Dr. Fabienne Wiederkehr

Professor

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Biography

Fabienne Wiederkehr is a staff professor at ETH Zurich focused on microbiome research. Her work investigates coral reef ecosystems at a molecular level to enhance conservation and restoration strategies. She contributes to the Tara Coral Expedition, a comprehensive 18-month scientific voyage across the Coral Triangle aiming to uncover biodiversity patterns and enhance resilience in these under-studied hotspots. Fabienne employs genome-resolved methodologies and environmental DNA alongside traditional surveys to investigate the connections between reef communities and their microbiomes, striving to improve biodiversity monitoring and evaluate restoration outcomes over time. She has accumulated significant experience in microbial ecology through various roles, including as a postdoctoral scientist in the Sunagawa Lab at ETH Zurich, where she worked after completing her doctorate. Before that, she engaged as a teaching assistant and a research intern, gaining diverse insights into plant sciences and animal behavior respectively.

Research Interests

Experience

Postdoctoral Scientist Scientific Engineer

— Present

Tara Coral, Sunagawa Lab • ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Engaging in molecular investigations and fieldwork related to coral reef ecosystems.

Doctoral Student

— Present

Sunagawa Lab • ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Conducting research in microbial ecology as part of doctoral studies.

Teaching Assistant

— Present

Leuchtmann Lab • ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Assisting in systematic plant sciences courses.

Research Intern

— Present

Manser Lab • University of Zurich, Switzerland

Conducting research in animal behavior.

Awards

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ISME Early Career Researcher Poster Award

#

Biruté Mary Galdikas Prize

Requirements for ETH Zurich

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.4
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
GRE General
Verbal
Required:159
Verbal Percentile
Required:80
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:81
Analytical Writing
Required:4.5
Writing Percentile
Required:85
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a related field (Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Mathematics) Minimum 180 ECTS credits Subject-specific knowledge equivalent to ETH Bachelor's programs
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree diploma or transcript
  • Official academic transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Letter of Motivation (1 page)
  • Two academic recommendation letters
  • English language proficiency certificate
  • GRE General Test (for non-EU/EFTA applicants)
Specialization Notes

The GRE is mandatory for students who did not obtain their Bachelor's degree in an EU/EFTA state. Some departments (e.g., Computer Science) have specific ECTS credit requirements in core subjects.