Peter Nilsson is a Professor of Economics at the Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) , Stockholm University. He also holds a guest professorship at Linnaeus University and serves as a research fellow at IFAU , Uppsala Center for Labor Studies , CESifo , and CEPR . Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and obtained his PhD from Uppsala University (2010). Research Focus: His work bridges Labor Economics , Health Economics , and Environmental Economics , analyzing how early-life exposures (alcohol, lead), workplace dynamics, and policy interventions (unemployment insurance, congestion pricing) shape long-term socioeconomic outcomes. Key themes include Environmental Health Impacts on Cognition and Crime Labor Market Responses to Insurance Policies Peer Effects in Workplace Behavior Policy Design for Social Equity Scientific Awards: Nilsson has been recognized through research fellowships at leading institutions and editorial roles, including Associate Editor at The Economic Journal since 2021. His work has been featured in American Economic Review , Journal of Political Economy , and NBER platforms. Key Contributions: He provided testimony for Connecticut’s HB-5045 to reduce childhood lead exposure and contributed to Sweden’s Corona Commission report on pandemic responses. His empirical methods combine natural experiments with administrative datasets to identify causal relationships in health, labor, and environmental economics.
Angelika Sjöstedt serves as Professor and Chair of Gender Studies within the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Mid Sweden University. Her academic leadership spans teaching across Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs in Gender Studies and Sociology, while actively contributing to institutional discourse through roles such as delivering the 2024 academic celebration lecture. She maintains significant engagement with contemporary academic freedom debates, notably co-organizing the 2024 seminar series addressing responsible internationalization amid the Gaza conflict. Her research profile reveals deep expertise in intersectional analysis of gender, settler colonialism, and labor precarity, particularly examining how chronic crises manifest in peripheralized regions. Recent work demonstrates acute responsiveness to geopolitical emergencies, with 2024 publications directly confronting academic complicity in genocide. Her methodological approach bridges ethnographic rigor with activist scholarship, evident in long-term collaborations like the Båskoes Sámi research network and Forum for Gender Research. Sjöstedt's scholarly trajectory shows consistent thematic development from early work on flexible knowledge-work subjectivity (2012) through nuanced examinations of rural resilience (2017-2020) to current urgent interventions in academic freedom. Her publications reveal distinctive geographic focus on Norrland's inland regions while maintaining transnational theoretical relevance, particularly regarding mining resistance movements and crisis management frameworks. The 2021-2024 output demonstrates accelerated engagement with acute political emergencies, signaling scholarly adaptation to escalating global crises. Professional networks constitute a critical dimension of her work, with sustained involvement in the Forum for Gender Research since at least 2015 and leadership in the Båskoes network advancing Indigenous research methodologies. Her editorial work on critical anthologies like Aktivism: En antologi om arbete för social och politisk förändring (2022) demonstrates commitment to bridging academic and activist knowledge production.
Yang Liu is a tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Management and Engineering , Linköping University, Sweden, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oulu, Finland. His expertise spans smart manufacturing, clean energy transition, and Industry 4.0 applications. He holds an M.Sc. and D.Sc. from the University of Vaasa, Finland. Research & Awards: Liu's work focuses on sustainable systems, decision support systems, and AI-driven energy efficiency. He has authored over 140 Web of Science publications, including top 0.1% ESI Hot Papers. He is ranked among the world's top 2% scientists (Stanford-Elsevier) and leads globally in 'big data analytics in manufacturing' and 'Industry 4.0-driven circular economy' research. Leadership & Projects: He leads projects like FlexSUS (EU Horizon 2020) and PERSEUS, developing tools for smart urban energy planning and 15-minute city models. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Cleaner Engineering and Technology and Guest Editor for multiple journals. His research emphasizes bridging data science with sustainability challenges in manufacturing and energy systems. Key Achievements: Top-ranked in global citations, ESI Highly Cited Papers, and industry-driven sustainability frameworks. Grants: Leads EU-funded projects and collaborates with Siemens Energy on energy transition solutions. Labs & Teams: Part of the Environmental Technology and Management (MILJÖ) division and Unit for Product Service Innovation (MILJOPSI) at Linköping.
