EDMI Alumni testimonials
The first EDMI student graduated in 2003. Since then, about 450 students obtained the doctoral degree (PhD) in our doctoral school.
Our alumni pursue careers across industry (83%), academia (7%), research centers (6%), and the public sector (4%). After completing their PhD, they are based primarily in Switzerland (72%), followed by Europe (17%), the United States and Canada (7%), and Asia (4%). They work in start-ups, often founded by themselves and built on ideas or technologies developed during their doctoral studies, as well as in medium- and large-sized companies. These companies cover a broad spectrum of industrial sectors such as sensors and instrumentation (medical, chemical, optical, mechanical, magnetic), integrated devices (electronic ASICs, integrated photonic circuits), and simulation software.
My decision to pursue a PhD in the EDMI program, specifically within the Laboratory of Biological Network Characterization (LBNC lab), was driven by the desire to develop novel microfluidic devices for high-sensitivity immunoassay applications in an exceptional research environment. The program offered several distinct key features that I highly valued: access to a diverse, multicultural laboratory setting, state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities, and the opportunity to interact with leading experts. This rich environment was instrumental in allowing me to acquire deep expertise in micro- and nanofabrication techniques. Ultimately, the application of microfluidics to diagnostics became the central focus of my research, a passion that directly paved my transition into the diagnostics industry, where I currently contribute.
EDMI PhD graduate 2017
I completed my PhD in microsystems and microelectronics under the supervision of Prof. Andras Kis. My thesis focused on investigating MoS₂ , an atomically thin semiconductor, to develop the next generation of flash memories. We leveraged these memory devices to explore emerging computing architectures with strong potential for accelerating artificial intelligence (AI)–based applications. To enable the fabrication of these devices, I had the privilege of working within the comprehensive facilities of the Center of MicroNanoTechnology (CMi). The unique, world-class infrastructure at EPFL allowed me to fully concentrate on addressing challenging engineering problems. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue my Ph.D. at EPFL, as well as for the enriching experience of living in Switzerland and being part of its community. After EPFL, I spent a year as a KIC postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University, and now I’m starting my own laboratory at Rice University as Assistant Professor in January 2026.
EDMI PhD graduate 2023
I chose the EDMI doctoral program for its unique environment at the intersection of engineering, microtechnology, and life sciences, and for its strong focus on creating new technologies to address unmet needs. During my PhD in the Medtronic Chair in Neuroengineering Lab, I developed a stretchable, wide-field photovoltaic retinal prosthesis for preclinical studies on artificial vision, an experience that allowed me to bring a neuroprosthetic device from concept to successful in-vivo validation.
EDMI offered exceptional access to facilities such as the CMi and taught me how to navigate highly interdisciplinary environments. Learning how biology, materials science, and microengineering intertwine shaped both my scientific mindset and my career path, enabling me to pursue interdisciplinary postdoctoral work at MIT and later at Novartis in Cambridge, USA.
I am now a Staff Scientist at Analog Devices, Inc. in Boston, working in the company’s innovation hub, the Garage, where I continue to build new technologies at the interface of engineering and biology.
EDMI PhD graduate 2020