ALEA Award winners Olga Schubert and Martin Ackermann with their group.

"Good leadership begins with an inspiring vision that provides orientation"

Dr. Olga Schubert and Prof. Martin Ackermann, co-leaders of the Microbial Systems Ecology group at the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, have been honoured with the ALEA Award. This accolade recognises their exemplary leadership and significant contributions to fostering an inclusive and innovative research environment at ETH Zurich and Eawag.


(Photo: Stefan Schneller / ETH Zürich)

The ALEA Award, a collaboration between the Academic Association of Scientific Staff at ETH Zurich (AVETH) and the Vice-Presidency for Personnel Development and Leadership (VPPL), celebrates ETH members who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities. This includes acting responsibly, driving innovation, building bridges, nurturing well-being, living inclusivity, and enabling people to reach their full potential.

Olga Schubert and Martin Ackermann have exemplified these qualities through their leadership of the Microbial Systems Ecology group, which is part of the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics and affiliated with both Eawag and ETH Zurich. They state that by leading well, they not only support their group today but also contribute to shaping a future culture of thoughtful, effective, and empathetic leadership.

Photo of Olga Schubert and Martin Ackermann
Olga Schubert and Martin Ackermann (Photograph: Stefan Schneller / ETH Zürich)

For more insights into their leadership philosophy and thoughts about co-leading a group, you can read the full interview here: Link to the interview page.