Scholarships for three Master's students at D-BAUG
Three students from the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering have been awarded a scholarship from the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). The full scholarship enables them to concentrate fully on their studies and realise their full potential. Congratulations!
ETH Zurich supports outstanding Master's students with the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). The Excellence Scholarship covers tuition fees and living expenses. It also includes a mentoring programme and admission to the ETH Foundation network. In the current academic year, 53 students from 23 countries received an ESOP scholarship. At D-BAUG, the following three students received the stipend: Livio Aemmer, Lionel Gilliar-Schoenenberger and Katrin Jodocy.
Livio Aemmer
Where are you from?
From Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
What led you to civil engineering?
My grandfather and my father both studied civil engineering at ETH Zurich. So you could say that I was influenced by them. Even as a child, I was allowed to go to construction sites and was fascinated by the large machines and structures. This fascination has remained to this day.
Why did you choose to do your Masters at D-BAUG?
After completing my Bachelor's degree at D-BAUG, it was clear to me that I wanted to do my Master's degree here as well. The wide range of lectures in the Master's programme and the high level of student engagement at ETH are among the reasons for this.
What are your plans for after graduation?
In the future, I see myself working as an engineer on interesting and large infrastructure projects. One of my dreams is to work on projects abroad. I don't have a favourite country, I'm generally fascinated by anything new and different.
Katrin Jodocy
Where are you from?
I am from Luxembourg. But I'm also half Belgian.
What led you to environmental engineering?
I was looking for a study programme that combined different disciplines from the natural sciences and engineering, as I was equally interested in both fields and did not want to get bogged down in one. At the same time, I am also interested in social problems. In my opinion, environmental engineering fulfils precisely these criteria of interdisciplinarity. What I particularly like about this degree programme is that it actively looks for concrete solutions to reduce the negative impact of human infrastructure on the environment and people's health as much as possible.
Why did you choose to do your Masters at D-BAUG?
I already completed my Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering at D-BAUG. As I am particularly fascinated by the topic of water and as a lot of research is done in this area at the department, it was a relatively obvious choice for me. D-BAUG also offers a specialisation in hydrology and modelling, which really appealed to me.
What are your plans for after graduation?
First of all, I want to travel around the world a bit. After that, anything is possible. Maybe I can imagine doing a PhD if I feel like delving into a specific topic. But maybe I'll also start working, preferably for an NGO that advises regions on their water management and also has an eye on the environment.
Lionel Gilliar-Schönenberger
Where are you from?
I am from the United States, specifically New York City.
What led you to civil engineering?
My interest in materials, logistics and the optimal balance between form and function inspired me to study civil engineering.
Why did you choose to do your Masters at D-BAUG?
D-BAUG combines technically challenging subjects with creative and sustainable thinking. This motivates me to use my skills in practice and research to find innovative solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After my Masters I plan to work with alternative and sustainable materials. My goal is to improve the feasibility and efficiency of building renovation with these materials and processes.
"Quality is everything"
Before a young person with talent is awarded a scholarship or fellowship from ETH Zurich, they must first cross the hurdles of a multi-stage selection process. D-BAUG Professor Lorenz Hurni, long-standing Vice Rector for Study Programmes at ETH, provides insight into how the process works in the case of Excellence Scholarships. external pageRead the interview