Mirko KovacExpertise
Aerial RoboticsEnvironmental SensingSustainability RoboticsPhysical Artificial Intelligence
Short Biography Prof. Mirko Kovač is Director of the Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics, jointly appointed at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Zürich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). He holds an Honorary Professorship at Imperial College London, where he previously served as Full Professor and founded the Aerial Robotics Laborator
Patricia GuaitaExpertise
pedagogy of makingdrawing as an actionmultidisciplinary projectsdesign methodologies in 1:1 fabricationexperiential learning processesknowledge transfer with the Global Southdiversity and care
Patricia Guaita is an architect, researcher, and educator with expertise in drawing as an action and social and sustainable research projects. Her work focus on design methodologies, which incorporate drawing by hand, 1:1 fabrication, spatial and tectonic analysis, and the development of construction protoco
Jeremy LuterbacherExpertise
Biomass conversion Heterogeneous catalysis
See: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lpdc/luterbacher/ Education Postdoc | Chemical Engineering 2014 – 2014 Univsersity of Wisconsin-Madison PhD | Chemical Engineering 2012 – 2012 Cornell University Master | Chemical Engineering 2010 – 2010 Cornell University Master | Chemical Engineering 2007 – 2007 �cole Polytechnique F�d�rale de Lausanne Bachelor | Chemistry and Ch François MaréchalPh D. in engineering Chemical process engineer
Researcher and lecturer in the field of computer aided process and energy systems engineering.
Lecturer in the mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and environmental sciences engineering in EPFL.
I'm responsible for the Minor in Energy of EPFL and I'm involved in 3 projects of the Competence Center in Energy and Mobility (2nd generation biofuel, Wood SOFC, and gas turbine development with CO2 mitigation) in which i'm contributing to the energy conversion system design and optimisation.
Short summary of my scientific carrer
After a graduation in chemical engineering from the University of Liège, I have obtained a Ph. D. from the University of Liège in the LASSC laboratory of Prof. Kalitventzeff (former president of the European working party on computer aided process engineering). This laboratory was one of the pioneering laboratory in the field of Computer Aided Process Engineering.
In the group of Professor Kalitventzeff, I have worked on the development and the applications of data reconciliation, process modelling and optimisation techniques in the chemical process industry, my experience ranges from nuclear power stations to chemical plants. In the LASSC, I have been responsible from the developments in the field of rational use of energy in the industry. My first research topic has been the methodological development of process integration techniques, combining the use of pinch based methods and of mathematical programming: e.g. for the design of multiperiod heat exchanger networks or Mixed integer non linear programming techniques for the optimal management of utility systems. Fronted with applications in the industry, my work then mainly concentrated on the optimal integration of utility systems considering not only the energy requirements but the cost of the energy requirements and the energy conversion systems. I developed methods for analysing and integrating the utility system, the steam networks, combustion (including waste fuel), gas turbines or other advanced energy conversion systems (cogeneration, refrigeration and heat). The techniques applied uses operation research tools like mixed integer linear programming and exergy analysis. In order to evaluate the results of the utility integration, a new graphical method for representing the integration of the utility systems has been developed. By the use of MILP techniques, the method developed for the utility integration has been extended to handled site scale problems, to incorporate environmental constraints and reduce the water usage. This method (the Effect Modelling and Optimisation method) has been successfully applied to the chemical plants industry, the pulp and paper industry and the power plant. Instead of focusing on academic problems, I mainly developed my research based on industrial applications that lead to valuable and applicable patented results. Recently the methods developed have been extended to realise the thermoeconomic optimisation of integrated systems like fuel cells. My present R&D work concerns the application of multi-objective optimisation strategies in the design of processes and integrated energy conversion systems.
Since 2001, Im working in the Industrial Energy Systems Laboratory (LENI) of Ecole Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) where Im leading the R&D activities in the field of Computer Aided Analysis and Design of Industrial Energy Systems with a major focus on sustainable energy conversion system development using thermo-economic optimisation methodologies. A part from the application and the development of process integration techniques, that remains my major field of expertise, the applications concern :
Rational use of water and energy in Industrial processes and industrial production sites : projects with NESTLE, EDF, VEOLIA and Borregaard (pulp and paper).Energy conversion and process design : biofuels from waste biomass (with GASNAT, EGO and PSI), water dessalination and waste water treatment plant (VEOLIA), power plant design (ALSTOM), Energy conversion from geothermal sources (BFE). Integrated energy systems in urban areas : together with SCANE and SIG (GE) and IEA annexe 42 for micro-cogeneration systems.
I as well contributed to the definition of the 2000 Watt society and to studies concerning the emergence of green technologies on the market in the frame of the Alliance for Global Sustainability.
