The doctoral programme was created in response to an expressed need from researchers within the Faculty of Science.
‘A doctoral programme in computational science can attract a new group of applicants. These are PhD projects with a strong focus on the development of computational methods, though not necessarily within mathematics,’ says Ullrika Sahlin at CEC, one of the initiators of the programme and Deputy Director of Studies.
The new programme is part of the faculty’s broader strategic investment in computational science. It gives doctoral students the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary education in a field that is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s data-intensive research landscape.
‘Doctoral students will have one foot in application and the other in the development of new computational methods, which fills a gap in our current educational offerings,’ says Tobias Ambjörnsson, Director of Doctoral Studies at CEC.
High demand for computational expertise
The initiative is driven by the rapid increase in data generated by modern research, particularly through advanced measurement techniques that produce large volumes of data. This development has created a demand for new expertise in data processing and analysis. The faculty’s new doctoral programme provides a platform where students can both develop novel computational methods and apply them to various research projects.
Tobias Ambjörnsson notes that several PhD students from other programmes have already chosen to transfer into the new one.
‘There is considerable expertise in various types of computation within the Faculty of Science, but this has largely been tied to traditional disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics. With the doctoral programme in computational science, we are also opening up for collaborations between the natural sciences and other subject areas where computation and modelling have not traditionally been as prominent. We expect a wide range of interesting projects to emerge,’ says Tobias Ambjörnsson.
The new doctoral programme is part of a wider strategic initiative within the faculty, which also includes eight Master’s tracks in computational science. These programmes have attracted many students, particularly international ones, who now have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as physics, biology, chemistry, geology, and environmental science.
Research networks and interdisciplinarity
In addition, the faculty has long run the research network COMPILE, which brings together researchers from various departments. Through the network’s seminars and meetings, researchers in computational science can share experiences and insights and strengthen interdisciplinary ties within the faculty.
In autumn 2025, the initiative will be further reinforced through an Advanced Study Group at the Pufendorf Institute at Lund University. An Advanced Study Group (ASG) is a flexible format for interdisciplinary research in which researchers from different disciplines at the university collaborate on a shared research problem.
In this case, the group’s goal is to support the development of innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking educational programmes in computational science.
‘We thought this would give an extra push to strengthen the doctoral programme and elevate the discussion to include more faculties,’ says Ullrika Sahlin, who will lead the ASG together with Mengwu Guo at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences at Lund University.
More information about the doctoral programme – cec.lu.se
More information about the ASG ‘Computational Science Curricula’ (in Swedish) – pi.lu.se
More information about the faculty’s investment in computational science – science.lu.se