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Exceptional scientific achievements for young researchers

The NRP 75 ‘Big Data’ project has also produced a few theses that have been awarded prizes

​Philippe Saner’s thesis on the subject of ‘Data. Science. Society. On the genesis of a transversal field of knowledge’, completed as part of the ‘Confronting Big Data: Methods and skills for a 21st-century sociology’ project under Prof. Sophie Mützel at the University of Lucerne, received the 2021 Ulrich Teichler Prize. This prize is awarded by the GfHf (Society for University Research) to young research talent from German-speaking countries. Winning theses must make a well-founded contribution to the further professional and technical development of university research.

Gabriel Kasper was given the 2021 Stefano Rodotà Award for his thesis entitled ‘People analytics in private-law employment relationships – proposals for a more effective enforcement of data protection law’. This was written as part of the ‘“Big Brother” in Swiss companies? Trust, data and personal privacy of employees’ project under Prof. Antoinette Weibel at the University of St. Gallen. The Stefano Rodotà Award is awarded annually by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Convention 108 to mark Data Protection Day on 28 January.

Simon Schafheitle was given the 2021 Schmalenbach-Preis for his thesis entitled ‘Towards a Nuanced Understanding of 21st-century Workplaces – Broadening the Configurational Perspectives of Organizational Control and Trust of Leaders’. This was also written as part of the ‘“Big Brother” in Swiss companies? Trust, data and personal privacy of employees’ project under Prof. Antoinette Weibel at the University of St. Gallen. Le Schmalenbach-Preis est décerné chaque année par la Schmalenbach-Stiftung pour récompenser un travail scientifique exceptionnel, orienté vers l'application, solide sur le plan théorique ou empirique et représentant un progrès scientifique dans le domaine de la gestion d'entreprise au service de la pratique économique.

Two theses also received a silver medal from ETH Zurich. These were completed by Benedikt Knüsel for the ‘Can a combination of theory and Big Data better predict extreme weather impacts?’ project under Prof. Reto Knutti, and by Agata Ferretti for the ‘An ethical framework for the use of health-related Big Data’ project under Prof. Effy Vayena.

This list is by no means exhaustive. We would like to congratulate the award-winners on their successful academic work and wish them every success for the future.