Gabriela Tejada GuerreroGabriela has extensive expertise in international cooperation in education, research and innovation. She joined EPFL as scientist at the Cooperation and Development Center (CODEV) where she led the EPFL Leading House Program (2014-2017) of the Swiss government, which upheld Swiss bilateral research cooperation with Brazil, India, Vietnam and Latin America. Her research focused on scientific diasporas and skilled migration with diverse international collaborations under her leadership. She worked at the University of Zurich, and the UNDP in Moldova and Geneva, and taught at the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). She was visiting researcher at the CES at Harvard University and the CIS at ETH Zurich. Gabriela obtained a BA in International Relations from the UIA (Ibero) in Mexico, and a PhD in Political Sciences from the UAB in Barcelona. She obtained a CAS IPA - International Policy and Advocacy of the D-MTEC, ETH Zurich (2019). Since 2020 Gabriela is Vice-President of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO (member since 2016), where she promotes science-society linkages and advocates for an inclusive development and dialogue through education, science and culture.Since May 2019, Gabriela is Academic Deputy at the Direction of the College of Humanities (CDH). She serves the Scholars at Risk program (SAR) at EPFL in an advisory capacity.
Charlotte VandenbergheExpertise
academic project managementresearch and innovation funding advicesustainability in educationinter-and transdisciplinary research collaborationsorganization of outreach eventsscientific writing and communicationbiodiversity and ecologyquantum science and engineering
Mission
As an academic manager at EPFL, I contribute today to the University's three main missions which are education, research and innovation, in the strategic domains of sustainability and quantum science:1. as educational coordinato
Paolo PeronaExpertise
River mechanics and morphoydnamics, Erosion processes, Ecohydraulics, Plant roots biomechanics, Watershed and catchment hydrology, Water Resources Management, General hydraulics, Time Series Analysis, Dynamical Systems Theory, Stochastic Processes
Expertise
River mechanics and morphoydnamics, Erosion processes, Ecohydraulics, Plant roots biomechanics, Watershed and catchment hydrology, Water Resources Management, General hydraulics, Time Series Analysis, Dynamical Systems Theory, Stochastic Proces
Sandy IngramExpertise
Programming Languages (C, SQL, Ruby, Rails, Java, Javascript)Recommendation algorithmsSocial media design for collaborative work
Sandy's research is mainly focused on the design and development of Personal Learning Environments and contextual recommender systems. Currently working on the Jumpers CTI project.Also involved in the STELLAR Network of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning(EU, FP7). Among other things, she chaired the program for JTEL Winter School 2011.Worked on the ROLE Project (
Miguel Fernández RuizMiguel Fernández Ruiz was born in Spain in 1977. He obtained his diploma in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnical University of Madrid (Spain) in 2001 and was awarded that year as best student in Civil Engineering in Spain. He later performed his doctoral studies in the same University, and obtained his PhD (cum laude) in 2003. At the same time he performed his doctoral studies, he also developed a part-time (75%) career in the industry as consultant engineer specialized in composite structures.
In 2004 he joined the team of Prof. Aurelio Muttoni at EPFL as post-doctoral fellow, where he was later promoted as scientist and lecturer. In 2014 he is promoted as Senior Scientist at EPFL. Currently, he works part-time (70%) at EPFL, developing also a professional career as partner of a consulting firm specialized in structural design.
