Prof. Dr. Detlef Günther - www.analytica.ethz.ch - graduated from the Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg (Germany) in 1987. His PhD thesis focused on “The Interpretation and Optimization of Sampling and Transport” as well as “Calibration for Quantitative LM-ICP-OES”. After post-doc periods at Duisburg University (Germany), the Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle (Germany), and the Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), he joined Prof. C.A. Heinrich in a research program on "Micro Analytical Developments for the Analysis of Fluid Inclusions Using LA-ICP-MS" at the Institute of Isotope Geology and Mineral Resources at ETH (SFIT) Zurich (Switzerland). His introduction of a new homogenized excimer laser ablation system (ArF, 193 nm) has contributed significantly to improving the applicability of laser ablation technique. One of his major contributions to gemology is his published pioneer work on "Quasi-nondestructive Fingerprinting of Sapphires Using LA-ICP-MS", which led to an extensive study of various gemstones. In 1998, Dr. D. Günther became Assistant Professor at the Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry - www.chem.ethz.ch - at ETH (SFIT), in Hönggerberg (Switzerland).

Prof. Dr. D. Günther received the Award of Excellence together with Dr.A. Peretti on the 19th August 2002 from the Thai Gems and Jewellery Trade Association in Bangkok (Thailand) for their work on the new treatment on fancy sapphires.

Prof. Dr. D.Günther receives the "Ruzicka" Award on the 11.12.2002 in Zurich for his innovative work on LA-ICP-MS from the President of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Olaf Kübler.
see http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch/articles/