Professors’ portraits

26 January 2026

Professor’s portrait: From childhood creativity to sustainable design research

As a child, Lars Eriksson built small inventions at home with his father. Today, he is Professor of Industrial Design at Halmstad University, researching how we experience surfaces and materials, and ...

15 December 2025

Professor’s portrait: “Everyone should have the opportunity to grow”

For Pia Ulvenblad, newly appointed Professor at Halmstad University, all research begins with people. She wants to understand what drives us, which values shape our choices, and how knowledge can be t...

26 September 2025

Professor’s portrait: He’s at the forefront of biometrics research

How can we use eye, face and fingerprint recognition in areas such as mobile security and border control while ensuring that the technology complies with GDPR? Fernando Alonso-Fernandez, newly appoint...

9 September 2025

Professor’s portrait: The path towards a better world – one solution at a time

Henrik Barth is solution-oriented – to the extent that he has devoted his entire research career to tackling some of society’s most complex challenges. As a new Professor of Innovation Science at Halm...

5 September 2025

Professor’s portrait: She has laid the foundation for social work in schools in Sweden

What can schools do to prevent social vulnerability? How can social services work against violence in the everyday lives of young people? These are issues that are central to Sara Högdin, Professor of...

4 April 2025

Professor’s portrait: From the University’s first own PhD graduate to one of the most influential scientists in the world

How can autonomous systems and networked robotics help solve some of today ’ s most pressing societal issues? Edison Pignaton de Freitas, newly appointed Professor of Autonomous Systems at Halmst...

24 October 2024

Professor’s portrait: AI to tackle real-world challenges

For over two decades, Carlos N. Silla Jr., newly appointed Professor at Halmstad University, has been researching Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to solve real-world problems. Through h...

21 October 2024

Professor’s portrait: “Research isn’t just about science – it’s about people”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world at a remarkable pace. But how can we ensure that this powerful technology is both trusted and understood by people? At Halmstad University, Professo...

17 October 2024

Professor’s portrait: Ingrid Larsson wants to create ripples on the water

With a background in nursing and a burning interest in strengthening the role of the patient, where the patient takes control of their life and treatment and becomes a co-actor in the care process, In...

14 October 2024

Professor’s portrait: Digital technology creates customised solutions for the future

Ross Friel, recently appointed Professor of Electronics focusing on advanced digital manufacturing at Halmstad University, is researching how digital systems can enhance manufacturing processes. More ...

4 October 2024

Professor’s portrait: Beyond the words – Linnea Gustafsson explores the underlying message of language

Language is alive and reflects our identities and interpersonal relationships. By constantly questioning and exploring the underlying message of language, Linnea Gustafsson, Professor of Swedish Langu...

9 November 2023

“The highest level is when research has political influence”

Professor Emerita of Sport Psychology Natalia Stambulova was the first in the world to study several transitions within the athletic career, including the one from junior to senior sport. After almost...

30 October 2023

Professor's portrait: The passion for poetry is Daniel Möller’s strength

In the small things – a poem about a wedding or a birthday 300 years ago – we can derive a great knowledge of history and people’s everyday lives. That is why occasional poetry is a great interest for...

24 October 2023

Professor’s portrait: Göran Sahlén has studied dragonflies for 40 years

Ever since Göran Sahlén was eight years old, insects have been his great interest – especially dragonflies. For 40 years, he has followed the development of nature with a focus on dragonflies. His dri...

12 October 2023

Professor’s portrait: Stefan Byttner wants more people to learn about AI

Stefan Byttner, newly appointed Professor of Information Technology, has been deep diving into the subject of intelligence and learning since childhood. In addition to building algorithms and increasi...

4 October 2023

Professor’s portrait: Cristofer Englund wants to contribute to a sustainable society

Cristofer Englund has a genuine interest in traffic safety and has dedicated many years researching the field. It was his master’s thesis in computer systems engineering that laid the foundation for h...

3 November 2022

Professor’s portrait: Without water, there is no life

Antonia Liess, recently appointed Professor of Environmental Sciences, focuses her research on maintaining healthy aquatic systems. Her research has always revolved around aquatic systems, except for ...

3 October 2022

Professor’s portrait: “Digitalisation is not an uncontrollable force of nature; it is created by humans”

Digital service innovation is about how digital services are received and create value for users, organisations, and society. Maria Åkesson, Professor of Informatics, study how digitalisation can cont...

8 September 2022

Professor’s portrait: Andreas Ivarsson wants to make a difference where it counts

Andreas Ivarsson, Professor of Psychology, has always had a great interest in sports. As a professor and researcher, he wants to develop various sports federations – together with the activities to ma...

18 November 2021

Professor's portrait: About making money and saving the world at the same time

Fawzi Halila's research deals with sustainable innovations and business models for sustainability and is in the interface between innovation, product development, and sustainable development. Fawzi Ha...

20 October 2021

Professor’s portrait: Our every-day-life is central in research about new technology

Understanding how humans are affected by technology development, and vice versa, is the driving force for Vaike Fors, newly appointed Professor in the unique field of Design Ethnography. “I’m interes...

18 October 2021

Professor’s portrait: “Being a researcher is like being an artist – you create and are passionate about what you do!”

Creating a sustainable society has long engaged Urban Persson, Professor of Renewable Energy Systems at Halmstad University. With his research in district heating, he hopes to contribute with new know...

