Dr. Isabel Günther

Associate Professor

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Biography

Isabel Günther leads the Development Economics research group at ETH Zurich and serves as the study director for the Master's Advanced Studies in Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NADEL). She is the founder and chairperson of ETH Development (ETH4D), which fosters science and technology for global humanitarian action. Additionally, she is part of the directorate for a joint Master's program in Mechatronics with Ashesi University in Ghana. In 2024, she will be the president of the Swiss Alliance for Global Research Partnerships at the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Development Economics at the New School for Social Research in New York and a Research Associate at the University of Göttingen, the University of Stellenbosch, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Her research focuses on global inequalities, population health economics, technologies for poverty reduction, responsible supply chains, and evidence-based policy-making in development finance. Günther has carried out research projects across several African countries and Switzerland, collaborating with international organizations.

Research Interests

Courses

Introduction to Development Economics Development Economics Contemporary Development Debate AI for Global Development Organizations

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.