Max Koch is a Professor at Lund University's School of Social Work, specializing in the intersection of social policy, ecological sustainability, and postgrowth theories. His research explores how capitalist restructuring impacts welfare, inequality, and climate action, with a focus on sustainable welfare systems and degrowth. Current projects: 'Economic Elites in the Climate Change Transformation' (PI, 2023-2028), 'Regulating the Polluter Elite' (2024-2027), 'FLYWELL' (2023-2026). Former projects: 'Postgrowth Welfare Systems' (2021-2025), 'Sustainable Welfare for a New Generation' (2020-2023). He teaches political economy, social inequality, and ecological sustainability at Lund University, directing the 'Social Policy in Europe' course. As a Visiting Scholar, he has collaborated with institutions in Spain, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Chile. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to climate action and reduced inequalities. Scientific award: Atlas Prize (2019) for degrowth research. Editorial roles: Environmental Values, advisory boards for ORSI and Collorative Future Making. Recent publications analyze planetary boundaries, postgrowth welfare models, and climate policy synergies. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining social practices with policy innovation.
Magnus Dahlstedt is Professor of Social Work at Linköping University's Department of Culture and Society (IKOS) since 2019, previously holding the same position at ISV (Institution for Social and Welfare Studies) from 2015-2019. He has been responsible for the research environment and doctoral education in Social Work at Linköping University from 2016 to 2023. His academic journey began with a PhD in Ethnicity from Linköping University in 2005, followed by becoming a docent (associate professor) in 2009 and a biträdande professor (associate professor) in 2014 before achieving full professorship in 2015. Dahlstedt's research centers on citizenship formation in contemporary society shaped by welfare policy transformations and international migration. His work examines how citizenship is concretely formed in segregated urban environments, focusing particularly on the gap between formal rights and substantive living conditions. He investigates social pedagogical efforts across public policy, education, and the non-profit sector, with special attention to vulnerable groups including young people with foreign backgrounds in urban peripheries. His methodological approach is interdisciplinary, grounded in critical power analysis, discourse analysis, and ideological critique, often involving cross-disciplinary research collaborations. His recent publications reveal consistent thematic focus on migration, social inclusion, and urban segregation, with particular emphasis on how sports can serve as tools for social purposes in marginalized communities. The research shows increasing attention to longitudinal studies of migrants' trajectories and the role of different educational contexts (high school, folk high schools, study associations) in integration processes. Dahlstedt's work demonstrates strong policy relevance, with findings frequently presented in government agency reports and informing public debate on segregation and inclusion. Researcher at Center for Community Strategies Research (2018-2021) Member of Mimerrådet, National Program for Folk Education Research (since 2014) Department Head at Remeso, Linköping University (2012-2015) Dahlstedt actively contributes to public discourse through media appearances, public lectures, and alternative writing projects including the anthology 'Brandtal' (2023) and 'Hårdare kan ingen vara' (2023), while preparing 'En professors dagbok' for publication in fall 2024. His research is funded by multiple agencies including Vetenskapsrådet, Norrköping Research and Development Fund, and the Swedish Crime Prevention Council.
Dean B. Carson is a researcher at Umeå University , affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health , and the Arctic Research Centre . His work focuses on rural health systems, social care workforce challenges, sustainable rural development, and community-based approaches to healthcare and food security. Rural Health : Explores capacity-building in rural health research and medical education reform. Public Health : Analyzes service delivery models and co-creation frameworks for elderly care. Geography : Investigates spatial dynamics in northern peripheries, including food production networks and micro-urbanization. Recent publications (2024-2025) examine topics such as rural health research capacity frameworks , hospital-to-home transfer systems , and non-commercial food distribution networks . His studies often integrate theoretical models like Rural Nursing Theory and Beyond Periphery while emphasizing stakeholder engagement and policy translation. Grants and Collaborations : Funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas, American National Science Foundation (NSF), and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. Collaborates with Arctic-FROST networks and Lifestyle Migration Hub researchers.
