The Institute

At our institute, we seek answers to fundamental questions in particle physics and astrophysics. We pursue this through work on world class national and international facilities, such as accelerators and telescopes. The Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics aims to continue its prominent role over a broad spectrum of research programs. Our experiments employ forefront technologies resulting from intensive R&D programs that often also lead to innovations (detectors and analysis software) and spin-offs (e.g. in medical physics or security).

Members of the IPA participate in teaching at all levels at ETH and offer laboratory courses at ETH, PSI, CERN and observational sites. We provide a rich program of master and graduate level courses, including a joint master program in high-energy physics together with the Ecole Polytechnique (Paris-Saclay). Altogether, this guarantees a diverse, internationally attractive and high-quality teaching program in particle and astroparticle physics as well as astrophysics.

IPA is part of the Physics Department at ETH Zurich (D-PHYS). It is located on the Hönggerberg campus (buildings HPK and HIT), approx. a 15 minutes bus ride away from downtown Zurich. The institute is made up of a staff counting about 200, organized into 19 research groups, which cover a wide range of topics including: high-energy interactions between fundamental particles, neutrino physics, astroparticle physics, precision particle physics experiments at low energies, ion beam physics, cosmology and structure formation, galaxy and black hole astrophysics and star and planet formation.