About us

We are the Biotechnology Student Association of ETH Zürich and are hosted in the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel. We are here to support and represent the interests of master students in the programs offered by the department and to create a positive and welcoming student community. Any queries or issues you might have towards the school administration or the programs, we are always happy to help!



The board

Even though he likes to throw things around in the lab, he is much more responsible when managing the finances of the BSA. Our treasurer Michael Bohl not only looks like a golden retriever, he is a golden retriever. He is also a coding god, a systems genomics carrier who brings his German principles in all of our board decisions. We all hope he brings his presentation openings to the Roche bubble that he is moving to next year. An aspiring hybrid athlete who combines gym, running, body pump and drinking in one day, he is truly showing all of his potential into the BSA community.
Everyone knows Kat - the famous Greek at DBSSE and an outstanding stand-up comedian who has yet to be discovered. She completely enchants all crowds and can effortlessly light up any room she enters. Motivated to help students and being open to opportunities and experiences, she has taken the role of Industry Relations, charming her way into bridging the industry closer to the BSA. A recipe for a good time always involves a Kat!
Our sunshine from Italy, Tommaso has the rare gift of making everyone feel at home, especially when home smells like freshly cooked italian food. Whether he is preparing a legendary risotto, the perfect tiramisu, or casually reinventing the pasta salad, your taste buds will never be the same again. As the BSA’s Treasurer, he manages the money with great care but if you pitch him your idea with a big smile, his kindness usually takes over and you get what you want. When he is not managing funds or feeding the masses, you can probably find him on F floor, where studying often involves enjoying an occasional mate while scrolling through instragram on his phone.
Disguised in her usual floral-print outfits, our Student Affairs Officer Marta is a true Hermione Granger from Poland. Coming from the picturesque town of Wrocław, Marta showcased her scientific talent by leading her newborn iGEM team to a first runner-up finish in Paris. A fantastic lab partner and the heroine of many lectures, Marta has saved our lives multiple times by answering professors’ questions. She’s someone you can always count on and a fierce advocate for biotech students. Thanks to her multitasking nature, she’s always ready for the next challenge, shenanigan, and opportunity to expand both her LinkedIn connections and her comfort zone — which currently includes hiking in the Alps, running, and learning Schwiizertüütsch.
Coming from sunny Mexico, Julie brings all her colors and creativity into the role of Public Relations. Her curly hair and big smile make her incredibly welcoming to all BSA members and beyond. With a fiery dancer's heart, she is equally an academic weapon and an amazing support to anyone who calls out for her - BSA is always excitedly waiting for her next post, message, and merch. Nayelhi Julieta Alcazar Ramirez doesn't joke around when it comes to Mexican food and colorful course summaries - in a single breath, she can explain the whole phylogenetic tree of all different kinds of tortillas and write 100-page documents that anyone would love to study from.
After effortlessly taking charge, she quickly became the BSA’s go-to force of nature – the perfect mix of leadership, laughter, and just the right amount of chaos. When she enters the room, there’s no mistaking it – the laughter, the jokes, and that unmistakable Annabelle energy take over instantly. As far as her achievements go: she won the BSA football club as self-proclaimed Team Captain, she’s the lone defender of why Germany > Switzerland (with varying degrees of success), and has a big collection of ice-cream passes because “Man gönnt sich ja sonst nichts”. Loud, lively, and always ready with a witty comeback, she keeps us all on our toes – a true BSA legend in the making.
Need a party planned, a bike tour planned, or just a solid reason to procrastinate with good company? Antonia’s your girl. Our resident event wizard, she’s always two steps ahead with a pints-filled calendar and a plan for the next get-together—usually involving snacks, laughter, and funny themes. When she’s not rallying the troops for social adventures, she’s either jogging, riding her bike or explaining how cool sourdough is (yes, she did name her starter Moritz). With Antonia around, fun is always rising—just like her bread.
You can’t trust her with a pipette, but you can definitely trust her with code – which is exactly why Yaxin is our IT mastermind at the BSA. Originally from China and academically forged in Germany, she’s now bravely taking on her greatest challenge yet: fixing bugs on the BSA website… and occasionally trying out truly questionable Swiss German on unsuspecting locals. Yaxin brings brainpower, sarcasm, and just the right amount of dry humor into every conversation. When she’s not busy with math modeling problem or deep talking with ChatGPT, you’ll probably find her hiking steep trails or stealing the mic at another karaoke night!