Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Mathematics and Science Education, 2006-2011
University of California at Berkeley, Graduate School of Education
Program Studies in Engineering, Science, and Mathematics Education (SESAME).
Advisor Prof. Dr. Marcia C. Linn
Dissertation committee: Marcia Linn, Randi Engle, Leslea Hlusko
Thesis title: Mapping biological ideas: Concert maps as knowledge integration tools for evolution education.
Fellow at the Center for Technology Enhanced Learning in Science (TELS)
Master of Arts in Education, 2006-2008
University of California at Berkeley, Graduate School of Education
Program Education, Mathematics, Science, Technology (EMST)
Committee: Marcia C. Linn and Barbara White
Master thesis: Scaffolding an Integrated Understanding of Biology through Dynamic Visualizations and Critique-focused Concept Mapping
Master of Advanced Studies in Secondary and Higher Education (MAS-SHE), 2001-2005
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Switzerland
Teaching credential in biology for high school and junior college
Master Thesis: Group work in teaching Mendelian Genetics
Final Exam Subjects: General Methods of Instruction, Pedagogy, Biology Teaching Methods, Practical Teaching Exam
Total Average Grade: 5.38 out of 6 (‘Excellent’: Top 5%)
Master of Science ETH in Biology (ETH Diploma in Natural Sciences), 1995-2001
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Switzerland
Bachelor Exams (First and Second Preliminary Examinations) in Math, Physics, Chemistry, General Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Physiology and Microbiology
Master Thesis: Psychoneuroendocrinology – Psychological determinants of the human physiological stress reaction: Grade 5.75 out of 6 (‘Outstanding’: Top 2%)
Final Diploma Examinations in Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology, Neurobiology, Behavioral Science, Work- & Organizational Psychology, Evolution Theory
Total Average Grade: 5.46 out of 6 (‘Excellent’: Top 5%)
Graduation from Law and Economics program, 1991-1995
Junior College Alte Kantonsschule Aarau, Switzerland
Final exams in Natural Sciences, Mathematics, German, French, English, and Economics & Law.
Total Average Grade: 5.2 out of 6 (Best male student of class. Top 5% of class of 1995)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Leiter Pädagogik at the Swiss teacher federation (Dachverband Lehrerinnen und Lehrer Schweiz LCH), since Sep 2017
Member of the executive board of LCH
Investigating a broad range of topics related to Swiss education
Communicating education-related topics to different audiences
Networking with stakeholders in education (unions, government, media, teacher training institutes, researchers)
Education program leader at startup company Nanolive, Feb-Aug 2017
Research and development of inquiry-based learning activities for biology education using the Nanolive 3D tomographic microscope
Networking with K-12 schools
Executive director of the seat of the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) and research scientist at the IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Kiel (Germany), 2016
Conducting and coordinating research about the International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
Management of the IBO seat
Public relations and grant writing
Postdoctoral Research Scientist and project manager in Computer-Human Interaction an Learning and Instruction (CHILI) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne (EPFL), 2014-2017
Coordinator of the multi-institutional research team of the Leading House project 'DUAL-T' and researcher on innovative technologies for vocational education in Pierre Dillenbourg's CHILI group
Organization of seminars and conferences for researchers, teachers, learners, and policymakers.
Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Research on Computer Supported Learning and Cognition at The University of Sydney, 2011-2013
Research on collaborative design processes of teachers in Peter Goodyear`s Laureate Fellowship project
Research Advisor to the NSF projects “Cumulative Learning using Embedded Assessment Results” (CLEAR) and “Visualizing to Integrate Science Understanding for All Learners” (VISUAL), 2009-2011
University of California at Berkeley
Development and evaluation of photosynthesis project
Development of MySystem knowledge diagram technology (in collaboration with Concord Consortium, Boston, MA)
Graduate Student Research Fellow at the Center for Technology-enhanced Learning of Science (TELS), 2006-2011
University of California at Berkeley
Designer of Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE), Statistical analysis; Consultant for interface design and tool development.
