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Election of Dean, Deputy Dean and members of the Faculty Board

Term of office: 2024–2026

The election has now been completed, and the faculty's eligible voters have voted in favour of the Nominating Committee's proposal.

The Vice-Chancellor appointed the Dean, Deputy Dean and external members on 11 May.

The Faculty board appointed two Vice-Deans on 27 September, following proposals from the future Dean and Deputy Dean.

Result

Dean, Deputy Dean and Vice-Deans:

  • Per Persson, Dean
  • Karin Rengefors, Deputy Dean for third cycle education
  • Charlotta Turner, Vice-Dean for first and second cycle education
  • Karin Hall, Vice-Dean with responsibility for the coordination of a joint department. This is a one-year assignment during 2024.

Faculty Board members:

  • Philipp Birken, teaching staff representative
  • Marie Dacke, teaching staff representative
  • Helena Filipsson, teaching staff representative
  • Susanna Horsefield, teaching staff representative
  • Lars-Johan Lyttkens Lindén, representative of other staff
  • Andreas Persson, teaching staff representative
  • Carina Rasmussen, representative of other staff
  • Peter Samuelsson, teaching staff representative
  • Camilla Christensson, external representative (elected by the Nominating Committee)
  • Mats Åkesson, external representative (elected by the Nominating Committee)

Presentations

Per Persson, Dean

Professor of Molecular Geochemistry at the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, CEC.

Portrait. Photo.
Being nominated for the position of dean was not something that Per Persson was actively aiming for. But, at the same time, he cannot think of a more exciting role now that it is time to write the last chapter of his working life.

Read the interview with Per Persson

Karin Rengefors, Deputy Dean

Professor of Limnology at the Department of Biology.

Portrait. Photo.
Karin Rengefors is humble about her nomination for the post of deputy dean, and if entrusted with the role she will work hard to create the right conditions for the faculty’s staff.

Read the interview with Karin Rengefors

Charlotta Turner, Vice-Dean

Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry.

Portrait. Photo.
Charlotta Turner is looking forward to taking on her new role as Vice Dean for first and second cycle education.

Read the interview with Charlotta Turner

Philipp Birken, teaching staff representative

Senior lecturer at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

Portrait. Photo.

I am associate professor in numerical analysis and scientific computing at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences since 2013. My research is about designing and analyzing numerical methods for computations of complex flows on parallel computers. The purpose is help achieving a sustainable society by simulating e.g. wind turbines, the climate or turbulent combustion of new fuels. Over the past years, I have worked with a team on creating our two new master’s programmes in computational science. I believe that computational science offers enormous possibilities for collaboration across the faculty and that it provides a positive vision for the future along Sölvegatan for our nonexperimental disciplines.

Marie Dacke, teaching staff representative

Professor at the Department of Biology.

Portrait. Photo.

I am part of the Prefect Advisory Board at the Department of Biology and I have a strong commitment to research, leadership and public education. Via my previous assignment as Chair of the faculty's Nominating Committee, I am well aware of the opportunities and responsibilities that an appointment to the Faculty Board entails. The two issues that particularly concern me are: How can we increase the success of faculty researchers in attracting research grants? Does the principle of having the under-represented gender with at least 40 percent representation on each faculty body truly promote gender equality as intended, or should we rethink?

Helena Filipsson, teaching staff representative

Professor at the Department of Geology.

Portrait. Photo.

My name is Helena Filipsson and I am a Professor of Quaternary Geology, specialising in Marine Geology, at the Department of Geology. I am eager to contribute with my drive and commitment to the work of the Faculty Board, particularly regarding questions about how we can best meet the needs of future students, the University's ongoing (and expanded) green transition, gender equality and equal opportunities, and the fields of artificial intelligence, digitalisation and big data. I have extensive experience in the faculty's work, having served as a member of the Academic Appointment Board and the Infrastructure Council, as well as the Director of Studies for Doctoral Education at the department.

Susanna Horsefield, teaching staff representative

Professor at the Department of Chemistry.

Portrait. Photo.

I am professor in Biochemistry at the division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry. In my research I study membrane protein structure and function using X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy and biophysical methods. I am well anchored in research as well as teaching, have several years of experience as a board member at the department level and have worked with questions relating to infrastructure, for example as a member of the faculty's Infrastructure Council. I believe that these experiences will allow me to contribute to the Faculty Board’s work with the significant challenges and possibilities that lie ahead, such as the future establishment in Science Village at Brunnshög.

Lars-Johan Lyttkens Lindén, representative of other staff

Librarian at the Library of Science.

Portrait. Photo.

My main tasks are teaching at the Department of Geology and the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science as well as developing the physical and electronic collections at the Geolibrary. I am also the coordinator for student support at the Library of Science. I think it is very important to make sure that everyone gets their voices heard and I hope to bring that conviction with me into the Faculty Board. I also have a lot of experience in conducting orderly and inclusive meetings.
 

Andreas Persson, teaching staff representative

Senior lecturer at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science.

Portrait. Photo.

My motivation for a commitment in the Faculty Board is to advocate for the collegial influence on the management and to strive for transparency of the decisions taken. Our faculty is facing changes in both research and education. I want the leadership to implement these in dialog with the colleagues and students affected. I have been connected to Lund University as a student, PhD-student and now, as a lecturer and associate professor. Earlier I was a student representative in the Study Programmes Board and this term I am a representative in the department board of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science.

