I am an Adjunct Professor and Research Group Leader at the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich. I have a multidisciplinary background in environmental, economic and social history, as well as in evolutionary medicine, (historical) epidemiology, (historical) anthropometry and (historical) demography. My research focuses on population health over time, particularly the interactions between human health and environmental change in Switzerland and beyond over the past two centuries. The latest trends and monitoring of important health issues are also part of my work. By combining historical and epidemiological approaches, my research group provides critical context to contemporary health and societal challenges.
Research group, projects & news
See my group's separate webpage
Other Affiliations and Memberships
- EU COST Action "The Great Leap. Multidisciplinary approaches to health inequalities, 1800-2022" (Working Group Leader)
- IUSSP Panel "Epidemics & Contagious Diseases: The Legacy of the Past" (Panel Member)
- Crisis Competence Center, UZH (Member)
- Initiative Geisteswissenschaften, UZH (Member)
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics PhD Program UZH (Member)
- Center for Military & Disaster Medicine, Swiss Armed Forces (Member of the Scientific Board)
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP) (Member)
- Institute of History, University of Bern (Research Affiliate & Lecturer)
- Digital Society Initiative (DSI), University of Zurich (Member)
- Swiss School of Public Health SSPH+ (Faculty Member)
Publications
See also Google Scholar Profile
ZORA Publication List
Publications
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2013
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Journal Article
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From growth in height to growth in breadth: The changing body shape of Swiss conscripts since the late 19th century and possible endocrine explanations General and Comparative Endocrinology, 188, 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.03.028
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Regionale und sozio-ökonomische Unterschiede im Body Mass Index (BMI) von Schweizer Stellungspflichtigen 2004 - 2012 Bulletin Bundesamt für Gesundheit, 857–859.
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Wissenschaft: Grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeiten mit anthropometrischen und medizinischen Daten der Rekrutierung Informationsschrift (Koordinierter Sanitätsdienst), 41–44.
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Book Section
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The Community Effect in Swiss Conscripts In M. Hermanussen (Ed.), Auxology: Studying Human Growth and Development (pp. 72–73). Schweizerbart’Sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
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Impact and Pitfalls of Conscription Data In M. Hermanussen (Ed.), Auxology: Studying Human Growth and Development (pp. 146–149). Schweizerbart’Sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
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Published Research Report
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Regionale und sozio-ökonomische Unterschiede im Body Mass Index (BMI) von Schweizer Stellungspflichtigen 2004-2012 Bundesamt für Gesundheit. http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/ernaehrung_bewegung/05192/13349/index.html?lang=en&download=NHzLpZig7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCLeYN9f2ym162dpYbUzd,Gpd6emK2Oz9aGodetmqaN19XI2IdvoaCUZ,s-
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2012
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Journal Article
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Social inequality and the biological standard of living: An anthropometric analysis of Swiss conscription data, 1875-1950 Economics and Human Biology, 10, 154–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2011.05.001
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Hypothyroidism in Switzerland from an anthropological, clinical and historic perspective RCC Perspectives, 75–91.
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Dilemmas in choosing and using growth charts Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews, 9, 650–656.
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Überblick über zehn Jahre historisch-anthropometrische Forschung in der Schweiz: Säkularer Trend, soziale und regionale Unterschiede in der mittleren Körperhöhe und -form seit Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts Bulletin der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Anthropologie, 18, 37–50.
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2011
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Journal Article
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Edouard Mallet’s early and almost forgotten study of the average height of Genevan conscripts in 1835. Economics and Human Biology, 9, 438–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2011.03.001
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Grösser – und dicker. Körperhöhe und Body Mass Index im Kanton Bern seit dem 19. Jahrhundert Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde, 73, 3–39. http://www.bezg.ch/html/bezg-online/
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The average height of 18- and 19-year-old conscripts (N=458,322) in Switzerland from 1992 to 2009, and the secular height trend since 1878 Swiss Medical Weekly, 141, w13238. https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2011.13238
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Book Section
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Statistik – Die amtliche Statistik in der Schweiz In M. Jorio (Ed.), Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (e-HLS) (p. online). Schwabe. http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D13798-1-2.php
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Die Körperhöhe als Lebensstandardindikator In P. Martig (Ed.), Berns moderne Zeit : das 19. und 20. Jahrhundert neu entdeckt (No. 5; p. 143). Stämpfli.
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2010
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Journal Article
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BMI distribution/social stratification in Swiss conscripts from 1875 to present European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64, 335–340. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.7
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