Could you tell us a little about how you came to Lund and about your research background?
– I studied physics in Göttingen in Germany, which is similar to Lund in many ways. It is a classic university town with a long tradition in mathematics and physics. I graduated and completed my PhD there in 1994, before continuing as a postdoc in the US. Through international research collaborations, I got to know Claes Fahlander, who had been appointed professor in Lund, and through that connection I came to Lund and the Department of Physics in 1998 as a research fellow.
– A few years later, I was awarded a research position as part of an initiative that was a predecessor of today’s Wallenberg Academy Fellows programme. It was a great honour and meant that my family and I really put down roots in Lund.
– My research field is nuclear structure physics. Broadly speaking, it is about the stability of atomic nuclei and how they behave when challenged in different ways. I am an experimentalist, and we use large accelerator facilities and other research infrastructure around the world. This involves a great deal of teamwork and collaboration.
At the turn of the year, you will take on the role of Vice-Dean for Research. How do you feel about it, and what made you accept the position?
– The question actually came rather unexpectedly. I had been thinking about starting to scale back some of my existing commitments and making more time for my own research again. Then I was asked whether I would consider becoming Vice-Dean with responsibility for research. I also spoke to the department management and colleagues and received a lot of support and encouragement, so in the end I decided to accept.
– When I returned after the summer and the news had started to spread, I also received a great many genuine congratulations and very positive reactions from different quarters. It confirmed my feeling that I had made the right decision.
– I also think continuity in the new Faculty Management is important, and we will have that because some members of the current management will remain. The next few years will largely be about ensuring that what has already been initiated is implemented, firmly established and becomes part of our activities. I would very much like to help take that work forward. Above all, I look forward to helping create the best possible conditions for the research conducted at the Faculty. We carry out a great deal of excellent research, and I also want to help make it even more visible, both in society and internationally.
Looking ahead, which issues do you see as particularly important for the Faculty’s research in the coming years?
– To conduct successful research, we need good conditions and access to the resources and infrastructure required. This includes everything from security and long-term stability to local resources and access to national and international research infrastructure. We also need to find a good balance between the independence and freedom of action of individual research groups and the shared conditions that the Faculty and the University can provide.
– Another important issue is our strategic recruitment. Which research areas do we want to develop and invest in going forward, and who are the people best suited to drive them? These will not always be easy questions. At the same time, we need to ensure that the researchers and strong research areas already here have good opportunities to continue developing.
– AI is, of course, another major issue, extending far beyond our Faculty and our University. Developments are also moving incredibly quickly. Among other things, we need to discuss what this means for research findings and research quality. How do we assess and ensure quality as the conditions change? I believe these questions will become increasingly important.
You have held several different roles and positions within the Faculty over the years. Which experiences will you draw on most in your role as Vice-Dean?
– Among other things, I have served on the Faculty Board for six years, been Head of Division for many years, and worked for a long time on both the Academic Appointments Board and the Readership Appointments Board. Through these different roles, I have gained insight into much of what happens across the Faculty and have come to know both the organisation and its activities well.
– Teamwork is very important to me. In this respect, the interaction between researchers and professional services is particularly important. There is a great deal of expertise and continuity within professional services, and I am used to asking for help from people who know more about a particular issue than I do.
– I also bring with me a strong belief in the importance of transparency and forward planning. It should be clear what opportunities are available, how decisions are made and what happens following discussions and dialogue. I want an open climate in which different perspectives can be raised and discussed freely. I believe that leads to better decisions, but also to greater understanding of decisions that may not always turn out as one had hoped.