Carina Rasmussen, representative of other staff

Research engineer at the Department of Biology.

Portrait. Photo.

In 1985, as a newly graduated laboratory assistant, I started working at the Zoology department (today incorporated into the Department of Biology) at Lund University. I have enjoyed my work here and stayed since we have a good working climate and my duties have constantly varied and changed with the research. In addition to my work as a research engineer in the laboratory, I am also elected as a safety representative and have been so almost my entire professional life. For me, it is important that everyone can work in a good and healthy working environment. What I can contribute to the Faculty Board is the experience I have gathered during my 38 years at the faculty, as well as my knowledge in laboratory and work environment.

Peter Samuelsson, teaching staff representative

Professor at the Department of Physics.

Portrait. Photo.

My name is Peter Samuelsson and I am a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Department of Physics. I have worked on the board for almost three years and find it rewarding and interesting and would like to continue for another three years. My main interest is to work with issues related to collegial co-determination, to ensure that the Faculty Board is a body where the core activities, research and education, are clearly represented and influence the decisions, especially in the major, strategically important issues. This often involves working towards greater decentralisation, less and simplified administrative procedures and more trust-based decision-making.

Camilla Christensson, external member

Certified teacher of chemistry and lecturer in natural science specialization at Katedralskolan in Lund.

Portrait. Photo.

I have two degrees from Lund University – a master's degree in chemistry and a PhD in applied microbiology. I have research experience in several areas: production of fuel ethanol at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH), biological wastewater treatment at the University of Queensland, cheese production at Massey University, clinical studies at AstraZeneca and in recent years natural science teaching in collaboration with the universities in Malmö and Umeå. Through various school development projects and assignments from the Swedish National Agency for Education, I have a large network of other teachers. In the Faculty Board, I would like to work for, among other things, increased cooperation with the upper secondary school and the education of teachers in science subjects.

Mats Åkesson, external member

Region Manager, Sweco.

Portrait. Photo.

I am a trained geologist with a degree from Lund University in 1997. I have worked as a contractor in well drilling, with permit issues and supervision in water operations at the County Administrative Board in Skåne, and now at Sweco where I am responsible for the operations in southern Sweden within the area of water. As part of this work, I lead a management team and am part of the business unit's national management team. My board experience: I sit on the board of Bokskogen’s Golf Club and have previously sat on the board of the South Swedish Environmental Law Association (which I was involved in forming) and several sports clubs. In the Faculty Board, I hope that I can contribute to us focusing on the right things by being efficient and spending our time on what has the greatest impact on the faculty's activities.


About the election

Who is to be appointed?

  • A Dean, who is also the Chair of the Faculty Board
  • A Deputy Dean, who is also the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Board
  • Six teaching staff representatives
  • Two representatives of other staff
  • Two external members

Through the election, the faculty’s voters propose a Dean and a Deputy Dean who are then formally appointed by the Vice-Chancellor of Lund University. The teaching staff representatives and the representatives of other staff are elected directly by the voters. The Nominating Committee proposes the external members, who are then formally appointed by the Vice-Chancellor.

New for this term of office is that the future Dean and Deputy Dean propose Vice-Deans who are then appointed by the Faculty Board.

Who is entitled to vote and nominate?

You can nominate and vote if you are employed at Lund University and have at least 50 percent of your employment within the Faculty of Science. Your employment must be a permanent position or include at least two years of continuous employment at the faculty.

Doctoral students with a doctoral studentship are not entitled to vote or nominate as they are considered students according to the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 1, Section 4).

Who can be nominated?

Dean, Deputy Dean and teaching staff representatives must be members of the teaching staff with research expertise, .e. a professor or a person with a teaching position that requires a doctoral degree or equivalent competence.

Representatives of other staff must be employed at the faculty and not belong to the category of member of the teaching staff with research expertise.

Self-nomination is allowed.

The last day to nominate candidates was 20 January 2023.

The Nominating Committee's requirements profile for Dean and Deputy Dean

The Dean must be a professor, but this is not a requirement for the Deputy Dean. Together, the Dean and Deputy Dean must meet the criteria below.

  • Be a good leader and have demonstrated good collaborative and engagement skills
  • Have a good knowledge and understanding of the organisation of the faculty as well as gender equality and work environment issues
  • Have insight into and experience of national and/or international research policy activities
  • Have the ability to see future opportunities and have a vision for the faculty
  • Have a good knowledge of and interest in all aspects of the faculty's activities (first, second and third-cycle education and research)
  • Have a good ability to promote the faculty within the University as well as nationally and internationally

Contact

Ola Wendt
Chair of the Nominating Committee
Contact information for Ola Wendt (staff.lu.se)

Ellen Giljam
Secretary of the Nominating Committee
Contact information for Ellen Giljam (staff.lu.se)

Preliminary timetable

  • The nomination period is 20 December to 20 January.
  • The Nominating Committee will present its proposal for candidates in April.
  • The election will be held from 20 April to 4 May.
  • The votes will be counted after the election has ended on 4 May, and then the result will be announced.
  • The Vice-Chancellor appoints the Dean, Deputy Dean and external members on 11 May.