Get to know D-CHAB's Excellence Scholars 2024
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Program (ESOP) at ETH Zurich supports outstanding students every year. They are among the best and receive support from the donors of ETH Foundation for their Master's studies to concentrate on their studies. In this article, the four new Excellence Scholars at D-CHAB introduce themselves. Get to know Urs Keller, Daniel Isler, Angela Spadea and Filip Hůlek.
Urs Keller – #drugrecycling
"I am Urs Keller. I come from the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland and am studying for a Master’s degree in pharmacy at ETH. Already during my Bachelor’s studies, I discovered my passion for the precise work of analytics, as well as the interdisciplinary aspect of pharmacy. So, I plan to write my Master's thesis in the field of analytics with a clear interdisciplinary reference. I will try to optimize extraction methods for active pharmaceutical ingredients from commercial drugs to develop sustainable and resource-saving methods. This could enable drug recycling and could reduce their environmental impact. The initial ideas for this project emerged during my internship at a pharmacy, and I am thrilled to have discovered a research group at ETH that shares this objective. Outside of the university, I am passionate about mycology – growing mushrooms offers me the perfect balance to my everyday studies.
The ESOP scholarship is a great honor for me. It allows me to concentrate fully on my studies while pursuing my extracurricular interests. I look forward to exchanging ideas with other talented students and making new contacts."
Filip Hůlek – #drugdevelopment
"My name is Filip and I am starting the Chemical and Bioengineering Master’s program at ETH. I come from the Czech Republic, where I also studied for my Bachelor’s in chemistry at the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague. Next to my studies, I worked as a part-time researcher at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, where I focused on the medicinal chemistry of nucleobases and nucleotides, working on numerous projects in a research group.
In my free time, I help to organize various competitions and a summer camp for high school students, bringing them closer to the field of chemistry. For my Master’s studies, I chose ETH as it offers many exciting research and other opportunities. Within the Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, I am particularly interested in Biochemical Engineering, for instance in the translation of candidate drugs into successful pharmaceuticals, but I am open to any opportunity or project that comes my way and sparks my interest.
My studies at ETH are only possible thanks to the ESOP fellowship, which not only allows me to focus on my studies but also enables me to get to know many wonderful people, which I am grateful for."
Angela Spadea – #spectroscopy
"My name is Angela. I grew up in Lugano, Ticino. Currently, I am in the first semester of my Master’s studies in chemistry at ETH with a focus on physical chemistry and optics. Physical chemistry is at the intersection between fundamental research and technological development, which is why I find this discipline particularly fascinating. My previous semester project was centered on the characterization of London forces, which play a major role in the structural stability of proteins and can be exploited to optimize the reactivity of organometallic catalysts. Currently, I am focusing on the construction of a novel apparatus to trap single aerosol particles and study the reactivity on their surface. I equally plan to dedicate my Master’s thesis to spectroscopy.
Besides university, I am passionate about cinema and literature, especially about the space race. The financial aid offered by the ESOP scholarship is very important for me, as it allows me to continue my higher education. The ESOP fellowship also represents a reward for my past efforts, and it ignites me with motivation to carry on my scientific career."
Daniel Isler – #simulations
"I am Daniel. I grew up in Baden, Switzerland and I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in interdisciplinary sciences at ETH. My main interests lie in combining my chemistry knowledge with programming skills to develop intelligent systems for solving environmental problems. Integration of scientific approaches into AI has high potential, pushing the importance of this interdisciplinary field. Having acquired a solid foundation in both chemistry and physics during my Bachelor's degree, I am now focusing on simulating physical systems and applying machine learning to complex problems. Besides my studies, I volunteer for the Swiss Chemistry Olympiad, helping to set up competitions for future talents and supporting international science Olympiads. In my free time, I enjoy cross-country skiing in winter and trail running in summer. Receiving the ESOP fellowship in 2024 is a great honor. It has boosted my motivation and provided an opportunity to connect with a vibrant community of scholars. I look forward to meeting inspiring individuals and building valuable relationships through this fellowship."