News

Developing and redesigning radiopharmaceuticals for tumour therapies

People from 64 nations work at PSI. Of course, they all bring their own culinary preferences with them. 

Tracking down bioaerosols from plants to improve climate models

How do you build a microrobot that can be controlled magnetically?

The research carried out at PSI tends to be extremely complex and often difficult to describe. We gave researchers a tricky assignment: Sketch the basic idea of your research in a simple drawing.

Apprenticeship in the ETH Domain: PSI polymechanic Rohat Sihyürek tells.

The PSI radiation protection service is responsible for missions not only at the Institute, but throughout the canton of Aargau. Four times a year the unit practises for an emergency.

Atmospheric scientist Julia Schmale is starting out on a three-month research cruise around the antartic. There she will be searching for the cleanest air still to be found on our planet.

Interview with Stefan Janssen, Head of the User Office
Stefan Janssen is Head of the User Office at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. In an interview, he explains why the PSI’s large research facilities are popular with researchers coming from other institutions, how he handles the many applications and how he supports users who come here to conduct experiments.

Julia H. Smith is a postdoctoral fellow working on detectors for the SwissFEL x-ray free electron laser, which can be envisioned as the eyes of the new PSI large research facility. During her time at PSI, she has a good chance of accompanying her detector up to its use at the new facility. Even more important than witnessing the first experiments at SwissFEL is acquiring new knowledge and skills during my time as a postdoc at PSI. Smith would like to continue working in the field of detectors and technology development after her postdoc – at a company or at another research institute.

Portrait of PSI doctoral student Patrick Lanz
Patrick Lanz already discovered a fascination with the world of science and technology during his school days. As an electrical engineer, his father had a decent selection of electronics sets for him to tinker with. However, the young Patrick did not merely content himself with remote-controlled cars. He set about systematically disassembling his toys in a quest to find out how they worked. Later, Lanz also began opening small batteries because he wanted to understand “what went on inside” – probably the first step on the path to his present role as a battery researcher.

This year, Rebekka Liefert completes her four-year training as an engineering apprentice at PSI. What she liked about the research institute was that it almost only makes prototypes. The components for the research facilities are usually individual pieces at PSI. Series production didn’t appeal to her; she quickly got bored. I can’t sit still. That’s why the variety here is perfect for me.

Interview with Beat Henrich.Physicist Beat Henrich is head of the iLab, the lab school at the Paul Scherrer Institute. In an interview, he explains how he gets young people interested in physics.

Sabine Mayer has been Head of the Division for Radiation Safety and Security (ASI) since the beginning of the year. Hence, she is responsible for security at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), from its in-house fire brigade over occupational health and safety to radiological monitoring. Nonetheless, the importance of the Division extends far beyond PSI: the Swiss authorities have confidence in its pool of experts and she, therefore, plays an active role in shaping safety policy in Switzerland. The interview.