Mattias Svensson is the new Director of studies for the doctoral studies programme at MedH
Hi there Mattias! Tell us, which job responsibilities do you regard as being to be most important for your position as Director of studies?
Enhancing the quality of the doctoral education and providing all doctoral students at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge with equal access to a high-quality research environment and a centre of excellence. Providing support and offering academic supervisors and doctoral students the proper assistance they require in the event of any issues arising is also an essential integral part of our tasks.
Is there anything new going on regarding the doctoral educational programme?
Yes in fact. Among other things, we have established a Research Education Committee (board for third-cycle educational programmes) with 4-5 researchers and a student representative who will review the establishment of new doctoral positions and individual study plans (ISP) for third-cycle studies at the Department. The Board is there to provide support to the Director of Studies and in particular examines the scientific aspects of proposed new doctoral projects. The Research Education Committee replaces the former Admissions Committee.
Doctoral students will also be invited to a meeting with the Director of Studies to discuss their project during the first annual review session. In addition we will introduce a symposium where doctoral students can discuss a specific topic and obtain useful feedback. I am currently planning an appropriate structure for this symposium.
What research are you personally engaged with presently?
I am a research team leader at the Center for Infectious Medicine - CIM. The research focuses on recreating human tissue structures in in vitro systems (artificial tissue produced in the laboratory) that can be adapted to respond to specific biological questions related to infectious diseases primarily above all. This includes studies on tissue-specific responses to lung and skin infection. As its objective, the research activity aims to identify disease signatures and biomarkers that possibly can be used for personalised therapy, as well as to develop clinical decision support tools in infectious diseases.
What is the easiest way to get in contact with you?
Via email: mattias.svensson@ki.se or via Ulrika Markne ulrika.markne@ki.se the Department’s Educational Administrator.
You can also visit the Department’s website for the doctoral studies programme where answers to many frequently asked questions are available.
A little bit about Mattias
Background: Received a doctoral degree from Lund University in 2000. Post-doc work at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (2001-2004). Actively engaged as a researcher and research group leader at CIM (since 2004).
Resides: In a house in Tullinge with his wife and youngest son (his oldest son has already moved away from home).
And occupies his leisure time with: Anything to do with food. Likes to cook himself; but doesn’t mind enjoying a meal at a good restaurant. Likes go out and pick berries, fruits, mushrooms in the wild – raw materials that can be used in cooking. And is equally happy to be outdoors, in nature in a forest or on a lake, as having some ”fix-it project” going on at home. Also likes jogging, skiing and spending time at his summer home in Östergötland.