Uppsala University makes major commitment to quality and renewal

“Our University is already a world leader or maintains the highest international class in a number of fields, and we are now strengthening these areas further. In this way Uppsala University can help create tomorrow’s prosperity in Sweden and around the world,” says Vice-Chancellor Anders Hallberg.

In 2007 Uppsala University carried out an evaluation of all its research, performed by international experts. A large number of research projects were judged to be “world leaders” or of a “high international standard.” The University is now launching a comprehensive strategic commitment of SEK 80–100 million per year for three years. This funding will go to the research areas deemed by the research assessment to maintain a very high standard in an international perspective and to fields that show great potential for the future. Roughly half of sum is the vice-chancellor’s commitment, following consultation with the heads of the Disciplinary Domains, while the rest will be allocated by the Disciplinary Domains and the Faculty of Educational Sciences together. The funding covers the period 2008-2010, after which time the funds will be at the disposal of the respective Disciplinary Domains. Any funding for 2008 that cannot be used this year, owing to the slow process of recruitment, can be used for other purposes, such as infrastructure investments of various sorts.

In the arts and social sciences, 22 new research positions will be created, along with two visiting professorships, in computational linguistics and Byzantinology. Other areas receiving new posts include psychology, economics, peace and conflict research, philosophy, and textile studies. The funds will also be used to make it possible for the Department of Law to join¬as the only Swedish university¬a network of excellence linking Europe’s most prominent universities in the field of the effects of European integration.

In medicine and pharmacy, some 30 new positions will be created, including a professorship in comparative genomics and a lectureship in glycobiology. Examples of other areas receiving reinforcement are tumor biology, cell transplantation, diabetes research, and drug development.

In science and technology, nearly 40 new posts will be added in fields like genomics and evolution, molecular electronics, system biology, ecology, and climate research. A new professorship will be created in the field of embedded systems. The Domain also intends to create several new centers, including one for applied mathematics and one for diamond research.

Educational sciences will receive a total of SEK 3.4 million, which will mainly go to research in the sociology of education and culture. Besides new positions, comprehensive databases used in research are in need of updating.

The new positions, which will be advertised during the spring, also represent a commitment to younger researchers. The number of positions available to those completing their doctorates is limited, which presents an obstacle for young researchers wishing to advance their careers-a much discussed problem in academia.

Link to the evaluation Quality and Renewal, Q&R: http://usxs.fysik.uu.se/projectweb/451bc17f63905/Home%20Eng.html