We are delighted to have our new members join us. Discover their research focus, what drives them, and what they enjoy most about Zurich.
Name and Surname: Gergely David
Position: Group Leader in Neuroimaging
Institute: Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
Research focus: My research aims to characterize the spinal cord’s structure and function using non-invasive MRI techniques, both in health and disease. To this end, we develop advanced image acquisition protocols and analysis methods optimized for the spinal cord. We are pioneering the application of functional MRI in the spinal cord to detect degenerative and plastic changes after injury, providing sensitive biomarkers of neural integrity and recovery. In parallel, we design robust image processing pipelines to improve data quality, correct artifacts, and extract quantitative measures.
Last professional stations: I was a postdoc at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, where I worked on developing diffusion and functional MRI methods for the spinal cord.
My motivation to do my research: I have always been fascinated by the ability to see inside the human body, which inspired me to pursue a career as a medical physicist. What motivates me most is the potential for these methods to be translated into the clinic, improving diagnosis, prognosis, and ultimately patient care.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: Spend a sunny afternoon by the lakeside.
Contact: https://www.sci-research.uzh.ch/en/aboutus/david.html
Name and Surname: Tobias Goehring
Position: Assistant Professor
Institute: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich
Research focus: Understanding and improving the perception of speech and sound in people with hearing loss
Last professional station: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
My motivation to do my research: : Listening to the experiences of people with hearing loss and those who use cochlear implants is by far my strongest motivation. Hearing about their journeys keeps me focused, and their real-life stories often inspire new research ideas to improve future hearing devices and clinical applications.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: Walking along the lake towards Zürichhorn park is my highlight so far. But I am new here and would greatly appreciate any special tips! I lived in the UK for the past 12 years and enjoyed many hikes all over the country, so I can share plenty of tips for trips there. Now, I’m looking forward to exploring Switzerland.
Contact: goehring.tobias@gmail.com
Website: https://www.deephearinglab.com/
Name and Surname: Christin Kosse
Position: Assistant Professor (Tenure-track)
Institute: ETH, D-Bio, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences
Research focus: Metabolism, Behavior, and Disease – We study how the brain converts internal energy and nutrient signals into feeding decisions and oromotor actions, and how genetic and environmental factors bias these circuits toward disease. Our goal is to derive general rules of behavioral control with implications for obesity and eating disorders.
Last professional station: The Rockefeller University, New York
My motivation to do my research: I am driven by the puzzle of how the brain controls behavior. Feeding is an ideal lens because it is essential for survival, naturally expressed, and evolutionarily conserved — so circuits mapped in mice translate to human biology. It is also relatable and precisely measurable, from diet choice to jaw kinematics and neural activity, enabling clear causal tests. Our questions are grounded in real-world problems and point to fundamental biological principles.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: The chocolate!
Contact: christin.kosse@biol.ethz.ch
Name and Surname: Simon Leipold
Position: Senior Researcher / SNSF Ambizione Fellow at the Social Brain Sciences Lab
Institute: Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS), ETH Zürich
Research focus: My research explores how the human brain processes sounds such as voices and music. I aim to understand how the brain extracts information from these sounds and uses it for actions like communicating with others or learning to play an instrument. I also investigate how these processes develop in children with both typical and atypical development, and how they differ in individuals with musical expertise.
Last professional station: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour in the Netherlands.
My motivation to do my research: The opportunity to discover and learn something new (almost) every day.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: : The view over the city with the alps in the background from the Waid overlook on a clear, sunny day.
Contact: https://sbs.ethz.ch/
Name and Surname: Sarah Meissner
Position: SNSF Assistant Professor
Institute: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich
Research focus: Understanding and non-invasively modulating crucial brain function with implications for mental health such as brain arousal levels and their interaction with other brain and bodily signals and functions.
Last professional station: Senior postdoctoral researcher at the Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zürich
My motivation to do my research: Several things drive me. First, the possibility that our research could contribute something valuable and beneficial to society in the long run. Second, my curiosity and joy in discovering new things. And third, I truly enjoy working with my lab members and colleagues.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: On hot summer days and evenings, definitely a refreshing swim in the Limmat or Lake Zürich.
Contact: Sarah Meissner, Brain-Body Regulation Lab, GLC G17.2, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Gloriastrasse 37/39, 8092 Zürich
Name and Surname: Katharina Wilmes
Position: Adjunct Professor
Institute: Institute of Neuroinformatics
Research focus: Modelling neural circuits underlying perception and learning
Last professional station: Walter Senn’s lab at the Institute of Physiology, University of Bern
My motivation to do my research: I am very curious and fascinated by how the brain achieves to learn an internal model of the world and adapts in changing environments. I study this at the level of neural circuits, because circuits reveal the mechanisms that link diverse cellular properties to common dysfunctions. They can also be directly related to behaviour, making the circuit level ideal for studying both brain function and its disorders.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: Swimming in the Limmat and the lake!
Contact: https://www.ini.uzh.ch/en/research/groups/wilmes.html
Name and Surname: Carl Zipser
Position: Senior Neurologist (“Leitender Arzt”) and Group Leader
Institute: Spinal Cord Injury Center and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich
Research focus: Cerebrospinal fluid pressure dynamics in spinal cord injuries (SCI).
Last professional station: Balgrist since 2018, previously USZ and University Hospital Tübingen.
My motivation to do my research: To improve patient outcomes through advanced diagnostics.
One thing you shouldn’t miss, when you stay in Zurich: The mountain views at sunset, either from the lakeside or from one of the city’s bridges.
Contact: https://www.balgrist.ch/en/offer/all-doctors/carl-moritz-zipser/