Graduate Student Researcher at the Institute for Teacher Education, 2004-2005
University of Zurich - Institute for Teacher Education
Literature study on “Technology in Science Education – Conceptual change through microcomputer-based laboratories (MBL) in biology laboratories following an ‘open inquiry procedure”
Graduate Student Researcher at Institute for Clinical Psychology. 2000-2001
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)
Advisors: Prof. Ulrike Ehlert and Dr. Jens Gaab
Research Intern, 1999-2000
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)
Research intern at Institute for Immunology Research at the University Hospital, Zurich: Study “Allergy research – The high affinity receptor for IgE”
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Lecturer, 2015-2016
University of Applied Sciences and Art (FHNW), Northwestern Switzerland
Learning Technologies and CSCL - Summerschool FS15
Lecturer, 2014-2017
École Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne (EPFL)
Digital Education & Learning Analytics course
Lecturer, 2012-2013
University of Sydney
Instructional Design Theory course (EDPC5022) as part of the program “Master in Learning Science and Technology” (MLST)
Lecturer, 2012-2013
University of Sydney
Methodology workshop for post-graduate students at the centre for research on computer-supported learning & cognition (CoCo)
Mentor at Cal Teach Summer Institute, 2010
University of California, Berkeley
Organized mentored research project for a science undergraduate student
Graduate Student Instructor, 2010
University of California, Berkeley
Instructor of two-semester long course ‘Teaching science’ for elementary credential students (Developmental Teacher Education program)
Developed syllabus and course material, created learning activities, mentored students, administered all grades
Graduate Student Instructor for Environmental Leadership Pathway (ELP) program, 2009
University of California, Berkeley
Instructor of ELP course “Introduction to teaching and learning environmental science” ESPM78A
The Environmental Leadership Pathway (ELP) was a one-year program that prepared underserved, low-income, and first in the family community college students in science majors to transfer successfully to and thrive at four-year institutions.
Developed syllabus and course material, created learning activities, mentored students, administered all grades
Docent at Lawrence Hall of Science Museum, 2009-2011
University of California, Berkeley
Inquiry oriented presentations using the ‘Science on a Sphere’ technology
Junior College Science Teacher, 2003-2006
Akad College, Zurich (Switzerland)
Worked as a biology teacher at the Akad College – the largest and most renowned University Entrance Exam Preparation School for adults in Switzerland
Junior College Science Teacher, 2005-2006
Kantonsschule Zuerich Unterland (KZU) and Kantonsschule Freudenberg (KFR) (Switzerland)
Worked as a biology teacher in two public junior colleges in Zurich, Switzerland
Middle School Science Teacher, 2005-2006
Zurich (Switzerland)
Worked as a biology teacher in a public middle school in Zurich, Switzerland
Teaching Assistant, 2004-2005
Institute for Teacher Education, University of Zurich (Switzerland)
Assisted during lectures and seminars for pre-service teachers, met with students upon request, graded all written work
Science Teacher in School Development Project in Bangalore (India), 2003-2004
6-month AIESEC internship in Bangalore (India) at the CLT India Foundation with the international student exchange program AIESEC
Project Leader of the ‘Science Club’: taught local village children and their families about water cleaning and water saving methods
Team-member of the ‘Multimedia on Environment’ project: Supervised fieldtrips, designed and programmed a multimedia-CD with data, pictures and movies gathered by the project members
Staff member of the CLT Intel Computer Clubhouse - an Intel funded project center housing a computer lab for underprivileged rural children: Developed syllabus and course structure, prepared course material, organized workshops, recorded mentor activities and reports and created a volunteer database
Guest Lecturer in Industrial Design at Zurich University of Art, 2002
Developed syllabus and overall course structure for 6-week practical course about ‘Bionic Design’. Counseled students and graded all projects
Specialist for gifted education, 2000-2004
Zurich, Switzerland
Worked with individual and groups of gifted elementary and middle school children. Developed syllabus and overall course structure.
