"I am my own research group"

Ueli Merz is one of world's leading plant pathologists in the area of powdery scab. ETH made this possible, he says. He has been conducting research here in the same field for 25 years.

Enlarged view: Ueli Merz
Plant pathologist Ueli Merz has been conducting research, teaching and helping out when colleagues in his team are at a loss. (Photo: Rebecca Wyss/ETH Zurich)

22 scientific articles, 20 publications, 25 lectures and numerous workshops – a glance at Ueli Merz’ website shows that the plant pathologist is one of world's leading experts in the area of powdery scab. He has been conducting research into the fungus-caused disease since he started at ETH. After completing his doctorate, he continued his research as a senior scientist in the plant pathology group at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, which recently became the Department of Environmental Systems Science.

25 years have passed since then. The 62 year-old remembers the time well: "My dissertation meant a lot of work." The trained agronomist wanted to develop a suitable method for verifying the powdery scab pathogen. Hardly any scientists in Switzerland had researched the matter before him. The consequence was that Merz had to arrange the financing of his position as a doctoral student himself. He also had to develop the methods from scratch, "not an easy task", as he says, particularly as he did not have a mentor. "I was mostly left to my own devices."

Promoting traditional and molecular plant pathology

Little has changed in this area since. Merz is his own research group, as he says himself. But that does not mean that he is alone. The exchange of ideas and experience within the team is lively. Also, colleagues often drop by his office. A frequent reason is that they cannot find a suitable device for their research method. Ueli Merz then often turns out to be their saviour: he usually knows what instrument would be suitable and where to find it.

The reason is that, thanks to his apprenticeship as a radio and TV technician, he was able to help the in-house mechanic during the time he was writing his dissertation. After the mechanic's retirement, he became responsible for assessing new, and maintaining old, devices. That enabled him to become familiar with numerous research methods and today means that he can put himself in the position of the individual researchers. He says: "I have become something of a central organ in the group."

The committed researcher is today one of the most experienced scientists in the plant pathology group. A lot has changed since he started out. Merz is a traditional plant pathologist, who grew up with field tests. In line with this research tradition, the interaction with pathogens is examined in the field on the host plants. Contemporary genetics is increasingly replacing such methods. Today, laboratory-based research focuses on the level of interaction of molecules and genes.

He is observing this development with concern: "Both approaches will continue to be needed: traditional and molecular plant pathology. We will only arrive at new findings if we apply both methods." He is also committed to traditional plant pathology as a lecturer. He teaches students, amongst other things, how to diagnose the key diseases of the individual host groups.

A degree in Agronomics, a doctorate and 25 years in research – the husband and father has spent nearly half his life at ETH. Not without reason, as he says: "My work is the ideal job for me. Not least because I have also had the opportunity that many of my colleagues around the world don't: at ETH, I have been able to conduct in-depth research into my field over many years."

Anniversaries

September 2013
35 years

Dr. Arun Kumar, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry
30 years
Brigitte Barbara K?gi, Facility Management
15 years
Dordaneh Ahmadi-Arangeh, ITS IT Procurement & Portfolio
Dr. Mattias Beck, Institute for Quantum Electronics
Ruth Gabriella Gilchrist, Department of Environmental Systems Science
Gabriele Hollender, Thomas Mann Archives
Heinz Leemann, Facility Management
Claudia Michel, Institute of Integrative Biology
10 years
Esther Baumer, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry
Dr. Jacqueline Egli, Institute of Behavioral Sciences
Georgios Farmakis, Facility Management
Ursula Gottschalk, Housing Office of University and ETH Zurich
Markus Hildbrand, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biophysics
Prof. Dr. Remco Ingmar Leine, Institute of Mechanical Systems
Dr. Thomas Uli Michlmayr, Laboratory for Solid State Physics
Hansjakob Rusterholz, FIRST Lab
Dr. Alla Sologubenko, Institute of Metals Research
Ramias Steinemann, Chair of Architecture and Design

Retirements
Dr. Roland Aeppli, KOF Swiss Economic Institute
Bernhard Cadonau, ITS Service Delivery
Dr. Roland F?h, Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology
Peter Fischer, ETH Alumni
Roger L?rtscher, Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology
Helena Remund-Suhonen, Student Administration (Studienadministration)

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