Burkhard Becher is Professor and Chair of the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich, where he leads the Unit for Inflammation Research. He studied biology at the University of Cologne and completed his doctoral training in neuroimmunology in Canada. Following postdoctoral work in the United States, he was recruited to the University Hospital Zurich in 2003 as an assistant professor and was appointed full professor and chair in 2008.

Becher has since built an internationally visible research program at the interface of immunology, neuroscience, and translational medicine. His work addresses fundamental mechanisms of immune regulation in inflammation and cancer, using advanced experimental and single-cell approaches.

He has received numerous distinctions, including being named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics every year since 2018, and he was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant in 2019. In addition to his research leadership, he serves on scientific and editorial boards and is strongly committed to mentoring and institutional leadership in immunology.