Teaching Assistant, 1999
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)
Instructor at lab practicum for in summer course in immunobiology
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Finalist for NSTA 'Research worth reading' award, 2017
ICLS Doctoral Consortium Fellow, 2010
AERA Graduate Student Seminar Fellow, 2010
University of California, Graduate School of Education Elizabeth and Michael Abramowitz Award, 2009
Davis Peace Fellowship, 2009
$10,000 fellowship for individual proposal for the implementation of a technology-based community building project in a rural part of southern India
UC Berkeley GSE Fellowship award, 2008
UC Berkeley International House Lorraine Kalpakam award for outstanding volunteer work, 2008
UC Berkeley University Fellowship, 2007
U.S. FULBRIGHT Student Scholarship Grant, 2006
$20,000 stipend by the Institute of International Education (IIE), Washington D.C. (USA)
Selected as one of only five recipients from Switzerland
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 1994
Selected for the PSI summerschool program for gifted children
The Paul Scherrer Institute is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member of the Swiss Science Education Association (DiNat), 2016-present
Member of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), 2014-present
Member of the International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS), 2009-present
Member of the European Education Research Association (ESERA), 2009-present
Member of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), 2009-present
Member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA): Division C (Curriculum and Instruction), 2006-present
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Specialist for UNESCO-UNEVOC, 2017
Inspector at International Biology Olympiad (IBO), Hanoi, Vietnam 2016
Jury member at TVET eConvergence competition (Politeknik, Malaysia), 2016
Program committee member and reviewer of the International Conference on Concept Mapping (CMC), 2016
Advisor for UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical Training and Vocational Education, 2016
Examiner for Swiss junior college examinations, 2015-present
Advisor for EPFL workshop 'Robotics for girls', 2015
Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 2015-present
Reviewer for Learning @ Scale, 2015-present
Reviewer for Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 2015-present
Reviewer for journal Journal of Biological Education, 2014-present
Reviewer for journal Instructional Science, 2012-present
Reviewer for book chapter on "How we learn" (Dorian Peters, 2013)
Wiley Science advisor, 2012-present
Reviewer for the International Journal of computer-supported collaborative learning (iJCSCL), 2012-present
Reviewer for the Journal of the Learning Sciences (JLS), 2010-present
Reviewer for international conferences NARST, ICLS, CSCL, and AERA, 2008-present
Panelist at orientation session for international students at UC Berkeley, 2009-2010
Graduate Assembly (GA) Delegate representative of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of education in the Graduate Assembly (GA), 2007-2010
Member of the GA Committee “International student affairs” (ISAC). Liaison officer between ISAC and Berkeley International Office (BIO), 2007-2010
Voting member of the UC Berkeley Academic Senate Committee on International Education, 2007-2008
OTHER EMPLOYMENTS
Resident Assistant at International House Berkeley, 2008
Responsible for residence assistance, security, first aid, counseling, resident, and administrative tasks
Junior Account Executive at advertisement company EURO RSCG Healthcare, Zurich (Switzerland), 1999
Internship in the Department of Pharmaceutical Marketing
Compiled reports, conducted market analysis, communicated with international pharmaceutical companies, assisted in the development of marketing strategy pitch presentations, conducted internet and database researches
Radio Journalist and Host for Kanal K, Switzerland, 1998-2001
Founded and hosted a monthly live radio show for young people. Led the host team, wrote and spoke radio plays, conducted interviews and authored shows
Print Journalist and Public Relations officer for Foundation for the Improvement of Public Health and Fitness, Switzerland, 1997-2000
Wrote feature articles and essays for several major Swiss newspapers. Published regularly press releases and articles on health, nutrition & sport issues and led interviews
Assistant Camp Director in Switzerland and Montgomery, AL (USA), 1996-1997
Lions Club International Youth Exchange Camps
Supervised groups of international camp participants on field trips. Lectured on Leadership skills
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Founder and elected chairman of the Mindscouts project for gifted children, 2000-2009
The Mindscouts are a support group for highly gifted youngsters and offer regular meetings with a strong focus on social skills in the area of Zurich (Switzerland) (www.mindscouts.ch)
Co-Founder and member of the board of the Pfiffikus Society for gifted children, 2000-2005
A society for the support of gifted children through courses and summer camps. Member of the camp leader team of two summer camps for gifted children in 2000 and 2001
Scoutmaster (YMCA of Switzerland), 1995-2000
Conducted boyscout leadership workshops 1995-2000
HONORS
Golden Key International Honor Society (UC Berkeley chapter): Initiation September 2009
Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society (UC Berkeley Alpha chapter): Initiation May 2008
MEMBERSHIPS
Mensa International (high IQ society)
Triple Nine Society (high IQ society)
Fulbright alumni association
UC Berkeley alumni association
ETH Zurich alumni association