Michelle Grant
Founding Executive Director of the World Food System Center at ETH Zurich
What advice you would like to give to young researchers based on your own experience?
When starting your career, it is very easy to look to others for guidance. The sooner you can learn to look inside and listen to your own needs and motivations, the more you are able to align your work with what feels purposeful and joyful for you. I believe this is the basis for more impactful and creative work that is sustainable over the long term. This requires cultivating self-awareness and self-reflection and coupling that with the courage and communication skills needed to carve your own path forward.
Lukas Böni
Co-Founder at Planted
What advice would you like to give to young researchers based on your own experience?
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
What key learning have you acquired from your current position?
Science is crucial for a good product and a pipeline but it needs much more to succeed on the market.
What aspects do you like most in your current job?
The team and people around me, the speed and the innovations in the pipeline.
Prof. Dr.-Ing Alexander Mathys
Professor in Sustainable Food Processing at ETH Zurich, Switzerland
What advice would you like to give to young researchers based on your own experience?
You are unique, go your own unique way based on your special professional and private needs. Look for your best portfolio.
What key learning have you acquired from your current position?
I found my dream job; it was worth working so hard for it. It was very important to have this ultimate goal in mind, during all the challenging times.
What aspects do you like most in your current job?
ETH Zurich is an awesome ecosystem with great students, amazing researchers, and colleagues. I love the combination of freedom and resources to collaborate on impactful challenges within such an ecosystem.
The Young EFFoST will be held the morning before the official start of the 35th EFFoST International Conference. It will take place at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday 1 November 2021. The day consists of interactive activities including inspiring talks and networking. Find the full programme here and register here.