14 October 2021

Professor’s portrait: Catherine Legrand is passionate about the oceans

Research and innovation are important pieces of the puzzle to contribute to sustainable societal development. Catherine Legrand’s research focus, among other things, is on the potential of microalgae ...

10 September 2021

Professor’s portrait: Sylvana Sofkova Hashemi wants to support teachers in their work

Language in many nuances is important to Sylvana Sofkova Hashemi, new Professor of Digital Learning at Halmstad University. She is interested in the diversity of ways in which not least children and y...

8 September 2021

Professor’s portrait: ”Being a researcher is the most rewarding job I can think of!”

Kristian Widén, Professor of Innovation Science, is driven by a desire to contribute to positive change. With his research on innovations in the construction sector, he hopes to be able to participate...

18 August 2021

Professor’s portrait: Åsa Andersson is trying to crack the code to autoimmune diseases

Every year a number of Swedes are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, MS and rheumatic diseases. It is still unknown why the immune system attacks the body and creates such sit...

23 June 2021

Professor’s Portrait: “Life would be boring without difficult problems”

Slawomir Nowaczyk is a Professor in Machine Learning and his research is about the discovery of interesting patterns and relations in large amounts of data – knowledge that can be used to avoid vehicl...

22 April 2021

Professor’s portrait: Marie Mattsson wants to create a sustainable future

Environmental and climate issues have long engaged Marie Mattsson. Her research is about climate, environment and important societal challenges and how we can learn more about them and understand them...

26 March 2021

Professor’s portrait: Researching the borderland between law, technology, and values

The law says one thing. The average person may have a different opinion. Throw a smartphone or other technology into the mix, and it gets even more exciting. Måns Svensson is a new Professor of Sociol...

1 February 2021

Professor’s portrait: He explores the road towards a sustainable society

Environmentally driven innovation calls for contributions on several different levels: engineering, strategic leadership, and political policy instruments. As newly appointed Professor in Innovation S...

15 December 2020

Professor’s portrait: From hobby to career

Ying Fu, Professor of Applied Electromagnetics, has always been interested in technology and gadgets. It started as a hobby and developed into an academic career with many projects and collaborations....

24 February 2020

Professor’s portrait: Urban Johnson and the story of the academic subject sports psychology

Why do some people manage to come back after a sports injury and others do not – even when the conditions are about the same? That question shaped the research career of Urban Johnson, Professor of Psychology.

10 November 2019

Professor’s portrait: A teaching interest brought Mark Dougherty to Sweden

Vehicle activated signs, artificial intelligence’s inability to forget, and tools to evaluate Parkinson’s disease – these are just a few of the topics that Professor Mark Dougherty has spent his time ...

28 October 2019

Professor’s portrait: A desire to improve the world

Who should have the right to consume when the earth's resources are scarce? How is the welfare state affected by environmental issues and climate change? Human ecology encompasses interdisciplinary pe...

21 October 2019

Professor’s portrait: Helping people live a life they feel good about

Lena-Karin Erlandsson’s field of research is the balance between different types of activities and how they are affected by our health.

11 October 2019

Professor’s portrait: Health promotion and the two parallel missions that the Swedish sports movement is based on

Sport and exercise have always been a natural part of Eva-Carin Lindgren’s life. As a researcher, she has been interested in everything from health promotion among non-physically active adolescents, t...

29 September 2019

Professor’s portrait: Henrika, horses and health

Henrika Jormfeldt, newly appointed Professor of Nursing, likes to walk with horses. It is not just an interest in animals and nature. It also about sustainable health throughout life. Her research sho...

30 April 2019

Professor’s portrait: Contributing to better conditions

From a municipal social worker to a Professor at Halmstad University. Magnus Tideman has changed both workplace and professional title during his career, but his driving force has always remained the ...

11 November 2018

Professor’s portrait: Research performs an important function

The connection between data algorithms and AI (artificial intelligence) has long fascinated Mattias Ohlsson. As newly-appointed Professor of Information Technology, it is a subject that he hopes to be...

24 August 2018

Professor’s portrait: Driven to contribute to something larger

Thorsteinn Rögnvaldsson has worked within the sphere of computer science at Halmstad University since 1996. His interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning was, however, established much ...

27 June 2018

Professor’s portrait: The researcher who wants to teach machines to see

When will we be able to teach robots to see like humans do? That means, to really interpret the surroundings and then make rational decisions. Today, research has not got that far. But Joseph Bigun, P...

20 December 2017

Professor’s portrait: ”My research is fundamentally about people”

Jeaneth Johansson is driven by a passion to meet new people and solve problems. She feels that being a professor is ”the most enjoyable job in the world”, not least because contact with doctoral stude...

30 March 2017

Professor’s portrait: The University’s first professor in Health Innovation

Health promoting innovations supported by digital services have a great potential to improve the health of children and young people. In Jens Nygren’s research, the children participate in the entire ...

16 February 2017

Professor’s portrait: The ethnologist who became digital

Magnus Bergquist was inaugurated as a new Professor at the University’s Academic Ceremony in November. Throughout his working career, he has been interested in collaboration and networking. The recurr...

8 December 2016

Professor’s portrait: Health, health promotion and participation in focus

Health, health promotion and participation in healthcare are Petra Svedberg’s main research areas. She is particularly interested in two vulnerable groups: children and adolescents, and adults with me...