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Administrative data

Jürgen Brugger

juergen.brugger@epfl.ch http://lmis1.epfl.ch

EPFL STI IMT LMIS1
BM 3107 (Bâtiment BM)
Station 17
1015 Lausanne

EPFL STI IMX-GE
MXF 110 (Bâtiment MXF)
Station 12
1015 Lausanne

EPFL VPA EDOC EDMI-ENS
BM 3107 (Bâtiment BM)
Station 17
1015 Lausanne

EPFL STI SMT-ENS
BM 3107 (Bâtiment BM)
Station 17
1015 Lausanne

EPFL STI STI DEC CF-STI
MXF 110 (Bâtiment MX)
Station 12
1015 Lausanne

Expertise

MEMS & Nanotechnology
Micro/Nanomanufacturing
Cleanroom process training
Digital education using mixed reality
Jürgen Brugger is Professor of Microengineering at EPFL, co-affiliated with Materials Science. He leads the Microsystems Laboratory (LMIS1), where his research advances the science of micro- and nanomanufacturing with applications in MEMS, wearable systems, and biomedical devices. His work has been recognized with distinctions such as IEEE Fellow (2016), an ERC Advanced Grant (2017), MNE Fellow (2022), and election to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) in 2024.

In my lab, I work closely with students and colleagues to develop new approaches in micro/nanofabrication and additive micromanufacturing. Mentoring and teaching are central to my work: I have supervised over 25 PhD students, many of whom have gone on to pursue successful academic and entrepreneurial careers. Seeing their progress and creativity is among the most rewarding aspects of my role.

I am particularly excited about translating fundamental research into practice, whether through collaborations or start-ups emerging from the lab. For me, advancing manufacturing science goes hand-in-hand with training the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Education

PhD

| Physical-Electronics

1995 – 1995 Neuchatel
Directed by Thesis advisor: Prof. N.F. de Rooij (IMT Universite de Neuchatel)

Diplome (M.Sc.)

| Electronique-Physique

1990 – 1990 Neuchatel

Professionals experiences

Full Professor

2016–2025

EPFL

Associate Professor

2009–2015

EPFL

Assistant Professor

2001–2009

EPFL

Research Program Coordinator "NanoLink"

1998–2001

University of Twente, The Netherlands

Research Staff Member

Millipede Project

1996–1998

IBM Forschungslabor Rueschlkon

Postdoc

Millipede Project

1995–1996

IBM Forschungslabor Rueschlkon

Invited Pre-Doc Researcher

Probe Storage Group

1994–1995

Hitachi Central Research Laboratory Tokyo

Awards

Award for Best Teaching

EPFL

2025

Elected Full Member

Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)

2024

MNE Fellow

International Micro and Nanoengineering Society

2022

IEEE Fellow

IEEE

2016

ERC Advanced Grant

European Research Council

2016

Teaching & PhD

PhD Students

Nicolas Bruno Minazzo, Qinglan Shan, Shulang Shen, Pol Torres Vila, Chenhao Wang, Chenxiang Zhang, Tao Zhang

Past EPFL PhD Students

Marc Antonius Friedrich van den Boogaart (2006), Mario Andres Chavarria Varon (2016), Berke Erbas (2025), Vahid Fakhfouri (2008), Valentin Flauraud (2017), Jonas Grossenbacher (2015), Lorenz Hagelüken (2022), Jonas Gustav Henriksson (2014), Samuel Tobias Howell (2018), Loïc Jacot-Descombes (2013), Mohammadmahdi Kiaee (2021), Thomas Kiefer (2009), Mona Julia Katharina Klein (2010), Sivashankar Krishnamoorthy (2006), Mattia Marelli (2014), Schahrazede-Lila Mouaziz (2007), Kristopher Pataky (2011), Matthieu Rüegg (2020), Roberto Russo (2025), Katrin Sidler Arnet (2010), Johannes Steen (2007), Yi-Chiang Sun (2022), Oscar Vazquez Mena (2010), Thomas Walger (2020), Ya Wang (2020), Shenqi Xie (2013), Zhiwei Yang (2023), Henry Yu (2022)

Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector

Mirjana Banjevic (2011), Grégory Mermoud (2012), Enrica Montinaro (2017)

Courses

Advanced additive manufacturing technologies

MICRO-413

Advanced 3D forming techniques for high throughput and high resolution (nanometric) for large scale production. Digital manufacturing of functional layers, microsystems and smart systems.

Advanced microfabrication practicals

MICRO-373

This TP allows for in-depth training on advanced micro and nanofabrication methods in a clean-room environment for selected applications, gain deeper knowledge in MEMS/NEMS processes, work in a small group together with PhD students/postdocs during 14 weeks touching all aspects of a microprocess.

Advanced topics in micro- and nanomanufacturing: top-down meets bottom-up

MICRO-724

This course introduces advanced fabrication methods enabling the manufacturing of novel micro- and nanosystems (NEMS/MEMS). Both top-down techniques (lithography, stenciling, scanning probes, additive techniques) and bottom-up approaches (self-assembly) are presented.

Introduction to additive manufacturing

ME-413

The state of the art in the domain of additive production processes (the part is built by material addition without use of a shape tool) will be presented. The main application/benefits/shortcomings of the common additive processes as well as technological and economical issues will be discussed.

MEMS Actuator practicals

MICRO-501

The goal of this practical work is to create thermal micro-actuators consisting of micro-cantilevers made out of silicon dioxide and covered by chromium meander-shaped electrical tracks and contact pads.

MEMS sensors practicals

MICRO-503

The objective of this practical is to apply in specific experimental settings the knowledge acquired in various MEMS related class.

MOOC: Micro and Nanofabrication (MEMS)

MICRO-621(a)

Micro- and nanofabrication can be taught to students and professionals by textbooks and ex-cathedra lectures, but the real learning comes from seeing the manufacturing steps as they happen. This MOOC will not only explain the basics of microfabrication but also show the practice through videos.

Microfabrication I

MICRO-303

This course introduces the fundamental process technologies and applications of modern micro- and nanofabrication as practised in cleanroom environments.

Microfabrication II

MICRO-304

This course focuses on advanced process technologies and microsystem integration strategies. Students will deepen their understanding of selected state-of-the-art fabrication techniques and learn how to design, optimise, and evaluate complete fabrication workflows for complex microsystems.

Nanotechnology

MICRO-530

This course gives the basics for understanding nanotechnology from an engineer's perspective: physical background, materials aspects and scaling laws, fabrication and imaging of nanoscale devices.

Selected topics in advanced manufacturing

MICRO-631

The course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ongoing advanced manufacturing research topics and an opportunity for students to investigate current research trends.

Soft Microsystems Processing and Devices

MICRO-618

Amongst others, following topics will be covered during the course: - Soft Microsystems and Electronics - Electroactive polymers - Printed electronics and microsystems - Inkjet printing of polymers - Stretchable electronics - Mechanical reliability - Stencil lithography - Scanning Probe Lithography