About us



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!

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.
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.
Yanis is one of those people you instantly feel comfortable around. Whether it's cooking together, going on a picnic, or having both small talks and deep conversations; time just flies when you're with him. He's incredibly reliable and genuinely caring toward the people close to him. He really values honesty and directness. He likes it when people are straightforward and mean what they say. And honestly, that's something rare and refreshing in today's world. Yanis doesn't waste time pretending or going in circles; he keeps things real and sincere. When he's not busy with work, you'll probably find him cycling or cracking jokes with his great sense of humour. As our Industry Relations member, he's always happy to help out, share advice about internships, and offer insights from his current experience at Roche.
If you ever wondered who's behind those gorgeous curls and the wise, kind words spoken with a slight Italian accent, it must be Sofia. She is always in a good mood and will most definitely approach you with a big smile. If you are unsure about anything or need help, she will gladly support you, even while juggling countless side projects. Ask her about the recombinase she worked on during her iDEC project and you will see that smile grow even bigger. There is basically no way she would ever be mean to you, but do not you dare serve her pasta with applesauce. Besides her passion for recombinases, Sofia is highly motivated when it comes to organizing fun events with the BSA and is bursting with ideas. A hard worker at heart, she also knows when to take a break, which you will likely find her swimming in the Rhine during summer or skiing in winter.
Nora in a sentence? A waterfall of energy! And you can see it not only considering that every weekend she is either running in the forests or ski touring in the Alps, but also in everything she does for our events. Our events would have been cancelled long ago if it weren't for all the friendly phone calls she has to deal with every other day. At this point, nothing can scare her anymore. Every time you see Nora, she is in a happy mood, and it's guaranteed to be contagious. You will definitively leave with a smile on your face. She is also a non-stop fountain of ideas. Whether it is a brutal beer pong tournament or a cozy waffle pint, she has always something creative in mind! With Nora around, you just know everything will be fun!
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 Wroctaw, 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 Schwiizerdüütsch.
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!
Yue is an amazing friend, student and scientist. She is humble yet knows her worth. She is the most devoted person that you will find in this department: whether you need someone to cut fruit for a cocktail pint, get advice on lectures, or simply talk and clear your mind with a tea in hand, she is the one! Coming from Peru and having Chinese roots, she brings a unique multicultural perspective and is always there to help you settle in, feel less homesick, and find your place in Basel and in the master's program. Most of all, she loves to help, so feel free to catch her and ask all your questions, you'll for sure learn a lot and have a super nice time.