From 1942, Zoller studied botany at the University of Basel and at the Rübel Geobotanical Research Institute (ETH Zurich since 1958).

[2] This was followed by research trips to Finland and Göttingen, whereupon he discovered the herbarium of Albrecht von Haller in the attic of ETH Zurich in 1956.

Between 1967 and 1989, he received 'full professorship ad personam' for botany at the University of Basel, which resulted in him being a mentor of Christian Körner.

[citation needed] In his approximately 200 publications, Zoller mainly dealt with plant geography and sociology, pollen analysis, paleoethnobotany, and the history of botany in Switzerland and Europe.

One of these essays is entitled Ehrfurcht vor dem Leben – Verantwortung für die Schöpfung (Reverence for Life - Responsibility for Creation).