Niggli mụrụ na Zofingen ma gụọ akwụkwọ na Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) na Zurich na Mahadum Zurich, ebe o nwetara doctorate. Akwụkwọ ya nke 1919, Geometrische Kristallographie des Diskontinuums, rụrụ ọrụ dị mkpa na mmezi nke usoro ìgwè mbara igwe. N'akwụkwọ a, Niggli gosipụtara na ọ bụ ezie na ọnọdụ ntụgharị X-ray anaghị ekpebi otu ìgwè mbara igwe nke kristal bụ, ha na-ekpughe obere ọnụ ọgụgụ nke ìgwè mbara igwe nwere ike ịbụ nke ọ nwere ike ịbụ. Niggli jiri usoro morphological mee ihe maka nhazi ime na, na 1928 Kristallographische und theoretische Strukturische Grundfefefe, ọ malitere ihe bụ isi usoro ntụgharị, ọrụ nke ịmepụta njikọ dị n'etiti lattices na mbara igwe na mbara igwe.
Ụlọọrụ Switzerland nke Federal nke Teknụzụ (ETH) na Zurich na Mahadum Zurich