15/06/2026
Before becoming one of the most influential experimental physicists of the 20th century, Otto Stern was part of the academic community at ETH Zurich.
In 1913, Stern followed Albert Einstein to Zurich and became a Privatdozent in Physical Chemistry at ETH Zurich. During this formative period, he worked as Einstein’s scientific assistant and engaged with some of the most important scientific questions of the emerging quantum era.
Stern later became a pioneer of experimental atomic physics. His research led to the development of the molecular beam method, a breakthrough technique that transformed the study of atoms and molecules. In 1943, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the molecular ray method and for discovering the magnetic moment of the proton.
Today, ETH Zurich recognizes Otto Stern among its Nobel Prize laureates, reflecting the lasting impact of his scientific achievements and his connection to the institution.