André Rubbia

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I hold a PhD in physics from MIT and have been a Professor at ETH Zurich since 1998, specializing in particle physics. My academic journey includes research at prominent institutions like CERN in Switzerland, FNAL in the US, and KEK in Japan.

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Prof. Dr. André Rubbia, PhD

Born 12th August 1966

Married
Children: 3

Professional address:

Institut für Teilchenphysik, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich (Switzerland)

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Physics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA (1990-1993)
• Diplôme de Physicien, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland (1985-1990)
• Maturité fédérale, Collège de Candolle, Geneva, Switzerland (1981-1985)

Employment:

• Since 2003: Full Professor of particle physics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• 2010: Visiting Professor, KEK, Tsukuba, Japan (on sabbatical leave)
• 1998-2003: Associate Professor, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• 1995-1998: Research Physicist, CERN staff, PPE division, CERN, Switzerland
• 1993-1998: Research Physicist, CERN fellow, PPE division, CERN, Switzerland
• 1990-1993: Research Assistant, Electromagnetic Interactions Group (MIT), Cambridge, USA

Languages:

English, Italian(native), French(native), German, Spanish

• Current employment: Full Professor at ETH Zurich, Institute for Particle and Astroparticle Physics
  In 1998 I founded and since then lead the research group to study the properties of neutrinos at ETH Zurich (ETHZ neutrino group). The neutrino group at ETH Zurich grew to become one of the leading research groups in the field of neutrino physics, and many of the techniques and technologies developed by the group have since been adopted by other experiments around the world. I have supervised from than fifty PhD and master's students.
• Short bio: After having earned my diploma in physics at the Département Physique Nucléaire et Corspusculaire (DPNC) at University of Geneva in 1990, I began my graduate studies in the field of particle physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where I focused on high-energy electron-positron collisions and worked on the development of particle detectors. After my return to Switzerland in 1993 I became a fellow, then staff researcher, at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). In 1998, I was elected Associate Professor at the Institute for Particle Physics at ETH Zürich (ETHZ IPA). In 2003, I was promoted to Full Professor. At ETHZ I taught notably basic and specialised courses at the Bachelor’s and Masters’ levels, in addition to initiating and leading new lines of research in astro-particle physics, neutrino physics, and exotic atoms.
• Scientific activities: I have been involved in several large international projects at CERN colliders at the highest energies as well as at fixed target facilities around the world. I have constructed and performed experiments at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory (Italy) and the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Spain). I have pioneered and successfully led the developments of deep underground neutrino observatories and large instruments for direct dark matter detection. I have been the Principal Investigator of more than 20 national SNF projects, and have acted as Coordinator of two EU FP7 Design Studies projects. Outside Europe, I have been deeply involved in collaborations with Japanese and American research centers. In 2015, I was elected Co-Spokesperson of a billion-dollar-scale neutrino project (DUNE) at Fermilab near Chicago, where I have played a seminal role in the formation and organisation of the experiment, managing more than 900 scientists and technicians.
• Scientific publications: I have authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications (INSPIRE). I edited the paper that announced the first indication of electron neutrino appearance at accelerators, selected in 2011 by the American Physical Society for Viewpoint as the first evidence for matter-antimatter asymmetry in neutrino oscillation. The Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics was awarded to our international scientific team for these results (link).
• Books: I have written a two-semester Master's or graduate reference book on particle physics. The book intertwines theory and experiment in an original approach that covers all aspects of modern particle physics Cambridge University Press (Goodreads, Amazon). I am now in the process of writing a series of four books called Unlocking the Universe (Goodreads Volume I, Amazon).
• Research grants: Over the years, I have secured substantial research funding to pursue my research.
• Engagement beyond research and academia: I have provided strategic consultation to startups, leveraging my scientific expertise to influence technological advancements.