Sandro CarraraSandro Carrara is an IEEE Fellow for his outstanding record of accomplishments in the field of design of nanoscale biological CMOS sensors. He is also the recipient of the IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award in 2016 for his leadership in the emerging area of co-design in Bio/Nano/CMOS interfaces. He is a Professor of the EPFL in Lausanne (Switzerland), and head of the "Bio/CMOS Interfaces" (BCI) research group. He is former professor of optical and electrical biosensors at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Biophysics (DIBE) of the University of Genoa (Italy) and former professor of nanobiotechnology at the University of Bologna (Italy). He holds a PhD in Biochemistry & Biophysics from University of Padua (Italy), a Master degree in Physics from University of Genoa (Italy), and a diploma in Electronics from National Institute of Technology in Albenga (Italy). His scientific interests are on electrical phenomena of nano-bio-structured films, and include CMOS design of biochips based on proteins and DNA. Along his carrier, he published 7 books, one as author with Springer on Bio/CMOS interfaces and, more recently, a Handbook of Bioelectronics with Cambridge University Press. He has more than 250 scientific publications and is author of 13 patents. He is now Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Sensors Journal, the largest journal among 2019 IEEE publications; he is also founder and Editor-in-Chief of the journal BioNanoScience by Springer, and Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems. He is a member of the IEEE Sensors Council and his Executive Committee. He was a member of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the IEEE Circuits And Systems Society (CASS). He has been appointed as IEEE Sensors Council Distinguished Lecturer for the years 2017-2019, and CASS Distinguished Lecturer for the years 2013-2014. His work received several international recognitions: several Top-25 Hottest-Articles (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, and two times in 2012) published in highly ranked international journals such as Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Sensors and Actuators B, IEEE Sensors journal, and Thin Solid Films; a NATO Advanced Research Award in 1996 for the original contribution to the physics of single-electron conductivity in nano-particles; six Best Paper Awards at the IEEE Sensors Conference 2019 (Montreal) in 2019, Conferences IEEE NGCAS in 2017 (Genoa), MOBIHEALTH in 2016 (Milan), IEEE PRIME in 2015 (Glasgow), in 2010 (Berlin), and in 2009 (Cork); three Best Poster Awards at the EMBEC Conference in 2017 (Tampere, Finland), Nanotera workshop in 2011 (Bern), and NanoEurope Symposium in 2009 (Rapperswil). He also received the Best Referees Award from the journal Biosensor and Bioelectronics in 2006. From 1997 to 2000, he was a member of an international committee at the ELETTRA Synchrotron in Trieste. From 2000 to 2003, he was scientific leader of a National Research Program (PNR) in the filed of Nanobiotechnology. He was an internationally esteemed expert of the evaluation panel of the Academy of Finland in a research program for the years 2010-2013. He has been the General Chairman of the Conference IEEE BioCAS 2014, the premier worldwide international conference in the area of circuits and systems for biomedical applications
Andrea TestinoExpertise
Ceramics synthesis and Processing; Nanomaterial synthesis; Nanomaterial characterization; Thermodynamic - Kinetic modeling; Powder synthesis scale-up.
MER Dr. Andrea Testino received his master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry and PhD in Material Science from the University of Genoa (Italy). He did post-doctoral studies at EPFL (CH), University College London (UK), and University of Milan (I) working on nanoparticles synthesis and characterization. In 2007 he joined the company TDK-EPC (A) as Seni
Giulia MarinoGiulia Marino has a Master’s degree in architecture in History and theories of restoration of monuments from the University of Florence (MA, 2003) and a PhD in architecture from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (PhD, 2014; EPFL Doctorate Award 2016). She obtained also a Postgraduate Master in Preservation of modern and contemporary built heritage from the University of Geneva (DEA, 2006).
Professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain, LOCI Faculty (UCLouvain, Bruxelles, Belgium) and researcher at the Laboratory of Techniques and Preservation of Modern Architecture at the EPFL (Switzerland), Giulia Marino is also consultant architect in heritage preservation.
Her scientific interests are centred on history of strategies for the conservation of the modern and contemporary heritage, and on the history of construction techniques and twentieth-century building services. She has developed these two main strands of research in her work, as well as the monumental heritage of the interwar period (e.g. Le Corbusier’s studio-apartment at 24NC, commissioned by the Foundation Le Corbusier, 2014, with a grant from the Getty Foundation) and in the extensive corpus of architectural production 1945-75 (e.g. Stratégies pour la cité du Lignon, 2009-2012; Europa Nostra Award 2013, SIA-Umsicht Award 2013).
She has given lectures in Europe (Paris, Lisbon, Brussels, Milan, Luxembourg, etc.) and internationally (Chandigarh, Mexico City, Tokyo, Montreal, etc.). She has also presented at numerous international conferences and published papers and articles (Werk, Arquitectura Viva, AMC, etc.) as well as a monograph on the CAF building in Paris (Picard, 2009, 270 p.), and a book on the restoration of the Cité du Lignon housing complex, as well as being responsible for its scientific conception and coordination (Infolio, 2012, 160 p.). She recently coedited the volume Building Environment and Interiors Comfort in 20th-Century Architecture: Understanding Issues and Developing Conservation Strategies (PPUR, 2016) and Les multiples vies de l’appartement-atelier. Le Corbusier (PPUR, 2017). After the monograph on the Buvette d’Evian by Jean Prouvé (Infolio, 2018) and the volume Avanchet-Parc, “cité de conception nouvelle et originale (Infolio, 2020), she is working on the publication of her PhD at the Éditions Métispresses and the proceedings of International Study Day “Restoring Jean Prouvé” (PPUR, 2021).
She is Vice President of Docomomo Switzerland since 2015 and member of the board of Docomomo Belgium since 2020.
She is also a member of ICOMOS Schweiz, the Swiss Heritage Society, the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects-SIA, Associazione italiana per la storia dell’ingegneria, Association francophone d’histoire de la construction and the Construction History Society.
