Prof. em. Dr. Jürg Dual

Jürg Dual has been Full Professor of Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics in the Center of Mechanics of the Institute of Mechanical Systems at the ETH in Zurich since October 1, 1998. He was President of the Planning Commission (2000-2004) and of the University Assembly (2008-2012) of ETH Zurich.

Jürg Dual was born on May 14, 1957 and studied mechanical engineering at the ETH Zurich. He then spent two years on a Fulbright grant at the University of California in Berkeley, where he graduated with a M.S. and a M. Eng. degree in mechanical engineering. He then received his Dr. sc. techn. degree at the ETH Zurich under the guidance of Prof. Dr. M. Sayir at the Institute of Mechanics. For his dissertation he was awarded the Latsis Prize of the ETH Zurich in 1989. After one year as visiting assistant professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, he returned to the ETH Zurich as assistant professor. He is a Fellow of the ASME, member of the SATW (Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences) and Honorary Member of the German Association for Materials Research and Testing.

His research focuses on wave propagation and vibrations in solids, micro- and nanosystem technology as well as gravitation. In particular he is interested in both basic research and applications in the area of sensors (viscometry), ultrasonic manipulation of cells and particles and gravitational interaction of resonating systems. In his research, experimentation is central, but must always be embedded in corresponding analytical and numerical modeling. As mechanics is a very basic science, it is particularly attractive for him to interact with neighbouring disciplines like bioengineering, materials science or micro- and nanosystem technology.