Florian Kehl

Experience

• 

  CSEM

  Aug 2007 - Mar 2009

  Intern - R&D Engineer
• 

  CSEM

  Apr 2010 - Jul 2015

  Responsible for the development of an integrated, multiplexed, label-free, remotely-controlled and portable optical biosensor platform to detect and monitor online the interaction, presence and concentration of (bio)molecules. Lead in systems design, optics, mechanics, electronics and microfluidics.

  • PhD Student

    Jan 2011 - Jul 2015

  • Intern - R&D Engineer

    Apr 2010 - Dec 2010
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  Optics Balzers AG

  Jan 2011 - Jul 2015

  Project Manager

  Responsible for R&D engineering efforts in the field of waveguide grating based biosensors. Internal scientific and technical leader in European FP7 project. Manager of a research project funded by the Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI.

• 

  NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  Jan 2016 - Oct 2022

  Continued project support and technical guidance for NASA-JPL's Ocean Worlds Life Surveyor (OWLS) project as a subcontractor within the Chemical Analysis & Life Detection Group. Brassboard development, subsystems maturation, and technology readiness level advancement of components for next-generation life-detection instruments. Most work performed remotely from Switzerland under a contract with NASA-JPL and the University of Zurich's Space Hub. Technologist and In-Situ Instrument Developer in the Chemical Analysis and Life Detection Group/Instruments and Science Data Systems Division. Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr. Peter A. Willis in JPL's MicroDevices Laboratory in the Instruments and Science Data Systems Division on the development of an instrument suite for in-situ analysis of prebiotic compounds on Mars, Europa, Enceladus and other alien worlds.

  • Subcontractor

    Apr 2021 - Oct 2022

  • Life Detection Instrumentation Technologist

    Jan 2019 - Mar 2021

  • NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow

    Jan 2016 - Jan 2019
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  CBS Corporation

  Jan 2018 - May 2019

  Independent Rocketry & Aeronautics Consultant

  Scientific advisor and rocketry & aeronautics consultant for Ridley Scott's and Mark Heyman's CBS All Access TV show "Strange Angel" where I work with the staff towards incorporating scientifically accurate dialogs and visuals.

• 

  Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

  Jan 2021 - Mar 2024

  Part of the Space Biology Group at the Institute for Medical Engineering,Project manager for a large internal project,Thesis advisor and lecturer of classes in "Physics 1 & 2", "Python", "Introduction to Biomolecules" and "Material Sciences"

  • Lecturer

    Sept 2021 - Mar 2024

  • Associate Lecturer

    Jan 2021 - Aug 2021
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  ARIS - Academic Space Initiative Switzerland

  Apr 2021 - now

  Advisor
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  University of Zurich

  May 2021 - now

  Swiss project manager for ESA's ARRAKIHS Space Telescope F-class mission,Co-Investigator for ESA project ARISE - Autonomous Robots for In-situ Surface Exploration,Lecturer for the classes "Introduction to Astrobiology" and "Biosignatures & Life Detection" NASA-JPL Affiliate remotely working on OWLS - Ocean Worlds Life Surveyor Instrument Suite,Co-PI for ESA project GLIMPSE - A Geological Lunar In-Situ Mapper and Prospector For Surface Exploration,Lecturer for the graduate class "Biosignatures & Life Detection"

  • Academic Associate, Lecturer & Project Manager

    Feb 2023 - now

  • Senior Research and Teaching Assistant

    May 2021 - Feb 2023
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  ETH Zürich | Space

  Mar 2024 - now

  Lecturer and Project Manager

  - Developing and mentoring the ETH Space Master's program to enhance its academic excellence and global recognition. Leading engineering components, including laboratory experiments and simulations, and serving as a mentor for MSc student projects.- Coordinating the "Faculty Accelerator" at ETH Zürich | Space to foster innovation and collaboration within the space ecosystem, providing operational support, and promoting interdisciplinary space research and innovation projects.- Supporting strategic project acquisition and management, assisting ETH faculty in securing roles in major space projects, and contributing to project design and execution to meet global standards. Show less