Scientific Highlights
«Magisches» Element stellt Modell zur Kernsynthese in Sternen infrage
Überraschende Messungen führen auf die Spur eines unbekannten Prozesses.
Einmalig präzise: Neuer Wert für die Halbwertszeit von Samarium-146
Forscherinnen und Forscher des PSI und der Australian National University haben die Halbwertszeit von Samarium-146 sehr genau bestimmt.
Terbium-161: new radionuclide therapy hits the clinic
Highly targeted cancer treatment has the potential to eliminate ultra-small cancer lesions that cause disease recurrence.
LRC and BluAct explore innovative filter material
Fission products from the PSI-SINQ gas-jet facility, as operated by LRC, were used to reveal the separation of relevant radionuclides from radioactively contaminated water. The tests were conducted using a novel innovative filter material made of a blend of milk whey and active charcoal on cellulose. This material has been developed by the ETHZ spin-off BluAct Technologies GmbH.
The importance of this project was recently highlithed in ETSON/news
Weissbuch Radiochemie Schweiz
In December 2020, the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) published its white book on radiochemical education in Switzerland. The report was authored under the lead of Prof. Dr. Roger Alberto (University of Zurich), Dr. Mario Burgener (Spiez Laboratory), and Prof. em. Dr. Heinz W. Gäggeler (University of Bern/Paul Scherrer Institute) and comprises contributions from many experts on the topic from various institutions throughout Switzerland. The white book highlights the imminent loss of experts in the field of radiochemistry and provides solutions to counteract this development.
Radiochemistry at ETH Zurich
As of December 10, 2020, the ETH Zurich appointed PSI’s Prof. Dr. Patrick Steinegger as assistant professor of radiochemistry (tenure track). Thus, the ETH domain took first counter measures against the imminent loss of radiochemical expertise in Switzerland, emphasized in the “Weissbuch Radiochemie Schweiz” by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Furthermore, the December issue of CHIMIA (Swiss Chemical Society) invited to present the diverse radiochemical activities throughout the country.
News
🎉Outstanding Performance by LRC Students in NES 2025 Best Student Awards 🏆
We are pleased to share that two of our PhD students, Noemi and Vlad (first and second from the left in the photo), have been awarded Best NES Student of 2025 in their respective categories!
👏 Vlad received the award in the 3rd-year PhD category for his research on tellurium evaporation from lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE), a key coolant in Generation IV nuclear reactors. His work, which focuses on understanding chemical species formation and the effects of humidity, provides important insights for improving the safety and reliability of advanced reactor systems.
👏 Noemi, recognized in the 4th-year PhD category, earned this honor for the second time (she was also awarded in 2022 as a 1st-year PhD student). Her project, "Enhancing Target Stability for Superheavy Element Production via Coupled Reduction," contributes valuable knowledge to the development of stable target materials for cutting-edge nuclear physics experiments.
We’re also proud to recognize Pasolini Sofia and Kou Xuandong, who were finalists in their respective categories:
🏅 Sofia presented her PhD project, "Radiolanthanide Production In Core (RAPIC)", focusing on innovative approaches for isotope production within reactor environments.
🏅 Xuandong was recognized for his work titled "Fission Product Release Behavior in GEN-IV Reactors", exploring crucial aspects of radioactive species behavior in next-generation nuclear systems.
Their achievements reflect the depth and impact of the research conducted in our program. Congratulations to all four!
PRISMAP Radiolanthanides Workshop: Advancing Cancer Therapy
The PRISMAP Radiolanthanides Workshop took place at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland from September 3 to 5, 2024. This influential three-day event gathered leading experts to review the latest advancements in radiolanthanides—radioactive elements at the forefront of cancer therapy. The workshop showcased cutting-edge developments in radiolanthanide production and explored their applications in both preclinical and clinical settings. A key highlight was an insightful panel discussion on the "Clinical Translation of Terbium-161 and Lessons Learned," which provided valuable takeaways for the future of cancer treatment. The event received extensive media coverage and was recently featured by the Swiss Society of Radiopharmacy and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry (SGRRC)
SCS Fall Meeting 2024 and Paul
On September 5, 2024, the Fall Meeting 2024 of the Swiss Chemical Society took place. The annual event attracts young (and old) chemists from all over Switzerland and gathers them at one of the country’s major universities. This year’s edition was held at the University of Fribourg. While most PhD students of LRC participated with poster presentations, Jennifer Wilson and Michael Hofstetter managed to secure themselves one of the rare spots for an oral presentation. Among many outstanding contributions, Paul Dutheil won the Best Poster Award - congratulations from the whole LRC to our honorary member, Paul! Well done :)
NRC 10 and Mike
During the week of August 25-30, 2024, members of the Laboratory of Radiochemistry attended the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry NRC10 in Brighton, United Kingdom. The conference covered a wide range of topics in the field and, although generally having a European focus, attracted international experts from around the world. Members of LRC gave strong poster presentations and great talks. Finally, Michael Hofstetter won the prize for the best oral presentation with his talk entitled “Unravelling ultra-trace lanthanide impurities in nuclear forensics evidence” – congratulations from all of us, Mike! Well deserved :)
Welcome to Our New Team Members!
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Haohan Zhang and Elizaveta Artiushova as they join our research team.
Vladislav Zobnin Honored with Best Presentation Award at NUCLEAR 2024 Conference
We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Vladislav Zobnin for receiving the prestigious Best Presentation Award at the NUCLEAR 2024 conference.