Visionaries who change the world

Explorers, inventors, pioneers. Exceptional researchers pursuing bold questions at the frontiers of science and the humanities. From early-career scientists to distinguished scholars, we back these visionaries through our unique awards, grants, professorships and fellowships.

Meet our pioneering community

The power of fundamental research

Fundamental research is the ultimate expression of human curiosity, paving the way for every breakthrough that changes our world. Through our unique awards, grants, professorships and fellowships, we support the exceptional minds asking the questions that matter.

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Insight grows when shared

Emerging from a specific fundamental question and years of careful research, insight has the power to transform understanding, methods and fields of inquiry. We illuminate the insights from the NOMIS community of researchers. Explore the Insight films, publications, news and stories born from this pioneering community.

Explore our insights and discoveries

NOMIS Foundation

“NOMIS is all about enabling outstanding talent to take on high-risk research.”
— Georg Heinrich “Heini” Thyssen, NOMIS Founder

About the NOMIS Foundation

NOMIS Professorships

Human progress relies on not only the rigorous work of established researchers, but also the education of the next generation of scientists. By establishing dedicated positions at world-class partner institutions, we support innovative leaders recognized for their excellence in both research and teaching. NOMIS professorships enable leading scientists to pursue insight-driven questions about nature, the mind and society, fostering the dynamic, interdisciplinary environments necessary to advance new areas of study and actively mentor tomorrow’s scientific leaders.

NOMIS Professorship of Cognitive and Neuroeconomics, UZH

To fully understand human decision-making, we must connect the biology of the brain to the economics of our world. While empirical research has mapped many neural underpinnings of human behavior, a crucial element remains missing: the theoretical frameworks required to connect these biological processes with modern economic models of choice. The NOMIS Professorship of Cognitive and Neuroeconomics bridges this gap.

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Professorship of Genome Biology, ETH Zurich

As clinical medicine shifts toward targeted, personalized therapies for widespread diseases such as cancer and diabetes, understanding how genetic variations drive disease is critical. The Professorship of Genome Biology at ETH Zurich pushes the boundaries of personalized health and technology.

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Professorship of Cryo-Electron Microscopy, ETH Zurich

Visualizing biomolecules at atomic resolution is essential for understanding the complex biological processes that drive human disease. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) enables scientists to capture viruses and protein complexes with unprecedented resolution. The Professorship of Cryo-Electron Microscopy at ETH Zurich expands this frontier of structural biology.

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