Nicole Schaeren-Wiemers named new Vice President for People & Culture

The Senate Committee recommended Schaeren-Wiemers as the sole candidate for election. No particular introduction was needed for the nominee: Schaeren-Wiemers has been active in the administration for years and has made a lasting impression in that capacity – particularly on issues that will be part of the portfolio of the Vice President for People & Culture in the future. The support expressed in the run-up to her election was accordingly positive, and the result with which the Senate approved the election was equally clear. The University Council confirmed the election yesterday evening and the new organizational structure of the President's Board will go into effect on 1 August 2021.

Following her Matura at the Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium, Basel-born Schaeren-Wiemers studied and obtained a doctorate in biochemistry at ETH Zurich. She completed her habilitation at the University of Basel’s Faculty of Medicine in 2004 and was appointed adjunct professor for neurobiology in 2007. In the course of her career, she has conducted research at the Brain Research Institute of the University of Zurich and at the Friedrich Miescher Institute, among others. Since 2010, Schaeren-Wiemers has been the Independent Research Group Leader in the Department of Biomedicine of the University of Basel.

In recent years, the neurobiologist has played an active role in the academic administration and has shown herself to be an expert in the organization and processes of the university. Of particular note are her current roles as the Vice Dean for the Promotion of Early Career Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine, as a member of the Senate and the Diversity Commission, and as a board member of the lecturer’s association “Dozuba”. All these functions are closely related to the portfolio of the Vice President’s Office for People & Culture.

Senate to name new University Councillor

Yesterday’s meeting also focused on the election of the new member of the University Council designated by the Senate. The position is currently held by Professor Ottfried Jarren, who will retire at the end of the year. Jarren reported to the Senate on his experiences in the strategic committee and emphasized that it was the responsibility of the member designated by the Senate to bring a deliberately academic perspective to the University Council.

The President's Board, members of the Senate and the faculty heads are now requested to propose suitable nominees for the office by 3 May 2021. The Senate Committee will then identify potential candidates, hold talks with those candidates and submit a selection to the Senate for consideration at the latest by the meeting of 18 November 2021.

Further information

Matthias Geering, University of Basel, Head of Communications & Marketing, phone: +41 61 207 35 75, mobile: +41 79 269 70 71, email: matthias.geering@unibas.ch