My main scientific interests are in problems of plasma astrophysics, especially solar and heliospheric physics, from an observational and experimental point of view. Studying the Sun and the heliosphere has an essential advantage over studying other astrophysical objects in that detailed spatially resolved observations and even in-situ observations can be obtained. Over the past two decades, I have been working on problems of how the solar corona is heated, how magnetic energy is converted, how energetic particles are accelerated and how they escape from acceleration sites into interplanetary space. During this time, I have published 163 papers in refereed journals addressing these problems, 32 as a first author.

Most of the recent advances in our understanding of heliophysics have been provided by space instrumentations. It is therefore essential to be closely involved in or to lead future space hardware projects. I have successfully worked to become a leading figure in the planning and designing of space missions. I am Principal Investigator (PI) of the STIX instrument on ESA’s Solar Orbiter and the NASA Small Explorer mission RHESSI, and have been the PI of sounding rocket missions, FOXSI and FOXSI 2.

Currently, I hold a double appointment, shared between the FHNW University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and the Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL), University of California, Berkeley, USA. At FHNW, I have a faculty position working on the STIX project as the PI, and at Berkeley, I have a Senior Fellow position to lead the RHESSI project.

Presently my work is divided between:
(1) Management of space hardware projects and associated science exploitation
(2) Planning, lobbying, designing and managing of future space instrumentation
(3) Data analysis of various remote sensing solar observations and spacecraft in-situ observations of solar energetic particles
(4) Mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists

Work experience

2011
Faculty at University of FHNW Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

2010 to present
double appointment at and the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland and the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, USA

2008–2010
Head of space allocation committee at the Space Sciences Laboratory

2008
Member of the executive committee to the director of the Space Sciences Laboratory

2006 to present
Senior Fellow at the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley

2000–2006
Research physicist at the Space Sciences Laboratory

1999–2000
Extension of fellowship of the Swiss National Science Foundation (2 years)

1998
Fellowship of the Swiss National Science Foundation awarded (1 year)

1997–2000
Post-doctorate position at the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley (with Prof. R. P. Lin)

Education

1996
PhD Thesis: "Small Solar Flares in Radio and X-rays: Microflares and Radio Bursts"

1993–1996
PhD student at the Institute of Astronomy, ETH Zürich (Prof. A. O. Benz)

1992
Diploma in experimental physics (Masters Degree), ETH Zürich
Diploma thesis in Quantum Electronics: "Investigations on Photorefractive KNbO3 in the Red and Near Infrared" (supervisor Prof. P. Günter, Institut für Quantenelektronik, ETH Zürich)

1987–1992
Study of experimental physics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

1982–1986
Kantonsschule Baden, Switzerland