Management
- Dr. Marc Cadisch
Director SPIEZ
LABORATORY
Dr. Marc Cadisch
Director SPIEZ LABORATORY
Marc Cadisch (born 1962) studied pharmacy at the University of Bern. He obtained his doctorate in organic chemistry from the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ). Before becoming director of the SPIEZ LABORATORY he worked in private industry. During this time, he continued his further education at the University of St. Gallen, where he was awarded the "Executive MBA HSG". In 2002, he was appointed as the director-elect of the SPIEZ LABORATORY. He assumed this post on 1st April 2003.
- Peter Hunziker
Peter Hunziker
Head of the NBC Protective Technology Division
Peter Hunziker (born 1949) initially trained as a mechanic before studying machine engineering at the University of Applied Sciences, Biel. After becoming a qualified HTL engineer, he worked in the private industry sector for three years. In 1977 he took up the post as a scientific researcher on ground shock effects and shock resistance in the former Wimmis Laboratory. In 1992 he was appointed head of the Ground Shock Group and managed research projects in the field of ground shock effects and shock resistance. From 1996 he was responsible for quality management (ISO/IEC 17025) and following this he became head of the Logistics and Quality Division of SPIEZ LABORATORY in 2001. In June 2008, he was appointed as head of the NBC Protective Technology Division as well as vice director of SPIEZ LABORATORY.
- Dr. Mario Burger
Dr. Mario Burger
Head of the Physics Division
Mario Burger (born in 1958) began his vocational training with an apprenticeship as chemistry lab technician, trained as chemistry engineer at the University of Applied Sciences in Burgdorf and studied subsequently chemistry at the University of Fribourg. He did his dissertation at the University of Bern in radio and environmental chemistry (Determination of Select Elements for Precise Meteorite Dating Through Neutron Activation Analysis).In the autumn of 1991, he joined the SPIEZ LABORATORY. In 1994, he took over the newly founded Central Analysis and Radiochemistry department and in 1996 within the context of restructuring he became head of the Radioactivity department, which he led successfully for 15 years. During two periods, he served as chief UNSCOM inspector in Iraq and has remained active in international disarmament efforts to this day while serving as senior scientific advisor for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in fields relating to post-conflict and disaster management. Consequently, he has extensive scientific and diplomatic experience in both a national and an international environment. He has been engaged in militia functions in the armed forces laboratory since 1995 and has been commanding it with the rank of lieutenant colonel since 2000. He has been in charge of the Physics department of the SPIEZ LABORATORY since 2012.
- Dr. Marc Strasser
Dr. Marc Strasser
Head of the Biology Division a.i.
Marc Strasser (born 1955) began his professional training with an apprenticeship and several years of practical experience as a biology laboratory assistant at what was then the Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute. As of 1986, he studied medical Microbiology at the University of Berne as a mature student. After completing a degree and graduate thesis at the Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology at the University of Berne, he moved to the Institute of Veterinary Virology in 1991, where he worked as an assistant, and later a senior assistant, and was involved in basic and applied research into pathogenic viruses. In 1998, he also became head of the accredited Diagnostics department of the same institute and was responsible for developing and maintaining the QM system. In 2002 he moved to the SPIEZ LABORATORY, where he set up the virology group in the Biology faculty, which he managed until the end of July 2011. He participated in the development of the new high containment laboratory as deputy project manager. Since August 2011, he has been Acting Head of the Biology department.
- Stefan Mogl
Stefan Mogl
Head of the Chemistry Division
Stefan Mogl (born 1965) first trained as a chemical laboratory assistant before continuing his studies at the Technikum Winterthur. In 1990 he accepted a position as an industrial hygienist/analyst in the former Federal Office for Economic Development and Labour (FOEDL). A particular focus of his work in the FOEDL was ambient air analyses. During this time, he was also awarded a Master of Advanced Studies in Occupational Health from the ETH Zurich and the University of Lausanne. In 1997 he was trained as a chemical weapons inspector by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and consequently moved to The Hague (NL). After three years of working as an inspector, he was appointed head of the OPCW laboratory. He also continued his further education on a part-time basis and was subsequently awarded an MBA from the British Open University. In 2005, he moved back to Switzerland and was appointed as a chemical weapons’ expert within the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS). Since 2007 he has been in charge of the Chemistry Division of SPIEZ LABORATORY.
- Dr. Marc Kenzelmann
Dr. Marc Kenzelmann
Head of National NBC Protection and Coordination Office
Marc Kenzelmann (born 1970) graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). In 1996 he took up a temporary research position at the Università degli Studi in Modena (Italy), where he worked as the on-site manager of an international research project on virology led by the Institute of Infectious Diseases of the University of Berne. In 1999 he completed his thesis on molecular virology and was awarded a doctorate from the University of Berne. From 1999 to 2007 he worked in the German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg. During this time he was also in charge of the working group on RNA profiling and methodologies. In 2007, he was appointed head of the new National NBC Protection and Coordination Office, established by the Federal Office for Civil Protection and based in SPIEZ LABORATORY. As part of his work, he is responsible for the management of the Scientific Secretariat of the Federal Commission for NBC Protection.
- Mauro Zanni
Mauro Zanni
Head of Logistics & Quality Management Department
Mauro Zanni (born 1967) began his career as an architectural draughtsman, working for eight years in architects’ firms in Lausanne and Spiez. From 1989 to 1992 he studied part-time for a federal IT technician diploma at the Informatik-Technikerschule in Bern. He pursued his new career in the private sector, working in a range of fields, such as software development, training, sales and network technology. In 2006, he took up a post in the SPIEZ LABORATORY as head of the Measurement Technology and Laboratory IT Group. On 1 June 2008, he was appointed head of the Logistics & Quality Management Department. He is also in charge of quality management in relation to ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories) within the SPIEZ LABORATORY.
- Alex Werlen
Alex Werlen
Finances and Controlling Department
Alexander Werlen (born 1968) trained as a carpenter. In 1998, he began work as a stock controller in the military pharmacy of the Federal Administration. Since then, he has worked in a number of different roles for other federal authorities. During this time, he continued his further education. In 1995, he was awarded the federally recognised production management diploma from the Swiss Industrial Engineering College in Solothurn. In 1999, he studied controlling at the Management Centre, St. Gallen. In 2002, he successfully completed a training course in business administration at the Management Training Institute in Bern. He has been Head of the Finances and Controlling Department in the SPIEZ LABORATORY since 1999.
- Andreas Bucher
Andreas Bucher
Head of Information
Andreas Bucher (born 1964) was educated in Zurich and Santa Barbara, CA. He later went on to study history and political science at the Universities of Geneva and Zurich. He then trained as a journalist with Tages-Anzeiger (high-circulation Swiss daily) in Zurich and at MAZ - the Swiss School of Journalism - in Lucerne. In 1992, he was appointed the special EU correspondent for the newspaper Berner Zeitung, a post which he held for two years, before re-joining Tages-Anzeiger, where he worked as a producer in the special supplements' section. He was also the chief news executive and editor-in-chief for online media within the TA Group. Between 2001 and 2007, he worked as foreign editor and producer with the Swiss current affairs magazine, FACTS.