"That Anders Nilsson can be recruited from Stanford to Stockholm University, because of the funding from The Swedish Research Council, will strengthen the University’s position within atomic and molecular physics research. Not least, it is important for the development of the free-electron x-ray laser-based research and the coming synchrotron light source MAX IV in Lund", says Vice-Chancellor Astrid Söderbergh Widding.

Anders Nilsson is Professor at Stanford University in California and has been a Visiting Professor at Stockholm University. His group of researchers have published a report about the structure of water, which was widely acclaimed. The findings were selected by Science Magazine as one of the ten most important discoveries of 2004. 

“It is an extraordinary opportunity that Stockholm University and the Swedish Research Council gives to me, to return to Sweden and conduct research in an almost unlimited fashion. This creates the possibility to address questions in science that are very exciting, challenging and even controversial. I will devote these resources to study the fundamental aspects of the structure and dynamics of water and how these are connected to the unique properties of water. Another area of interest is how to follow chemical reactions on surfaces in real time using ultrafast techniques in particular x-ray lasers. We are facing many challenges in the future around energy problems and we will investigate how chemical processes on surfaces have the potential to convert sunlight into useful fuels and to convert fuels to electricity”, says Anders Nilsson.

Anders Nilsson, who takes up his new post in June this year, is looking forward to returning to Sweden after 14 years at Stanford University.

“It will be very exciting to return to my home city, Stockholm. I hope to interact with many other scientists within the university but also in the whole region around Stockholm as well as in Sweden and Europe. I will continue my collaborations with Stanford University and also use the unique facilities in terms of synchrotron radiation and x-ray lasers until MAXIV and XFEL have reached full capacity. I look forward to meet several of my new colleagues at Stockholm University during the coming year”, says Anders Nilsson.