NCCR MUST (2010–2022)

Home institutions: ETH Zurich, University of Berne

Research of the NCCR

NCCR “MUST – Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology” focused on the multidisciplinary (physics, chemistry, biology) development of experimental and theoretical tools to generate a deeper understanding of matter at the microscopic level by looking at processes and interactions of atoms and molecules at native time scales. These time scales are ultrafast. The results of this so-called ultrafast science conducted by the NCCR’s research teams addressed significant social challenges, such as the quest for alternative energy sources, the synthesis of complex, functional medicines and the development of new electronic devices.

Scientific impact

Particularly important discoveries were made regarding the molecular structural dynamics in systems ranging from small ions to proteins. New insights were also gained into charge, energy and signal transfer on a scale ranging from a few Angstroms (a unit of length equal to 10⁻¹⁰ m) all the way up to macroscopic systems in their liquid or solid states. These discoveries led to the creation of a network with international collaborators. MUST has therefore become one of the leading consortia in the area, along with PULSE (Stanford University) and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (Garching). The NCCR’s impact is documented by many scientific publications attracting substantial international attention.

Legacy

To conduct this cutting-edge research, a shared research platform dedicated to ultrafast science at the ETH Zurich’s Department of Physics was created, the FastLab. A sister laboratory was installed at the co-hosting University of Bern. Furthermore, six start-up companies were founded and nine patents filed. However, the legacy of this NCCR goes beyond the scientific realm: the publication of the book A Journey into Time in Powers of Ten significantly sparked the interest of the general public in ultrafast science. Another particularly important development was the NCCR’s engagement in favour of women in STEM. MUST’s annual meetings, as well as dedicated gender and science meetings, contributed to raising awareness and sensitivity to gender equality topics; implementation was supported by tutorials and programmes designed for individuals of all genders. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of MUST, a significant number of female scientists were promoted to leadership positions.