Michael Krisch appointed Director of Research

The Council has expressed its full confidence in M. Krisch to continue to lead the ESRF Experiments Division together with Gema Martínez-Criado, Director of Research for Condensed Matter and Physical and Material Sciences, and to contribute to the efforts required to capitalise fully on the world-leading performances of the EBS storage ring and suite of beamlines.

Michael is a solid-state physicist with particular interest in the investigation of the magnetic and electronic structure and dynamics of materials, studies at extremes of pressure and temperature, and X-ray instrumentation.

Michael joined the ESRF in 1988, affiliated with the University of Dortmund. After a year spent abroad at the NSLS, Brookhaven National Laboratory, he returned to the ESRF to participate in the construction and commissioning of beamline ID16 (Inelastic scattering I). In 1996 he became scientist in charge of the ID28 beamline project (Inelastic scattering II) and in 2013 he took over the responsibility of the Upgrade Programme beamline ID20 (UPBL6). He served as Deputy Group Head of the High Resolution and Resonance Scattering Group from 2002 to 2009, and as Group Head of the Dynamics and Extreme Conditions Group from 2009 to 2015.

Michael was Head of the ESRF Instrument Support and Development Division (ISDD) during the period 2015-2019, leading most successfully the key contribution of the Division to the EBS project. He then joined the Complex Systems and Biomedical Sciences Group in the Experiments Division as ID17 Beamline Responsible. Since 01 March 2023, Michael has fulfilled the role of Director of Research ad interim.

“We are very happy with the appointment of Michael Krisch, as he brings a wealth of experience to the position of Director of Research. Having been Director ad interim in the last months, the transition is smooth and he can continue to be an effective member of the management team that includes the new Director General, Jean Daillant. The Council wishes him success in this important and challenging job and is looking forward to continue to interact with him.” Elias Vlieg, Chair of the ESRF Council.

“I wish to heartily congratulate Michael for his appointment. Our collaboration dates since many years, back to the joint construction of the first inelastic scattering beamline on ID16 in the early ‘90s. His commitment to the ESRF’s well-being has always been exemplary, and I am fully convinced that he will do a wonderful job as Director of Research together with Gema, and in collaboration with the other ESRF Directors! Congratulations Michael!” Francesco Sette, ESRF Director General.

“I am delighted with the appointment of Michael Krisch as Director of Research. We share the same priorities and his experience in various positions at the ESRF will be extremely valuable to the team, which is now complete. Together with Gema and the other directors, we now have a great team fully committed to the further development of the facility for the benefit of science.” Jean Daillant, ESRF Director General as of 1 September 2024.