The Adolphe Merkle Institute’s Co-Chair of BioNanomaterials, Prof. Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, is one of 15 new members elected to the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Research Council.

At its December meeting, the Foundation Council elected 52 current members of the Research Council to continue their mandates while also electing 15 new highly qualified members. These were selected from nearly 200 applications to complete the body. It will take office on April 1, 2025. According to the SNSF, these appointments, including Rothen-Rutishauser’s, strengthen the Research Council’s expertise in key areas, reflecting the ongoing commitment to rigorous scientific evaluation and support tailored to current challenges.

Rothen-Rutishauser was elected as one of the council’s representatives for life sciences and will focus more specifically on long-term research and infrastructure. She is an expert in the field of cell-nanoparticle interactions, with a special interest in 3D tissue models. Her work includes the development of alternative testing methods that can be used for hazard assessments and drug testing approaches. She is also committed to gender equality issues and has initiated several activities to promote talented (female) scientists.

Since 2011, she has been the co-chair of BioNanomaterials at the Adolphe Merkle Institute, a position shared equally with Prof. Alke Fink. Rothen-Rutishauser is a member of or has served on multiple international and national scientific associations and advisory committees, including Switzerland’s Federal Commission for Air Hygiene.

Photo: © Conrad von Schubert