Sylvain Bischof

Science and research are my passions. Elucidating molecular mechanisms that drive cellular life and applying the gained knowledge to improve plant resilience and human health have been at the core of my work for 20 years. As a faculty, I have been fortunate to put together a diverse and skillful team leveraging functional genomics, synthetic biology and genome engineering to explore the unknown.

Guided by an executive MBA, my new discoveries are now being translated into scientific entrepreneurship.

Assistant Professor in Chromatin Biology at UNIVERSITY OF ZÜRICH (2019-01 – 2026-12)

• Awarded a Swiss National Science Foundation Professorship (CHF 2.4 M).
• Raised CHF 1.065 M from public and privat sectors.
• Created Industry partnerships with Syngenta and Novartis.
• Published 16 manuscripts, inc. Nature Communication and The Plant Cell.
• Invited as speaker at 13 international science conferences.
• Appointed Assistant Feature Editor in The Plant Cell.
• Served as board member of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the European Plant Science Organization and the Zürich Plant Science Center.
• Led the Master program in Plant Sciences.
• Mentored 3 graduate and 23 undergraduate students.
• Lectured for 10 undergraduate courses.
• Presented research at high schools and public outreach events.

Postdoctoral fellow in Epigenetics at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (2013-01 – 2028-12)

• Awarded 3 fellowships from the Swiss National Science Foundation (CHF 275'000).
• Provided expertise for the Bill and Melinda Foundation.
• Published 9 manuscripts, inc. Cell and Nature.
• Selected as speaker at 11 international science conferences.
• Supervised 8 undergraduate students.
• Instructed in the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans.

Doctoral student in Plant Biotechnology at ETH ZÜRICH (2007-01 – 2012-12)

• Awarded the Syngenta fellowship (CHF 175'000).
• Published 9 manuscripts, inc. MolPlant and EMBOj.
• Selected as speaker at 4 international science conferences.
• Supervised 2 undergraduate students.
• Organized the 5th Tri-National Arabidopsis Meeting.

Scientist at BASF (2006-01 – 2006-12)

• Assessed in planta the properties of new chemical inhibitors.

Global Executive MBA in Business Administration – INSEAD (2025-01 – 2026-12)

Ph.D. in Science – ETH ZÜRICH (2007-01 – 2012-12)

B.S., M.S. in Biology – UNIVERSITY OF ZÜRICH (2001-01 – 2006-12)