Federal Council reappoints Martin Ackermann as Eawag director
Berne, 27.05.2026 — On 27 May, the Federal Council appointed Professor Martin Ackermann to a second term as director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The four-year term will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030.
During Prof. Ackermann’s first term, Eawag continued to refine its strategic focus and strengthened its position as the leading aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain. Its strategy was aligned with key societal challenges where water plays a decisive role: climate change, biodiversity, the circular economy and health. In doing so, Eawag enhanced its profile as an institute that combines excellent basic research with applied work, knowledge and technology transfer, and tangible impact on society, policy and practice.
Prof. Ackermann also strengthened collaboration with the other institutions in the ETH Domain. Joint activities on climate solutions, sustainable materials and energy infrastructures were initiated with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), and cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) in the field of biodiversity was strengthened. Collaboration with ETH Zurich and EPFL was also enhanced through joint professorships, teaching programmes, research initiatives and knowledge transfer. These partnerships help the ETH Domain to pool its various strengths more effectively and develop joint solutions to water and environmental issues.
Martin Ackermann studied biology at the University of Basel, where he obtained his doctorate in 2002. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Diego. In 2004, he took up a position as senior researcher at ETH Zurich. He was appointed Swiss National Science Foundation Assistant Professor in 2006, before being selected by the ETH Board as Associate Professor in 2008 and Full Professor in 2015. Alongside his professorship at ETH Zurich, Prof. Ackermann has since 2012 led an Eawag research department at the forefront of solutions-oriented aquatic microbiology research. The Federal Council appointed Martin Ackermann as director of Eawag in June 2022, and he took up the position in January 2023. In 2024, he received the ALEA Award for exemplary leadership.