To develop and use novel experimental techniques to study elementary events of deformation, damage, fracture and fatigue in advanced materials, biomaterials, bone and dental biomechanics as well as durability and reliability of structural components. The experimental results are supported by analytical methods and contemporary numerical tools in order to expand the knowledge base on these fields by basic and applied research, offer the necessary support to industry and provide the best possible quality of training. 

John (Ioannis) Botsis obtained his diplôme in civil engineering at the University of Patras, Greece in 1979. He continued his education at Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland Ohio/USA, where he received his MS and Ph.D. in 1984. After two years at the research center for national defense in Athens he was nominated assistant professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, associate in 1991 and full professor in 1995. In 1996, he was nominated professor of solids and structural mechanics at the EPFL. 
 At EPFL he teaches ‘mechanics of structures’ and ‘mechanics of continuous media´ at the bachelor’s level and ‘Fracture mechanics’ at the master’s and doctoral levels. His research covers the mechanics of solids and structures, fracture mechanics and micromechanics of polymers, metals and their composites as well as biomechanics. He is also actively involved in full-filed optical methods for surface strain measurements as well as internal strain measurements using fiber Bragg grating sensors, aimed at characterizing micromechanics of fracture, residual strains and strain distribution in composite laminates for structural monitoring. Funding for his research comes from the Swiss National Science Foundation, State Secretariat for Education and Research and Swiss industry. He retired on February 28, 2020.