Head of institute and governing board appointed for UUniFI

UUniFI is a new type of research initiative for Uppsala University. The aim is to create a University-wide, internationally leading research environment that facilitates the pooling of excellence around challenge-driven, boundary-crossing research. The vision is to establish conditions for original and excellent research through new inter- and multidisciplinary collaborations.

Under the UUniFI umbrella, five thematic research institutes have been established, one of which, the Uppsala University Conflicting Objectives Research Nexus (UUniCORN), is already operating. A sixth institute will focus on knowledge and learning about inter- and multidisciplinarity and will build on the activities conducted at the Centre for Integrated Research on Culture and Society (CIRCUS).

Governing board

The University Board established UUniFI in June 2025 and in the same month the Vice-Chancellor appointed an interim UUniFI governing board. The interim governing board will be replaced by a full governing board from 1 January 2026, following a decision by the Vice-Chancellor on 7 October 2025.

“I look forward to working with the governing board to enable Uppsala University to strengthen its role as a global actor by responding to societal challenges with boundary-crossing, excellent research,” says Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University.

The governing board will serve a three-year term and consists of the following members:

• Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
• Joakim Palme, Vice Rector, Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Mats Larhed, Vice-Rector, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy
• Charlotte Platzer Björkman, Vice-Rector, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology
• Anna Lindström, Department of Scandinavian Languages 
• Marika Nestor, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology
• Giuliano Di Baldassarre, Department of Earth Sciences
• Charlie Gullström, Adjunct Professor of Circular Economy at Chalmers University of Technology, Research and Innovation Strategist at Sweco Architects 
• Gustaf Arrhenius, Professor of Practical Philosophy, Director of the Institute for Futures Studies
• A student representative selected by students for a one-year term

Head of institute

On 6 October, the interim governing board appointed Tobias Sjöblom, Professor at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, as UUniFI’s head of institute.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Tobias Sjöblom to the position of Head of Institute for UUniFI,” Hagfeldt says. “With his substantial experience of research management and great commitment, UUniFI will have a leader who can realise the vision the University has established.”

The role runs for three years on a half-time basis, with Sjöblom taking up his new responsibilities on 1 December 2025.

“UUniFI breaks down disciplinary boundaries and creates the conditions for new interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research of the highest calibre,” Sjöblom enthuses. “We will strengthen key research and increase the University’s competitiveness in the fields addressed by the research institutes. I look forward to leading UUniFi towards success, with scientific excellence as our guiding principle.”

Four directors currently being sought

Concurrently with these decisions, four researchers are being sought for the roles of directors to lead and develop the remaining four UUniFI research institutes on

• migration
• precision health
• green energy transition
• AI.

The directors will be placed directly under the now appointed Head of Institute for UUniFI. Read more about the call for applications, which has a closing date of 24 October 2025.

Anders Berndt