Susanne Iwarsson is a Professor in Gerontology and Care for Older People at Lund University's Faculty of Medicine, holding the Mary and Seved Ribbing Professorship since 2005. She also serves as Director of the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE) and Coordinator of the Swedish National Graduate School for Competitive Science on Ageing and Health (SWEAH). Her academic journey includes a PhD in Medical Science (1997) and promotions to Associate Professor (1999) and Professor (2003). She has held leadership roles such as Pro-dean of the Faculty of Medicine (2006-2011) and Coordinator of the strategic research area MultiPark (2012-2014). Her research focuses on environmental gerontology, housing accessibility, and proactive ageing strategies. Key contributions include the Housing Enabler assessment tool and studies on ageing populations' participation in society. She has supervised 18 PhD students and 6 licentiates, with ongoing supervision of 4 current PhD candidates. Major projects include the Home, Health and Disability longitudinal study (2002-present) and the UserAge program exploring user participation in ageing research. Awards include the Excellent Teaching Practitioner title (2010) and Doctor Honoris Causa. Her work addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, sustainable cities, and reduced inequalities. Collaborations span universities in Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and the U.S., with partnerships in healthcare and municipal sectors.
Fariya Sharmeen is an Associate Professor of Mobility and Urban Planning at KTH Royal Institute of Technology's School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), affiliated with the Digital Futures Faculty. She holds a PhD from Eindhoven University of Technology and has previously served as Assistant Professor at Radboud University, Lecturer at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and research fellow at institutions including TU Delft and Imperial College London. Her research focuses on sustainable mobility transitions, social network dynamics in travel behavior, and policy responses to emerging transport technologies like MaaS and cycling innovations. Notable honors include the 2017 Piet Rietveld Award for transport research and a 2013 Royal Geographic Society award for transport geography. Sharmeen advises doctoral and master’s students on topics such as urban transformation and mobility governance. She coordinates courses like Sustainable Mobility (FAG3187) and leads projects like Bicification and ENCom. Her work integrates quantitative methods with policy analysis, addressing challenges in both global north and south contexts.
Saurabh Amin is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also serves as the Edmund K. Turner Professor and Undergraduate Officer. He is a Principal Investigator at the Laboratory of Information and Decision Systems and holds affiliations with the Operations Research Center and the Center for Computational Science and Engineering. His educational background includes: B.Tech. 2002, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee M.S. 2004, University of Texas (UT) Austin Ph.D. 2011, University of California (UC) Berkeley Saurabh Amin's research focuses on the design and control of infrastructure systems using game theory and optimization in networks. His work spans three main areas: resilient network control, information systems and incentive design, and optimal resource allocation in large-scale infrastructure systems. By concentrating on critical infrastructure domains including highway transportation, electric power distribution, and urban water networks, his research develops innovative theory and tools to enhance system performance against both stochastic and adversarial disruptions. His approach involves modeling cyber-physical interactions in infrastructures to assess vulnerabilities, developing detection and response tools for failures at various scales, and designing economic incentive schemes that improve aggregate public good while accounting for dependencies and private information among strategic entities. Amin's work bridges mathematical systems theory with practical civil engineering applications, creating a rigorous theoretical foundation for infrastructure resilience that addresses diverse failure mechanisms from natural disasters to deliberate malicious actions. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on decarbonization of energy systems, resilient infrastructure planning under climate uncertainty, optimization methods for complex networked systems, and game-theoretic approaches to sustainable infrastructure management. His work increasingly integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques with traditional control theory to address contemporary challenges in infrastructure resilience and sustainability. The research shows a clear trajectory toward addressing climate change impacts on infrastructure systems while maintaining economic efficiency and operational reliability. Professor Amin has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Common Ground Excellence in Teaching Award, 2025 HSCC Test-of-Time Award, 2024 MIT CEE, Distinguished Service and Leadership Award, 2023 Samuel M. Seegal Prize (SoE) – inspiring students in pursuing and achieving excellence, 2022 Earll M. Murman for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising, 2022 C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute Research Award, 2020 MIT, Ole Madsen Mentoring Award, 2020 MIT, Energy Initiative Research Award, 2020 National Academy of Engineering, China-America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium speaker, 2019 MIT, Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor, 2015-2018 Google Faculty Research Award, 2015 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2015 Siebel Energy Institute Research Award, 2015 MIT, Solomon Buchsbaum AT&T Research Fund Award, 2012 Professor Amin has been actively involved in significant research projects including the C3.ai DTI project on Causal Reasoning for Real-Time Attack Identification in Cyber-Physical Systems and another on Learning in Routing Games for Sustainable Electromobility. He serves as the chief scientist on multi-institutional NSF grants, including the $9 million Foundations of Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) project. