Chalmers doctoral degree conferment ceremony took place in the Gothenburg Concert Hall, beautifully framed by light functionalist architecture and floral arrangements in shades of blue, purple, and orange.
Accompanied by Jerker Johansson’s newly composed processional music, the day's main participants entered and took their places on the stage.
President Martin Nilsson Jacobi opened the ceremony by praising the efforts of the new doctors, comparing their achievement to a demanding yet rewarding journey—one that requires persistence, curiosity and endurance. He concluded with words that felt especially relevant in our time:
"You are ambassadors for a fact-based viewpoint on the world."
This year’s Conferrer, Filip Johnsson, Professor of Energy Systems, gave a short lecture on electrification as a key strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, particularly in heavy industry and transport. By replacing fossil fuels with electricity, society can make significant climate gains. He also pointed to important drivers within EU climate policy, not least the Fit for 55 package, and the need to reach international climate targets.
Conferrer Filip Johnsson then initiated the formal doctoral degree conferment ceremony. Since 1940, Chalmers has conferred 225 honorary doctorates and approximately 4,000 doctoral degrees. At this year’s ceremony, four new honorary doctors, 95 doctors, and 20 jubilee doctors were added to that number.
This year’s honorary doctors all have connections to Chalmers in various ways:
Babak Hassibi, Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), was awarded an honorary doctorate for decades of multidisciplinary research in electrical engineering, telecommunications, control theory, computer science, and AI.
Herre van der Zant, Professor at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at TU Delft, received his honorary doctorate for pioneering work in nanoelectronics and nanomechanics. He is also a member of the Area of Advance Nano External Advisory Board.
Julia Tjus, Professor and Director of the Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics Center at Ruhr University Bochum, was awarded an honorary doctorate for groundbreaking contributions in astroparticle physics, especially in neutrino astronomy and research on cosmic radiation.
Marcus Wandt is a test pilot and Chief Innovation Officer at Saab in Linköping. Selected as an ESA astronaut in 2022, he has been employed as a project astronaut since 2023.
Doctor promota Ann-Britt Schäfer, from the Department of Life Sciences, represented this year’s doctoral graduates with her lecture Characterisation of the in vivo mechanisms of action of cell envelope-targeting antibiotics, addressing how antibiotics act on bacterial cell envelopes and why this is crucial in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
"By 2050, if nothing changes, approximately 10 million people will die every year due to antimicrobial resistance."
Student Union President Sebastian Wikström thanked the doctoral graduates in a speech that highlighted the value of deep academic engagement and acknowledged their significant contributions as teachers.
The Supervisor of the Year Award was presented to Yinan Yu, Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. She received the award for her leadership, marked by a commitment to fostering an inclusive research group, composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, transparent processes, and an open-door policy that fosters a safe and supportive atmosphere for doctoral students.
Music during the ceremony was performed by the Chalmers Orchestra, conducted by Anders Ottosson. Entertainment was provided by soprano Julia Lindgren, the trio Duratrion, and the Chalmers Choir. Naturally, William Chalmers also made an appearance, portrayed by Philip Wramsby, and as compere of the day, Catrin Lindberg.
The day concluded with a banquet at the student union restaurant on the Johanneberg campus, featuring performances by both ExSpexors and Duratrion. Evening speakers included President Martin Nilsson Jacobi, Conferrer Filip Johnsson, Jubilee Doctor Hans Björnsson, Doctor Promotus Adrian Bumann, and Deputy County Governor Jörgen Peters.
The Chalmers Pyrotechnics Committee provided a spectacular fireworks display set to music, followed by dancing to the sounds of Jazzklubb 11.
Photograph: Anna-Lena Lundqvist
Honorary Doctors 2025
Babak Hassibi, Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Herre van der Zant, Professor at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at TU Delft.
Julia Tjus, Professor and Director of the Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics Center at Ruhr University Bochum.
Marcus Wandt, ESA astronaut, test pilot and innovation manager at Saab in Linköping.
