Why are you running for Dean of the Faculty of Science?
“I am driven by new challenges, especially when it comes to leadership and development in our academic environments. It still feels quite recent that I stepped into the role as Vice-Dean, and I feel that I have more to contribute to the continued development of the Faculty.
Continuity is also important to me. Karin Rengefors and I have worked closely together for nearly three years, and there is clear value in two out of three members of the leadership continuing. It creates stability in the larger issues we have been working on together with Dean Per Persson since 2024.”
What experience and perspectives do you bring to the role?
“I have long experience of leadership, both through the research group I started more than 20 years ago and through previous roles as Head of Division at the Department of Chemistry and as project leader for Science Village Phase II.
For me, leadership is very much about working with people – creating space for different perspectives to emerge. The importance of people meeting should not be underestimated; that is often where important things happen. At the same time, leadership is also about making difficult decisions and being prepared to reconsider and improve them when new knowledge emerges.”
What do you see as the main challenges for the Faculty in the coming years?
“A key issue is how we translate our vision into practice – ensuring that departments have the best possible and equivalent conditions to carry out and develop their core activities. This is a principle the current dean’s team has worked on, and one I want to continue building on.
This means asking questions such as: Do heads of department have the right conditions to lead their organisations? Are our structures, scale and funding designed in a way that enables us to reach our goals? These are complex but crucial questions for the Faculty’s continued development.”
What is your vision for the Faculty in the short and long term?
“It is important that we continue to strengthen the Faculty’s identity – that it should mean something to be a student or staff member here. Astronomihuset, soon to become Universum, will be an important place for this. It can serve as a meeting point for discussions on education, research ideas and collaboration across boundaries.
If elected, I will also take part in the Faculty Board’s work on the Faculty’s long-term vision and strategic priorities, which I see as an important part of the continued development.”
What is important to you in leadership, and how do you want to work with staff, students and the rest of the leadership team?
“For me, leadership is about listening and making use of the competence around me. It is about creating the conditions for others to contribute and use their strengths in the best possible way. At the same time, a leader needs to maintain direction, step in when needed, and not be afraid to make difficult decisions or address challenges and conflicts.
I want to contribute to an environment where people feel safe to express their perspectives. At the same time, it should also be enjoyable, inspiring and stimulating to go to work or study.”
How do you see the Faculty’s role within Lund University and in society more broadly?
“Our Faculty contributes to major research advances, both within science and in collaboration with other disciplines. At the same time, we need to continue to make our voice heard where our research and education are needed in society. Natural science and mathematics provide a deeper understanding of the processes shaping our world.
It is also important that science does not become overshadowed in discussions about STEM. Here, our Faculty plays a central role – in both education and research – in highlighting what science contributes and why it is essential.”
The nomination committee has proposed Karin Rengefors as continuing Deputy Dean. How do you see your collaboration?
“We have worked as a team over the past three years, and that is something I would like to continue developing. It is important to avoid working in silos and instead maintain close collaboration. Karin and I are different as individuals, which I see as a strength. We complement each other and bring different perspectives, allowing us to examine issues from multiple angles and make more well-considered decisions.
If elected Dean, I look forward to continuing that collaboration and working in a leadership team with diverse perspectives that can reflect and represent the entire Faculty.”