Marcel Egli is head of the Space Biology Group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland (ETH Zurich). After graduating from the University of Bern (MD-PhD), he spent several years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne (Howard Florey Institute, Australia) and at the Florida State University (Department of Biology). There, he progressed to Associate Faculty after a few years and continued his research on secretory rhythms of hormones in mammals. Later on, an appointment to lead the Space Biology Group brought him back to Switzerland. In 2011 he was awarded the Venia Legendi in space biology after successful habilitation at ETH Zürich.

Marcel Egli has published various papers in the fields of neurobiology, neuro-endocrinology, and currently also in space biology. He is also author of several book chapters. His current research interests include mainly hypothalamic control of hormone secretion and the cellular mechanisms of mechanosensation. By using research platforms, such as airplanes performing parabolic flight manoeuvres, sounding rockets as well as the International Space Station, questions like how cells behave in a mechanically unloaded microgravity environment are addressed. In order to perform such biomedical experiments in space, particular hardware has to be built. Thus, close collaboration with engineers is essential for this kind of research.

Marcel Egli is Principal Investigator of several experiments that were selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for a space flight. Marcel Egli is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Bern and the ESA Summer School for Astrobiology.