Dr Sara Eicher is a mechanical engineer with a strong specialisation in thermal engineering and energy systems. She holds a PhD from the University of South Wales (UK), where she carried out research on the modelling and control of gas-fired furnaces. Her academic path includes international teaching experience in Portugal, the UK, and Switzerland.
Since 2007, she has been working at the Institute of Energy at HEIG-VD in Yverdon-les-Bains, where she leads and coordinates applied R&D projects focusing on renewable thermal energy, energy efficiency, and the decarbonisation of industrial processes. She is also actively involved in national energy programmes such as the Innovation Booster Energy Lab, where she supports start-ups, SMEs, and institutions in the development of innovative energy solutions.
From 2005 to 2007, Dr Eicher worked at CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva as CFD Team Coordinator within the Detector Cooling Section. There, she was responsible for the planning, development, and management of computational fluid dynamics projects, as well as the coordination and training of the internal CFD team.
Alongside her research and technical roles, Dr Eicher plays a key role in education. She designs and delivers courses and modules at Bachelor, Master (MSE), and continuing education levels, covering topics such as solar thermal systems, renewable energy and airflow simulation in buildings.
She supervises Bachelor’s and Master’s projects in the fields of energy systems, renewable thermal applications and sustainable technologies, guiding students from project definition to implementation and scientific dissemination. Her supervision emphasises the integration of applied research with real-world challenges, fostering analytical rigour, interdisciplinary thinking and practical impact.
In parallel, she is actively involved in the development of a doctoral school with the support of the European Horizon programme. This initiative aims to strengthen research capacity, foster international collaboration and provide structured doctoral training in sustainable energy and low-carbon technologies.
She is strongly committed to inclusive STEM education and responsible innovation, promoting diversity in engineering and ensuring that technological development aligns with societal needs, environmental sustainability and ethical considerations.
Her work is characterised by a strong interdisciplinary approach, bridging engineering, applied research, and practical implementation within the broader context of the energy transition.
Dr. Eicher is an active member of the Swissolar Solar Thermal Commission.
SWITCH edu-ID
Administration
