Mattias Marklund is just stepping into his new role as Head of the Department at Physics. He’s passionate about problem-solving and creating a workplace where employees feel safe. He’s also not shy about aiming high; he'd love to see the department become the best physics department in Sweden.
Several things drew Mattias Marklund to apply for the role of Head of the Department of Physics. One of the main reasons was that this kind of academic leadership felt both exciting and unexplored for him.
“The role comes with an overarching strategic responsibility and involves being part of the communication between the faculty, the department, and the university management. I hope to bring the department together as one – meaning that all parts, from teaching and research to administrative support, work towards the same goals. I want us to be an outstanding physics department, both for students and researchers, and to ensure that the faculty, which is so important in a university setting, works well alongside the line management and operational support,” says Mattias Marklund.
He also highlights that he was inspired by Chalmers’ vision of becoming a world-class university within twenty years.
“I think it’s great when a university has a clear, shared vision of what it wants to achieve. Chalmers has a relatively homogeneous faculty in terms of the subjects represented, which might make it easier to rally around a common goal. How that’s then implemented at departmental level... well, that’s where the Head comes in, I think – by being attentive and creative.”
No stranger to Chalmers
Mattias Marklund is far from new to Chalmers. He conducted research here both between 2000 and 2004, as well as 2013 and 2019, after moving from Umeå University, where he completed his PhD in theoretical physics in 1998 and, in 2006, became the university’s youngest professor. He previously led the division Theoretical Physics at Chalmers Physics’ department, then moving on to the University of Gothenburg. He will continue to have a small affiliation and his research group there, while one of his postdocs will now be based at Chalmers.
“My background is really in mathematics and general relativity. My doctoral thesis dealt with a mathematical problem in Einstein’s theory of gravity. Since then, I’ve changed focus a few times, researching areas closer to astrophysics and nonlinear optics. These days, I study interactions between extremely strong laser pulses and matter and what we can use that for.”
You can read more about his research in a profile from 2018.
Has worked with research excellence
In recent years, Marklund has been conducting research one day a week while serving as Secretary General for Natural and Engineering Sciences at the Swedish Research Council.
“I’ve worked a lot with the concept of excellence there, and I think that’s something I can bring into the processes here at Chalmers and at the Department of Physics. The term ‘excellence’ is a bit fuzzy, and each field needs to define what it means for them. Excellence in teaching isn’t the same as excellence in research, for example. But it’s still useful to have a shared vision of what excellence could look like. At the Research Council, I also worked across disciplines on interdisciplinary initiatives, which gave me a good sense of the different challenges faced by different kinds of activities, and how there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving excellence.”
Enjoys solving problems
When asked what he’s most looking forward to in his new role, Mattias Marklund answers without hesitation: working with all the staff at the department.
“To hear about the challenges they face in their divisions or in teaching, or any operational issues. I really enjoy solving problems, it’s one of my biggest driving forces.”
He emphasises the importance of creating a sense of safety at work, where people feel free to speak their minds.
“I also think it’s important to allow things to take time. I’m not planning any major, immediate changes at the department, I believe that change needs to happen with people, so that it feels natural. I need to learn the ins and outs of the organisation and really listen to what people think, feel and where they come from. Otherwise, you can’t make good changes.”
“I feel that the department is starting from a strong position. There are no acute financial issues, for example. A lot of exciting new researchers have joined us, and we need to create the best possible environment for them so they’ll want to stay and do their fantastic work here. And we also need to take care of the people who’ve been here for a long time and have built up their activities during the years.”
Sweden’s best physics department
As for which issues he sees as key to focus on, Mattias Marklund says those will likely take shape over time. But he does mention a few already:
“How do we keep the best students in Sweden choosing Chalmers and the physics department? That’s an important question. And how do we create strong connections between our work here and the research infrastructures available around Sweden? I think it’s crucial that we actively build links with cutting-edge research infrastructure.”
Another important point, he adds, is ensuring good communication between administrative support and the academic staff, as we are all working towards the same goal.”
“We should have a shared ambition that points in the same direction as the university’s vision. For the Department of Physics, I think our first goal should be to become the best physics department in Sweden. That’s a great goal to aim for. Then, of course, you have to define what you mean by ‘best’ – which parameters do you use to tell that story? That’s not always straightforward, but highly relevant and exciting.”
Contact
- Head of Department, Physics