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as 1.008 Engineering for a Sustainable World, 1.104 Sensing and Intelligent Systems, 1.020 Engineering Sustainability: Analysis and Design, and 1.208 Resilient Networks. As Undergraduate Officer, he plays a key role in shaping the educational experience for civil and environmental engineering students at MIT. Professor Amin leads the Resilient Infrastructure Networks Lab at MIT, where his team develops theoretical foundations and practical tools for infrastructure resilience. The lab focuses on the intersection of control theory, game theory, and optimization applied to cyber-physical infrastructure systems. Current research directions include pandemic-resilient urban mobility and hurricane-resilient smart grid operations, reflecting the lab's commitment to addressing pressing societal challenges through rigorous systems engineering approaches.
Mattias Tydén is a Senior Lecturer at Stockholm University's Department of History, where he received his doctorate in 2002. He previously served as an associate professor at Uppsala University's Hugo Valentin Center (formerly the Center for Multiethnic Research) and has been a researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies in Stockholm and Linköping University's Department of History. His research focuses on key aspects of Swedish modern history including: Racism as an idea and policy, particularly examining eugenics and sterilization programs Evolution of the welfare state and its early challenges Migrant and refugee issues in historical perspective Sweden's response to the Holocaust Post-war international aid development His most recent major publication, En svindlande uppgift. Sverige och biståndet 1945-1975 (2021), explores Sweden's role in international development assistance during the formative post-war decades, co-authored with Annika Berg and Urban Lundberg.
Malgorzata Blicharska is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, affiliated with the Department of Geosciences and the Institute for Research on Conflicts of Interest in Sustainable Social Transformation. Her work spans multiple research domains focused on sustainable natural resource management and policy implementation. Dr. Blicharska's research focuses on sustainable development with expertise in ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, climate change governance, and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus. She integrates social science perspectives with environmental management, examining policy implementation and stakeholder engagement in conservation initiatives. Her work includes extensive research on urban ponds, recreational fisheries, and nature-based solutions, particularly focusing on ponds and wetlands as key components of sustainable landscape management. Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on transdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges, with growing focus on nature-based solutions, drought vulnerability in forested regions, and governance aspects of implementing the WEFE nexus concept. Her work increasingly addresses justice dimensions in environmental management and stakeholder engagement in policy implementation. LANDPATHS: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency-funded program on multifunctional landscapes (coordinator) PONDERFUL: Horizon 2020 project on pond biodiversity and ecosystem services (WP lead) NEXOGENESIS: Horizon 2020 project on WEFE nexus policy integration (WP lead) Wet-Kit: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency project on wetland optimization PUDDLE-JUMP: Formas-funded project on small artificial waterbodies
Markus Grillitsch is Professor in the Department of Human Geography at Lund University and Director of CIRCLE (Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy). His work spans EU member states, transition economies, and developing countries with focus on spatial transformation processes. His research interests include: Economic Geography and Innovation Studies Regional Development and Knowledge Institutions Place-Based Leadership and Institutional Entrepreneurship Network Analysis and Policy Implementation Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on energy justice transitions, innovation policy limitations, and multi-scale inequality analysis. His work connects theoretical frameworks with empirical studies of regional diversification and agency-structure dynamics. Key recurring themes include sustainable development pathways, capabilities approaches, and institutional transformation processes across diverse geographical contexts. Current research projects include: Multi-level learning journeys for green and just regional transformations (Vinnova-funded) Economic resilience through Swedish hidden champions study Circular value chains and policy dynamics research Klimatneutrala städer 2030 urban climate initiative Grillitsch's work actively contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through research on economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, and climate action. His fingerprint analysis shows strongest connections to Innovation (100%), Knowledge (93%), and Regional Development (66%) research domains.
