On March 26 the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation presented the 118 Swedish researchers who from this year are part of the Wallenberg Scholars programme. Eleven of these are at Chalmers, four are new from this year and seven has recieved prolonged funding in the new call.
The Wallenberg Scholars programme was initiated in 2009 and aims to provide the country's leading researchers with space for independent research and resources to motivate them to stay in Sweden.
"A significant portion of Swedish research funding is target oriented. With the research programs Wallenberg Academy Fellows and Wallenberg Scholars, we support free basic research," says Sara Mazur, Executive Director of Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Basic research is typically defined as a systematic and methodical curiosity-driven search for new knowledge and ideas without immediate application in mind. Piece by piece, new knowledge is slowly but surely added. Although the primary purpose is not to find applications, basic research has often led to significant and important discoveries resulting in just that. But it also involves developing methods, conducting advanced calculations, and developing technology to interpret and process all collected data.
Four researchers are new in the programme:
Susanne Aalto, professor, Space, Earth and Environment
The Universe and its history can be understood by studying its largest building blocks – the galaxies. Galaxies evolve particularly rapidly when they are embedded in dust and gas, an environment that fuels the formation of new stars and planets or the growth of supermassive black holes. As a Wallenberg Scholar, Susanne Aalto wants to look behind the misty veil of the universe and map out what happens when stars, planets and black holes grow most rapidly, and thus understand why the universe looks the way it does today.
Tünde Fülöp, professor, Physics
Energy research, space physics and materials science – the applications are many in the field of plasma physics, which is the science of hot ionized gases. As a Wallenberg Scholar, Tünde Fülöp will focus on two areas in this field: magnetic fusion plasmas and laser-produced plasmas.
Floriana Lombardi, professor, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
High-temperature superconductors based on copper oxides have been a challenge for researchers for almost 40 years because of their complex physics. As a Wallenberg Scholar, Floriana Lombardi wants to use modern techniques for two-dimensional materials to gain new insights into the complex layers of high-temperature superconductors.
Andrei Sabelfeld, professor, Computer Science and Engineering
Our society increasingly relies on the web not only in the economic and governmental infrastructure but also in the military. Web applications are complex systems under attack from powerful, resourceful and motivated adversaries. As a Wallenberg Scholar, Andrei Sabelfeld sets out to develop a new paradigm of input-aware and database-sensitive web exploration that increases both code coverage and vulnerability detection compared to today's best crawlers and scanners.
Seven researchers are in the programme and receiving renewed funding:
Peter Andrekson, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
A presentation of Peter Andrekson as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Robert Berman, Mathematical Sciences
A presentation of Robert Berman as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Per Delsing, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
A presentation of Per Delsing as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Fredrik Höök, Physics
A presentation of Fredrik Höök as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Kirsten Knudsen, Space, Earth and Environment
A presentation of Kristen Knudsen as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Christian Müller, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
A presentation of Christian Müller as a Wallenberg Scholar.
Pernilla Wittung Stafshede, Life Sciences
A presentation of Pernilla Wittung Stafshede as a Wallenberg Scholar.