Recognition of top international research
The ETH Board has appointed Dr. Peter Wick, head of department at Empa in St.Gallen and lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich, as titular professor at ETH Zurich with effect from October 1. Peter Wick conducts research at the interface between materials science and health, particularly in the field of nanomaterial safety and nanomedicine.
The appointment as adjunct professor is a recognition of his research, his teaching and his collaboration with ETH Zurich, in particular the Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST). According to Peter Wick, the honorary professorship now enables him to supervise doctoral students directly and to accompany them to the doctoral examination, as well as to conduct new research even more closely with colleagues from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology. "And not forgetting to show what is possible in the field of health in St. Gallen, with the aim of attracting talent to Eastern Switzerland."
The path to the appointment began a few years ago when Peter Wick was given the opportunity to teach his specialist subject "Nanosafety" at the ETH. Over the years, several research collaborations with the D-HEST had developed and with the revision of the curriculum, the opportunity arose to create another lecture "Nanomaterials for Health". This ultimately led to the opportunity to be evaluated as a titular professor. The award has given Empa's work considerably more visibility. The appointment has an impact beyond Empa and will hopefully attract further talent to Empa and Eastern Switzerland. Peter Wick emphasizes "that we in St. Gallen conduct internationally recognized cutting-edge research and can offer a stimulating, interdisciplinary environment for top people."
A little ETH in St.Gallen
Like the other titular professors, Peter Wick and his team maintain a lively exchange with ETH Zurich, be it with jointly supervised doctoral students, Master's students or joint projects in the fields of health, environmental and materials research. The cooperation will intensify and a little bit of ETH can be brought to St. Gallen. Not least with the planned establishment of a joint professorship between ETH Zurich and Empa in St.Gallen. ETH Zurich, Empa, the St.Gallen Cantonal Hospital, the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and the Canton of St.Gallen are involved in this initiative. The aim of the professorship is to further strengthen innovation and research activities in St.Gallen. The team will consist of around 20 scientists.
