Professorship of Cryo-Electron Microscopy, ETH Zurich

Visualizing biomolecules at atomic resolution is essential for understanding the complex biological processes that drive human disease. Unlike conventional electron microscopes, which can alter the very molecular structures they are trying to observe, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) rapidly freezes biomolecules mid-movement at cryogenic temperatures. This enables scientists to capture viruses and protein complexes with unprecedented resolution and without compromising their structural integrity.

To expand this frontier of structural biology, we established the Professorship of Cryo-Electron Microscopy at ETH Zurich, in cooperation with the Monique Dornonville de la Cour Foundation. Operating within the Department of Biology, the professorship leads an independent research group that utilizes advanced techniques like cryo-electron tomography to image macromolecular machines in their natural cellular context. By investigating how these molecules mediate cell-cell interactions, the team advances the foundational understanding required to pioneer new antibiotic and drug delivery strategies. By integrating this critical work into the department’s broader research ecosystem, the professorship actively catalyzes the interdisciplinary projects that bridge structural biology and personalized medicine.