Prof. Gunnar Svensson Steps Down After 40 Years in Science, SU’s EMC Welcomes New Director Prof. Tom Willhammar

Professor Gunnar Svensson, Director of the Electron Microscopy Center (EMC) at the Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University since 2007, has decided to retire this summer after 40 years in science. He has also served as the Stockholm University node coordinator for ARTEMI since its inception.

“It has been a fantastic journey, with remarkable advancements in electron microscopy,” says Gunnar. “Just when it seemed like the development of electron microscopes had slowed and matured, new breakthroughs emerged—such as the introduction of correctors, and more recently, innovations in detectors and supporting software.”

He emphasizes the importance of opening up research infrastructures like EMC and ARTEMI to broader scientific communities: “This is crucial to increasing the use of these instruments in all types of materials research.”

Gunnar will be succeeded by Docent Tom Willhammar, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry. Tom has a long experience of working with electron microscopy and is leading a research group in developing methods for transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, mainly for applications on nanoporous materials and biopolymers.

“I am looking forward to the exciting times ahead with the installation of a new microscope at Stockholm University, strengthening our capabilities, with a focus on electron crystallography and high-throughput data analysis. We are committed to building an accessible and open infrastructure, contributing to a strong community of materials research in Sweden”.