Laurent Dufour, currently Experimental Physicist at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences starting from the 1^st of September 2025.
As part of his CONNECT project, Laurent Dufour conducts research into unanswered questions relating to the charm quark system. His aim is to reach unambiguous conclusions about the decay of charm quarks as key indicators for physics beyond the Standard Model. Data from the recently modernised LCHb experiment is used in this research. Laurent Dufour’s project has been awarded an SNSF Starting Grant, which represents a major gain for EPFL and its School of Basic Sciences. This research project will further strengthen the existing link between EPFL’s Institute of Physics and CERN. It will also offer students numerous opportunities to undertake sub-projects and exploratory work.

Chiara Perrina, currently Scientist and Lecturer at EPFL, has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences starting from the 1^st of April 2025.
Chiara Perrina is an astroparticle physicist who analyses data from the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). She also works on technological developments and Monte Carlo simulations for optimising FIT, the scintillating fibre tracker of the HERD space mission. Chiara Perrina has been awarded an SNSF Starting Grant for her current research project, SPACER. Her project enables the School to make a decisive contribution to the further development of astroparticle physics. Chiara Perrina will supervise young researchers, offer a Master’s course in astroparticle physics, and support EPFL’s commitment to scientific progress, industrial cooperations and social relevance.