Moving the faculty forward together

Thomas Wågberg and Karolina Broman, dean and deputy dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

ImageMattias Pettersson

On 1 July, Thomas Wågberg took office as dean and Karolina Broman as deputy dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology. Together with the faculty board, they form the faculty’s highest academic leadership and are responsible for developing its core activities: education, research and collaboration.

Both are alumni of Umeå University. Thomas studied physics, while Karolina trained as an upper secondary school teacher in chemistry and biology. For the past eight years, Thomas has been head of the Department of Physics while continuing his research in nanomaterials and materials physics, with applications in areas such as hydrogen technologies and solar cells. He also has a strong passion for teaching.

“Meeting students gives me an incredible amount of energy; it is one of the things I enjoy most,” he says.

For Karolina Broman, teaching has always been the common thread. She worked as an upper secondary school teacher for five years before pursuing a doctorate and becoming a researcher in chemistry education. In 2017 she became a member of the faculty board, and from 2022 she served as associate dean with responsibility for education and educational collaboration.

Their experiences have given them both valuable insight into the organisation and a wide network of contacts. They describe the faculty as well-functioning and humbly step into their new assignments as dean and deputy dean.

Strengths of the faculty

“The faculty’s strength lies in its staff and students. In addition, the STEM strategy provides political incentives to work with subjects linked to our faculty. Our programmes are in demand, and we attract talented staff,” says Karolina Broman.

We need to work to put Umeå University on the map and compete for the most prestigious grants.

Thomas Wågberg highlights the faculty’s development in recent years:

“The faculty has been on a very positive trajectory, not only thanks to its strong breadth but also its excellence, which we aim to develop further. We want to achieve breakthrough research – the major discoveries that truly make a difference in the world.”

He also points to the international mix of colleagues and the many collaborations between the faculty’s research groups, departments and centres that create a dynamic research and educational environment.

Challenges and ambitions

The appointments as dean and deputy dean cover 75 per cent of their working time and also include serving as chair and vice-chair of the faculty board. The board makes decisions on issues such as finances, organisation and administration.

While research and education are Thomas Wågberg’s and Karolina Broman’s respective main areas of responsibility, they will work closely together. On the research side, Thomas wants to continue strengthening the faculty’s competitiveness.

“Funding is a challenge; costs are rising faster than resources. We need to work to put Umeå University on the map and compete for the most prestigious grants. In five years, I hope every department will have one or more projects funded by an ERC grant,” he says.

I want to talk about education not only in terms of what we teach, i.e. the subjects, but also how and why we teach.

Karolina Broman, in turn, wants to raise the profile of educational matters within the university.

“I want to talk about education not only in terms of what we teach, i.e. the subjects, but also how and why we teach,” she says.

A team effort

For both Thomas and Karolina, the appointments are an opportunity to develop and to work closely with others. They are curious and enthusiastic about the coming four years of their mandate.

“Above all, I am a team player. It feels both challenging and rewarding to work for the whole faculty,” says Thomas.

Karolina agrees:

“The faculty is a ‘we’. It feels reassuring to take on this role together with Thomas, knowing that we are both rooted in the core activities.”

Most of all, they look forward to working with issues they are truly passionate about.

“To be able to do something so meaningful is a privilege. I am truly grateful for it,” says Karolina Broman.