Jean-Marie Fürbringer graduated with a degree in Physics at EPFL in 1987. Developing his doctoral research on sensitivity analysis of simulation models, he was awarded the doctoral degree by EPFL in 1992. From 1995 to 1997, Dr Fürbringer was visiting researcher at the NIST in Gaithersburg (Maryland). In 1997, Dr Fürbringer was appointed visiting professor with the Faculty of Engineering Science at the Catholic University of Lima (PUCP). While at PUCP, he also established and managed the Learning Center of Graña y Montero, which provides training and competency management for the five companies of the group. In 2001, Dr Fürbringer joined the laboratory of production and processes (LGPP) at EPFL where he led and managed several research projects on competency management and engineering education. From 2007 to 2010, he was deputy director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering. Dr Fürbringer was appointed to the position of deputy dean of the EPFL Doctoral School in 2010 where he has worked till fall 2013. From November 2013 he has been attached to the Section of Physics as research associate. He is lecturer at the bachelor, master and doctoral level.