mishra develops robust, efficient algorithms that enable nonlinear partial differential equations to be simulated
on supercomputers with greater speed and precision. These simulations are paving the way for new solutions in
fields such as astrophysics, climate dynamics and biology.
Nicola Spaldin, materials science
Using computer models, the chemist has developed a new class of crystalline compounds known as multiferroics – ceramic-like materials not found in nature. Possessing both
electrical and magnetic properties, they could one day be used to make computers more energy-efficient.
David Norris, mechanical and process engineering
The materials scientist utilises nanotechnology to develop materials that create interesting and advantageous interactions with light. His research has applications ranging from flat-screen displays to quantum technologies and lasers.
Tanja Stadler, biosystems science
During reproduction, genetic information branches out like
twigs. Stadler uses genetic sequences to reconstruct the “tree” and then calculate biological processes. Her
methods can be applied across almost every area of biology, from mutating viruses to developing ecosystems.
Andreas Wallraff, physics
Wallraff focuses on quantum physics and its applications in information technology. Together with Jonathan Home, he leads the ETH Zurich – PSI Quantum Computing Hub, where more than 30 researchers are exploring superconducting circuits and ion traps.