Promoti 2025
Adrian Bumann, PhD in Science, Technology Management and Economics
Alexander Caut, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Alla Toktarova, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Amanda Sörensen Ristinmaa, PhD in Science, Life Sciences
Anandh Ramesh Babu, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Angelica Avella, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Ann-Britt Schäfer, PhD, Life Sciences
Anna Hjorth, PhD in Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Anna Lunde Hermansson, PhD, Maritime Studies
Annija Stepulane, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Anok Babu Nagaram, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Arun Kumar, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Björn Altenburger, PhD, Physics
Bowen Jiang, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering
Çağlar Tozluoğlu, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Carlos Tomé Cortiñas, PhD, Computer Science and Engineering
Chahat Mandviwala, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Chi Yan Law, PhD, Space, Earth and Environment
Chia-Jung Hsu, PhD, Space, Earth and Environment
Daniel Gren, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Dimitra Lappa, PhD in Science, Life Sciences
Divya Jayasankar, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Ebrahim Balouji, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering (Signals and Systems)
Ekaterina Deriushkina, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience, in absentia
Emil Adiels Lundberg, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Emma Larsson, PhD in Science, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Emmy Järsvall, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Erik Josefsson, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Ezgi Ceren Boz Noyan, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Felicia Eliasson Störner, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Frida Hermansson, PhD in Science, Energi
Govin Induchoodan, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Gustav Eriksson, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Gustav Lindwall, PhD in Science, Mathematical Sciences
Hamdy Michael Ayas, PhD in Science, Computer Science and Engineering
Hampus Renberg Nilsson, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Hans Liwång, PhD in Science, Maritime Studies
Heng Zhu, PhD in Science, Maritime Studies
Ida Karlsson, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Jacob Klintberg, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering (Signals and Systems)
Jakob Lindqvist, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering (Signals and Systems)
Jie Zhu, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Jing Chen, PhD in Science, Computer Science and Engineering
Johannes Tornborg, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering, in absentia
Jonathan Fahlbeck, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Jonathan Ullmark, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Jozef Hendrikus Egbertus Somhorst, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Juan Valle Rodriguez, PhD in Science, Life Sciences
Julia Orlovska, PhD in Science, Industrial and Materials Science
Junjie Li, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Karl Vilén, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Kim Auth, PhD in Science, Applied Mechanics
Konstantinos Papadopoulos, PhD, Physics
Linda Pipkorn, PhD in Science, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences
Malin Hane Hagström, PhD in Science, Industrial and Materials Science
Margareth Sidarta, PhD, Life Sciences
Martin Karlsmo, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Matthías Páll Gissurarson, PhD in Science, Computer Science and Engineering
Moad Al-Dbissi, PhD in Science, Nuclear Engineering
Mohammad Ahmadpanah, PhD in Science, Computer Science and Engineering
Mohammad Salahi Nezhad, PhD in Science, Applied Mechanics
Morgan Görtz, PhD, Mathematical Sciences
Nasrin Nemati, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Niklas Åkerblom, PhD in Science, Computer Science and Engineering
Patrik Ollas, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering
Paul David Drenning, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Pratheeba Chanda Nagarajan, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Rasmus Larsson, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Rasmus Ringström, PhD in Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Ritukesh Bharali, PhD in Science, Applied Mechanics
Robert Jonsson, PhD in Science, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Sanjay Somanath, PhD in Science, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Sebastian Karlsson, PhD in Science, Energi
Sepideh Zokaei, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Shima Ghasemi, PhD, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Sigma Dolins, PhD, Industrial and Materials Science (Human-Technology-Design)
Simon Öberg, PhD in Science, Energi
Smaragda Maria Argyri, PhD in Science, Materials Science
Stefan Kojchev, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering (Signals and Systems)
Sudharsan Vasudevan, PhD in Science, Thermofluid Dynamics
Thérèse Hjorth, PhD, Life Sciences
Tommy Fujita Tram, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering, in absentia
Ula von Mentzer, PhD, Life Sciences
Victor Purnomo, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Vinh Tu, PhD in Science, Applied Mechanics
Vivekendra Singh, PhD in Science, Applied Mechanics, in absentia
Wera Ellinor Linnea Larsson, PhD in Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Xiaoyun Li, PhD in Science, Energy and Environment
Yibo Wu, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering
Yingqi Zhang, PhD, Electrical Engineering (Signals and Systems)
Yingxin Feng, PhD, Materials Science
Yu Ge, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering
Zhaorui Zang, PhD in Science, Electrical Engineering
Ziling Zeng, PhD, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Åsa Burman, PhD in Science, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in absentia
Jubilee Doctors 2025
Bert Allard, Nuclear Chemistry
Per-Olof Aronsson, Nuclear Chemistry
Hans Björnsson, Building Economics and Construction Management
Hans Broberg, Solid Mechanics
Magnus Erickson, Organic Chemistry
Lars-Erik Grähs, Chemical Engineering Design
Krister Holmberg, Organic Chemistry
Roland Kadefors, Electrical Engineering
Bengt Karlsson, Mathematical Physics
Birger Karlsson, Mechanical Engineering
Lars Larsson, Applied Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Tomas Lefvert, Reactor Physics
Jan Lundmark, Industrial Organisation
Magnus Månson, Mathematical Physics
Mart Mägi, Mechanical Engineering
Ingemar Olefjord, Engineering Materials, specialising in Metallic Materials
Jan-Ove Palmberg, Machine Elements
Göran Ågren, Mathematical Physics
Lennart Ågårdh, Highway and Water Engineering
Roland Örtengren, Applied Electronics (degree in Engineering Physics)
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