Giuliano Di Baldassarre is a Professor of Hydrology and Environmental Analysis at the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University , Sweden. He serves as Head of Division for LUVAL (Air, Water and Landscape Sciences) and directs the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS) (2016–2025). His work bridges water, environment, and society through interdisciplinary methods , focusing on disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development. Education : Details not explicitly provided in the text. His research examines feedbacks between human activities and hydrological processes , including floods, droughts, and reservoir management . Key themes include social-ecological systems , inequalities in water crises , and policy implications of hydrological extremes . He has pioneered sociohydrology and human-water system modeling . Recent articles highlight global drought-flood interactions , urban water inequality , climate service maladaptation , and sociohydrological modeling . His work spans Nature Sustainability , Science Advances , and Hydrological Sciences Journal . Scientific Awards : International Hydrology Prize (Volker Medal) Plinius Medal (EGU) Witherspoon Lecture Award (AGU) European Research Council Consolidator Grant He led Panta Rhei - Everything Flows (2013–2022), IAHS’s global initiative on water-society interactions. Current efforts include transdisciplinary praxis and climate risk reduction frameworks .
Sven Werner is a Senior Professor at Halmstad University's Academy of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability. His expertise lies in district heating and cooling systems, with a focus on decarbonization, energy efficiency, and fourth/fifth generation technologies. He has authored foundational textbooks, such as Energiförsörjning: En introduktion till vårt energisystem , and contributed to international platforms like DHC+ and the IEA's Low-Temperature District Heating Annex. His research includes pioneering the concept of 'Fourth Generation District Heating' and analyzing global heating/cooling demands. Key achievements include over 50 short courses for industry professionals and presentations across 20 countries. Current projects include a book on the world history of district heating. Research Highlights: Low-temperature systems, renewable integration, and thermal storage. Impact: Most-cited article on district heating (Annex X Final Report, 2014), cited every six hours in 2021. International Contributions: Co-developed the Pan-European Thermal Atlas (PETA) and advised the EU Energy Council on energy efficiency. Werner's work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing practical solutions for sustainable energy systems. His publications span journals, conference papers, and policy guides, addressing topics like heat distribution costs, industrial heat recovery, and smart grid technologies.
Anastasia Girshina is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Finance at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) and Deputy Director at MiDA (the Institute for Micro Data at SSE & SHoF). She also serves as a Research Fellow at the Swedish House of Finance. Her research focuses on household finance, real estate finance, and applied microeconomics, with emphasis on gender disparities in wealth accumulation, fiscal policy impacts, and behavioral finance. Previously, Girshina held a Postdoctoral Fellowship and worked as an Economist at the Luxembourg Central Bank’s Financial Stability Department. Her work has explored topics such as peer effects in stock market participation, housing affordability through tax subsidies, and gender differences in real estate returns. Key achievements include winning a prize for her collaborative study on housing affordability and tax subsidies (2022). Her research often intersects policy design, wealth dynamics, and behavioral insights, with ongoing projects on financial intermediation competition and herding in financial markets. Girshina collaborates with institutions like MiDA and SHoF, leveraging microdata for policy-relevant analysis. Her academic contributions span journals and conferences, with a focus on bridging theoretical models with real-world economic challenges.
