Who is Sarah Widmer

About the job

In our series “Who is…?” we introduce you to our team. Another look into our team!

Sarah Widmer

Since January 2023, I have been working at Qualitas as a geneticist in the breeding value estimation team. However, my first contacts with Qualitas date back to 2019. During my studies in agricultural sciences with a focus on animal sciences at ETH Zurich, I wrote my master’s thesis at Qualitas. During my master’s thesis, I investigated the genetic causes of twin and multiple births in cattle and developed my first breeding value estimation.

Even during my PhD in Computational Biology at the Institute of Genetics of the Vetsuisse Faculty in Bern, the collaboration with Qualitas and the staff of the breeding value estimation team continued. We expanded the genetic and genomic investigations on multiple births and female fertility in general.

My interest in breeding, especially in dairy cows, was sparked early on. Growing up on a farm in the Emmental, focused on milk production and animal breeding, I was always found among the cows and calves as a child. The work in breeding value estimation is very diverse and exciting. Whether it is routine breeding value estimation, participation in research projects, or the development of evaluations for new traits – all tasks always bring new challenges that make my working day varied.

At Qualitas as an employer, I appreciate the flexibility regarding working hours and location. But also the good teamwork as well as the trust and freedom in shaping the projects inspire me.

In my free time, I play the euphonium in the music society in our village and help out on our family farm. In winter, you can find me on the ski slopes or often as a fan in the Emmental ice hockey stadium.