Career Prospects

Evdokia Kaffe, talked to an audience at ETH in spring 2016 about her reasons for choosing the MEST programme and the benefits she gained. Now working for one of Zurich's electricity providers (ewz), she found the unique mix of engineering and economics / business courses studied meant that she was well prepared for the real world within a busy energy supplier. Download Slides (PDF, 5.9 MB)

Michael Koller was profiled in the German newspaper external page "Die Zeit" (german only) in July 2016 following his appointment, at the young age of 28, as Chief Technical Officer for EKZ, the electricity provider for the Canton of Zurich. In this role, he is a key player in the energy transition, directing research and development projects and shaping the integration of renewable electrical energy in Switzerland’s power grid.
Michael was the guest speaker at the spring 2015 MEST information event for prospective students whilst still in his earlier position with EKZ as an Energy Storage Specialist. Download Slides (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Ifigeneia Stefanidou, in a talk in spring 2017, said that the MEST programme's high level of expertise, flexibilty and broadness were some of the many aspects that attracted her to it. An industrial internship at ABB Power Electronics led to her also doing her Master Thesis in 'Active Distribution Grids' there, followed by her first job at Axpo, in grid and power systems planning. She has since moved from being a user of smart grid technology to a company that manufactures it, Landis+Gyr, as a Smart Grid Consultant. Slides (PDF, 799 KB)

"I finished my Master’s degree in Energy Science and Technology in 2010. The programme was an excellent preparation for my professional life, allowing me to choose the topics that were most relevant to me and to broaden my knowledge. During my career I was able to directly apply insights I gained during my studies. The “thinking out of the box” we trained at ETH Zurich helped me to move ahead and grasp complex engineering problems. As head of product management I am responsible for a highly skilled team in the area of electric grids. I continue to profit from my time during the Master’s studies by having all necessary fundamentals available."

Johanna Vorwerk :
"Power systems worldwide are undergoing massive changes due to the urge to tackle climate change, the increasing integration of renewable energy resources, and the electrification of mobility and heating technologies. This development not only adds complexity but also increases operational flexibility. These challenges have always motivated me to study and advance my knowledge in this field. As a researcher, I focus on the redefinition of control and operation procedures to ensure stable grid operations. At the same time, I have the exciting possibility of supervising current students during their research projects, and of collaborating with inspiring minds from diverse and international backgrounds."

Gianni Hotz :
"Because of my interests in energy systems and energy transmission, I chose to continue my studies with the Energy Science and Technology programme at ETH. I am convinced that mastering the energy transition and reducing global GHG emissions require a holistic view on the technologies running the energy systems. During the study programme, I was able to deepen my understanding of the technological, economic and social aspects of these technologies. This is of great advantage for my current position as consultant for companies in the energy sector."