All news and stories, FHNW School of Life Sciences

A conversation with Claude Schärer

Sarah Lehmann from the International Office accompanied the students.

The FHNW School of Life Sciences is part of Switzerland’s new national initiative to integrate AI into cancer treatment. Under Innosuisse’s flagship funding programme, the National AI Initiative for Precision Oncology (NAIPO) will support strategically important projects to create a secure, nationwide infrastructure for AI-enabled precision oncology while protecting sensitive patient data.

Michèle Mindach conducted research for her master's thesis at Linköping University in Sweden.

Samira Künzler completed her bachelor's thesis in Buenos Aires.

In 2025, Diana Schweizer conducted research on biosensor development at the Steinegger Lab at Seoul National University for her master's thesis.

Networking, internationalisation and greater confidence in English.

We are proud to present a selection of our research successes from the past year. These projects showcase how our school supports local, national and international communities, is a partner of choice for industry, advances treatment options for patients, and pushes technological frontiers – all while providing outstanding educational opportunities for our students.

Michael Thomann’s team is using online sensors and modelling to exploit existing wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure.

A tool developed by Miriam Langer’s team is helping industry better answer this question.

Maryna Peter and her project team are preventing disease through handwashing technology, behavioural science, effective management and long-term relationships.

Markus Lenz's team is ensuring sustainability of new photovoltaic materials

Thomas Gross and his project team is combining biochar and compost to rehabilitate degraded soils.

A new generation of medicines that require new solutions.

New in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier helps pharma identify promising candidates.

Andreas Zogg brings chemical engineering companies and students together to make shared advances in process safety

Nano-engineered shield for enzyme replacement therapy could help it reach targets in the brain

Céline Vergne has developed a intelligent electromagnetic navigation system for precise implantation of deep brain stimulation electrodes.

Daniel Seiler’s lab is revolutionizing how personalised orthopedic insoles are made.

Martin Kuentz and his students are predicting solubility and formulation composition to reduce animal testing.

Predicting the right doses of the right drugs at the right times

Reto Wildhaber’s team has developed a visualisation technology to better illuminate corrective surgery after caesarian sections.

On a mission to apply quantum computing to life sciences.

Abdullah Kahraman is harnessing long-read sequencing to identify new biomarkers and drug targets

Enkelejda Miho puts different fields to work to develop new medicines, diagnostics, and a better understanding of the health-disease continuum

Prof. Dr. Falko Schlottig, Director of the FHNW School of Life Sciences, comments on key aspects of the school’s strategy and vision for 2035.

Samira Gmür completed her bachelor’s thesis at the renowned university.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Villiger promotes international study stays for our students.

A great opportunity for both students and staff!

In 2024, Luisa Vaas spent one semester at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague as part of the Double Degree programme.

In 2024, Natalie LeLay took the opportunity to do a double degree at University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague.

In 2024, Dominik Müller took the opportunity to do a double degree in Sweden and spent one additional semester at Linköping University.

Iron detection is important in many areas, from the food industry to health research and machine maintenance. However, the precise measurement and localization of iron particles is technically challenging because of the low magnetic field they generate.

How experience abroad boosted Yanik Deana's career.

FHNW School of Life Sciences hosts 5th edition of the Biointerfaces International Conference

In 2024, Salome Hegi spent six months conducting research for her bachelor's thesis at the University of Edinburgh.

Titus Wuermeling took the opportunity to do a double degree and spent one additional semester at Linköping University.

In 2024, Simon Kraft immersed himself in a new research environment at Politecnico di Milano for his bachelor's thesis.

In 2024, Noah Squaratti spent almost six months working on his bachelor's thesis in the laboratories of the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Mānoa, Hawai'i.

In 2024, Julia Gnägi used the summer break to complete an IAESTE internship at the SENAI Innovation Institute in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2023, Bastien Vallat took the opportunity to do a double degree in Italy and spent one additional semester at the University of Bologna.

Benjamin Otter conducted research for his master’s thesis at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim.

An interview with Dr. Maryna Peter

An interview with Prof. Dr. Daniel Varón

Prof. Renzo Raso benefits from collaborating with a master’s student from the University of Bologna.

The long-standing collaboration with our partner university in the Czech Republic offers many advantages for students.

An interview with Prof. Dr. Laura Suter-Dick

First edition of the European Healthy Soils Conference highlights obstacles and opportunities

FHNW Welcome Days from the perspective of two exchange students at the FHNW School of Life Sciences.

During her stay at the Fundación Instituto Leloir in Buenos Aires, between March and June 2023, Laura was part of the Group around Eduardo Castaño and Laura Morelli investigating brain aging and neurodegeneration, with a research focus on cellular events related to Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, Laura was able to participate as a presenter and as an attendee at the institutional research seminars, where she made contact with top-class researchers from Argentina and abroad.

In 2023, Rina Tetaj spent six months conducting research for her bachelor's thesis at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

In 2022/2023, Kürşat Birgin completed a one-year internship at the Biomedical Research Park of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.

In 2022, the outstanding research teams working on Organ-on-a-Chip at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) brought Lucía Morillo Victorero to Barcelona for her master's thesis.

An ideal introduction to the Chinese language and culture.

It was a roaring success - the 5th Swiss Symposium on Point-of-Care-Diagnostics that we were honored to host here at FHNW Campus Muttenz a few days ago. Not only did the event provide academic researchers, industry and clinicians a chance to connect – it was also an incredible opportunity for FHNW School of Life Sciences students to gain insights into the latest trends and technologies at a leading national conference.

Dr. Eriberto Natali has been working in Enkelejda Miho's research team at the FHNW School of Life Sciences for three years; he is using artificial intelligence to search for antibodies that protect against dengue virus.

Prof. Dr. Simone Hemm-Ode tells us why she supports student stays abroad.

Sina Saxer talks about her own experiences abroad and explains why she supports students during their stays abroad.

Interview with Prof. Dr. Fabio Fava

Bologna - an attractive destination for a stay abroad!

Our partner university in Prague has a lot to offer!

Barcelona - a vibrant city for students!

Students are thrilled with our long-standing partner university in Sweden.

Tracker app's sophisticated reward system motivates patients to perform targeted exercises for arm movement rehabilitation

Data-supported imaging method makes deep brain stimulation more precise and effective in treating Parkinson's

Modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners have a static magnetic field 60,000 times stronger than that of the Earth.

A multinational research team is developing smart printed interactive robots for interventional therapy and surgery

system enables reliable studies to be done on highly sensitive biomolecules.

Researchers at the School of Life Sciences FHNW (HLS) have developed a process for recovering the rare earth metal scandium from acidic industrial wastewater by means of filtration.

Multi-layer membrane helps recover 90% of the phosphorous from acid waste solutions.

Evaluation of 420 filters from five manufacturers in three different humanitarian contexts in Palestine, Somalia and Kenya

Sewage sludge produced during waste water purification contains not only biomass and pollutants but also precipitated phosphorus.

Shedding light on an alarming mechanism by which bacteria not only survive treatment with antibiotics but also use them as nutrition

Evaluation program makes CT and MRI scans cheaper and more ecological

Design, manufacturing, and quality management of metallic and ceramic implants using 3D printing

Reliable lipid-based system transports poorly soluble drugs in dissolved form in the gastrointestinal tract

Researchers at the Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics have optimised the composition of an enzyme toothpaste.

Catalyst system breaks down hydrogen peroxide used to sterilise clean rooms

Measuring nutrients in the blood quickly and easily without the need to visit a doctor

Cellular 3D test systems that emulate organs and their function provide alternatives to animal experiments

Porous silica particles provide bacteria with the nutrients they need to break down oil