The Wallenberg Foundations

Wallenberg Academy Fellows, the career program for young researchers launched by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in 2012, provides long-term funding for young, promising researchers from all academic fields.

Background Wallenberg Scholars

The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation funds two programs for free research aimed at individual researchers: Wallenberg Academy Fellows and Wallenberg Scholars for senior researchers.

Read more on the KAW web

Wallenberg Academy Fellows is the largest private investment in young researchers in Sweden. In addition to providing the best young researchers with long-term resources that allow them to concentrate on their research, the programme contributes to the increased internationalisation of the Swedish research environment.

In 2023, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation appointed 31 Wallenberg Academy Fellows. Eight of the outstanding young researchers awarded these prestigious funds are working at, or will start at, Stockholm University. Depending on the subject area, the funds cover between SEK 6.5 and 15.6 million per researcher over five years. After the first period, it is possible to apply for a further five years of funding.

With eight Wallenberg Academy Fellows granted, Stockholm University is the higher education institution that over the years has been granted the most Wallenberg Academy Fellows in a single year.

The Stockholm University Wallenberg Academy Fellows 2023.

The Stockholm University Wallenberg Academy Fellows 2023.

Natural Sciences

  • Birgit Wild, Department of Environmental Sciences, Stockholm University
  • Foivos Perakis, Department of Physics, Stockholm University
  • Jessica Stephenson, University of Pittsburgh, USA (Stockholm University)
  • Azadeh Fattahi, Durham University, UK (Stockholm University)
  • Ilaria Piazza, Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany (Stockholm University)

Technology

  • Mika Sipponen, Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University.

Humanities

  • Orri Stefánsson, Department of Philosophy at Stockholm University and the Institute for Futures Studies and the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study
  • Mateja Hajdinjak, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, (Stockholm University)

Eight Wallenberg Academy Fellows to Stockholm University

New Wallenberg Scholars at Stockholm University

Photo of the new Wallenberg Scholars at Stockholm University.

New Wallenberg Scholars at Stockholm University. From top left: Emil Johansson Bergholtz, Annica Ekman, Jonas Tallberg, Martin Jakobsson and Erik Lindahl.

Read articles about their research here

  • Annica Ekman, Professor of Meteorology: Studies of clouds in warmer polar climates
  • Erik Lindahl, Professor of Biophysics: Investigating the structure and function of membrane proteins
  • Emil Johansson Bergholtz, Professor of Theoretical Physics: Basic topological research explaining the quantum world
  • Martin Jakobsson, Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics: Seabeds are mapped for better understanding of glaciers
  • Jonas Tallberg, Professor of Political Science: How countries' political systems affect international cooperation

Existing scholars receiving extended funding

List of the 118 researchers who have been awarded grants

Contact

Questions about research financing at Stockholm University? Contact The Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services.

Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services

Last updated: 2025-12-02

Source: Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services