Affiliated research groups
COPL brings together more than 40 research groups from seven different departments at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute.
Pilhofer Lab
We investigate macromolecular machines mediating bacterial cell-cell interactions.
COPL Research Project: Investigations into the diversity of cell-cell associations and non-standard life using metagenomics and cryogenic electron microscopy
Our laboratory focuses on the understanding and engineering of microbiomes, one-carbon metabolism and endosymbioses.
Origins Federation PhD Prize 2025: Dr. Gabriel Giger
We study the structure and function of microbial communities across a range of ecosystems, including the open ocean, coral reefs and aerosols.
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Taylor Priest, 2024
The group develops phylogenetic tools to understand evolutionary, ecological, epidemiological and developmental processes on different scales.
COPL Research Project: Revisiting the hypothesis of a universal ancestor of all (known) life
From the picoliter to the pilot scale for designing, evolving and applying novel molecules and catalysts for fine chemistry and pharma.
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. David Schnettler, 2024
Biochemical Engineering Laboratory
Our lab combines principles of chemical engineering and biophysical methods to investigate problems of biomolecular self-assembly associated with the discovery, manufacturing and delivery of proteins for healthcare applications.
COPL Research Project: Synthetic Proto-Enzymes: Boosting Peptide Catalysis in Liquid Phase Separated Compartments
The group is using nature’s chemical rhetoric to enable new ways of thinking about the molecular complexity of living systems.
Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Using NMR as a major tool, the objective of the research in our group is to understand the conformational switches of proteins associated with amyloid diseases and trans-membrane signaling.
COPL Research Project: On the potential prebiotic interplay of Peptide Amyloids, RNA, and clay minerals
Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Our laboratory develops organic synthetic methods to tackle questions in chemical biology and materials research.
COPL Research Project: Synthetic Proto-Enzymes: Boosting Peptide Catalysis in Liquid Phase Separated Compartments
Prof. Dr. Jeroen Anton van Bokhoven
We investigate the structure-performance relationships of heterogeneous catalysts. The purpose is the design and construction of more active, selective, and stable catalysts.
external page Thin Films and Interfaces
Prof. Dr. Thomas Lippert
We study thin films to understand and tune material properties at the nanoscale, using advanced deposition methods and large-scale facilities like synchrotrons and neutron sources at PSI.
Our research focuses on theory in chemistry with a special emphasis on so-called first-principles methods, which are deeply rooted in quantum mechanics.
We use light for the detection, manipulation, and characterization of ultrafine aerosol particles and nanoparticles in order to learn more about their physical-chemical properties.
COPL Research Project: Investigating the radiative and water uptake properties of haze particles using a laser trap experiment: key constraints for the UV and temperature environment of early Earth
Magmatic Petrology and Volcanology
The group focuses on the characterisation of various aspects of volcanic processes and eruptive dynamics, in order to better predict volcanic activity.
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Thomas Drant, 2025
The Surface Earth Evolution group studies how geologic, climatic, and biologic factors regulate the chemical composition of the oceans and atmosphere throughout Earth’s history.
COPL Research Project: On the potential prebiotic interplay of Peptide Amyloids, RNA, and clay minerals
The group is investigating all areas of applied geophysics from acquisition to processing, modelling and inversion for exploration and environmental problems.
The group is dedicated to study deep Earth processes experimentally by exposing sample material to relevant pressure, temperature and redox conditions.
The group seeks to understand how planets form and evolve, both in our Solar System and beyond.
COPL Research Project 2024: Experimental constraints on photochemical pathways to life-essential precursors in the atmospheres of rocky planets
COPL Research Project 2026: Investigating the radiative and water uptake properties of haze particles using a laser trap experiment: key constraints for the UV and temperature environment of early Earth
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Thomas Drant, 2025
Structural Geology and Tectonics
The group focuses on the rapidly deforming zones that define Earth’s tectonic plate boundaries and generate many of the planet’s geohazards.
Geomitigation of Greenhouse Gases
The group investigates how microbial life responds to environmental change. We study the co-evolution of life and Earth using methods inspired by systems biology, phylogenetics, and data science.
COPL Research Project: Investigations into the diversity of cell-cell associations and non-standard life using metagenomics and cryogenic electron microscopy
Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group
The group investigates reactive fluid (water, CO2, CxHy, N2) and (geothermal) energy (heat, pressure) transfer in the Earth’s crust employing computer simulations, laboratory experiments and field analyses to gain fundamental insights and to address a wide range of societal goals and concerns.
COPL Research Project: Mechanochemical cycling of silica radicals as a pathway to prebiotic energy and early bioenergetics
Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
Prof. Dr. Derek Vance
We investigate the formation and evolution of the Earth and the Solar System using the chemical and isotopic information held in rocks, meteorites, the oceans and their sediments.
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Craig Walton, 2023
The main research interests of the group led by Prof. involve climate change on various timescales. The group explores the interactions between the climate, global biogeochemical cycles and the evolution of life in shaping the Earth's geological history.
The unifying goal of the group’s research is to understand the formation, evolution, and present-day dynamics of the mantle and lithosphere of Earth and other terrestrial bodies.
external page X-ray Tomography
The group focuses on the development of tools, both instrumentation and algorithms, for tomographic X-ray imaging, exploiting synchrotron and laboratory sources.
Our mission is to perform particle physics experiments at colliders with the highest energies and luminosities. We perform detector research and development, always considering possible spin-offs.
The group develops quantum devices that harness the infrared and terahertz spectrum through advanced heterostructure and optical engineering.
As a leading group in the global exoplanet research community, our mission is to enable the direct detection and characterization of extrasolar planetary systems with the long-term goal to investigate the existence of extraterrestrial life.
COPL Research Project: Quantifying the prospects for characterizing habitable and inhabited terrestrial exoplanets with future observations
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Sean Jordan, 2024
We study extrasolar planets, with a particular focus on understanding their interiors and atmospheres.
COPL Research Project 2023: Evolution and Diversity of Super-Earth Atmospheres
COPL Research Project 2025: Carbon and Sulfur cycles on ocean worlds
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Sarah Joiret, 2026
Our goal is to expand the knowledge about the formation and evolution of planetary systems, using innovative instruments and techniques to potentially discover Earth-like planets.
We perform particle physics at the high-energy frontier and tackle outstanding questions of Particle Physics, such as the elucidation of the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking and the particle origin of dark matter.
external page Atmospheric Chemistry
external page Prof. Dr. Claudia Mohr
The laboratory studies gases and aerosols in the atmosphere, affected by energy systems and impacting air quality, weather, climate change and human health.
We study the diversity and physiology of anaerobic archaea and bacteria to uncover the processes that regulate methane and CO₂ cycling across natural and engineered environments.
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Taylor Priest, 2024
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Emilie Skoog, 2026
Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution
The objective of our research group is to understand the link between landscape dynamics and biodiversity. We investigate the legacy of historical changes on current biodiversity and model future trajectories under climate and land-use changes.
COPL Research Project: Investigating the co-evolution of planets and life
NOMIS–ETH Fellow: Dr. Antonin Affholder, 2025