Sara Liin is the chair of the panel that is working on the election of new members for 2025. From 24th October, researchers from all disciplines can submit applications. The election panel looks at scientific merits and engagement in academic issues. The election is open to younger researchers who have obtained their doctorate 2–10 years ago, and the members who are elected can look forward to five years with the academy.

Sara Liin is an Associate Professor of Neurobiology at Linköping University. Photo: Erik Thor/SUA

Why should I apply to the Young Academy of Sweden?

Being part of YAS is incomparable to any other context one may be involved in as an independent young researcher. Here, you are encouraged to think big, about the very conditions for a free and creative research culture. If, for instance, you are passionate about discussing research with youth, or perhaps genuinely working on the political conditions, or broadening your interdisciplinary network with researchers from other countries – regardless of your focus, you can create something truly fantastic in YAS! YAS opens doors.

Together, we work on larger projects and reach out to many more people. As many dedicated members from different fields collaborate, and with the fantastic support of the secretariat, we can also manage large projects. Such as writing a children's book, or organizing an international conference. One characteristic of the work within YAS is that no matter how much energy you put in, you always get more back! It’s somewhat of a mystery. Despite often working intensely, somehow you always return from academy meetings and activities with a surplus on the energy account.

How does one become a member of the Young Academy of Sweden?

You apply yourself to become a member of the Young Academy of Sweden. During the autumn, the academy has an open call where interested individuals submit an application. All applications are then reviewed by the election panel, and we assess two things: first, the applicant's scientific excellence, and second, the applicant's engagement in issues close to YAS. In recent years, we have had around 70–110 applicants, and from these, the best 6–8 candidates are selected. The competition is tough, and it’s not uncommon for members to have applied several times before being accepted. If you weren't elected, we encourage you to apply again!

Who assesses the applications and selects new members?

The Young Academy of Sweden appoints an election panel each year consisting of members from various fields. The election panel manages the entire selection process, including the review of applications and interviews with the applicants in the final step. The composition of the panel varies somewhat over the years, and the selection process starts anew each year. All applicants are treated exactly the same, regardless of whether they have applied before. The election panel presents its proposal to the academy, which then jointly decides whether to accept the proposal or not.

Which factors are most important?

The election panel assesses two criteria: excellence and commitment, and both must be present for a person to be elected. It is not enough to be the best in Sweden in your field if you do not meet the engagement criterion, or vice versa. The reason engagement is included in the assessment is that the Young Academy of Sweden is an active academy. We are looking for members who want and can contribute to the academy's work.

How do you define scientific excellence?

Broadly speaking, we assess this in a similar way to research funders. This means that we look for candidates who have demonstrated examples of innovation and outstanding research. Other merits that we seek include awarded research grants and merit positions. Since we select relatively young researchers, we are also careful to ensure that candidates have demonstrated independence from their previous supervisors in their research. In natural sciences, technology, and medicine, independence often manifests as having published as a senior author without their former supervisors. In social sciences and humanities, it looks different. We take full account of the fact that research and merit vary across different scientific fields.

What do you mean by engagement?

The Young Academy of Sweden is an active academy, and all members are expected to work actively on projects that fall within the academy's activities. We believe that prior interest and engagement are good predictors of future contributions, and therefore we look for individuals who have shown engagement in the areas the academy works with. We also consider new proposals. The applicant does not need to be an expert in any way, but it is important that there is a genuine interest. The academy's secretariat assists in carrying out activities.

How do the interviews work?

An important part of the selection process is the interviews. Based on the applications received, the election panel selects up to sixteen individuals who are invited to interviews conducted in groups of about four participants. The election panel asks a number of questions that candidates discuss among themselves. After the questions, there is an opportunity to ask questions to the members of the election panel.

How do you achieve such a wide representation of members from different subjects, for example?

The academy currently has a gender-balanced composition and a good diversity of subjects and institutions. We are proud of that! In the selection process, we actively work to treat all applications equally, but we have no demands that the members selected must be from certain subjects or institutions, etc., to maintain a good balance in the academy. Of course, we keep an eye on the balance throughout the selection process, but so far we have always had a well-balanced composition of the elected without any special measures.

How do you handle conflicts of interest and equal treatment?

We follow the guidelines for conflicts of interest from the Swedish Research Council. This means that anyone with a conflict of interest leaves the room when we discuss the candidate for whom they have a conflict. Since the interviews take place in groups, conflicted members on the election panel are present to hear the other candidates, but they do not participate in any discussions regarding candidates they have conflicts for later. Additionally, we have an observer (the academy's CEO) present at all meetings with the election panel. The observer's role is to ensure that we follow conflict rules and treat all candidates equally.

Do you provide individual feedback?

No, we do not have the ability to provide individual feedback to applicants.

You were elected in 2020, how did you experience the selection process?

I found the selection process to be both inspiring and nerve-wracking. For the written part of the application, it was fun to think from a completely different perspective than I usually do in an application for research funding. Instead of formulating a project plan and highlighting why I am the one to be entrusted with carrying out the project, I needed to reflect on the research community as a whole and how I could contribute to the important work that the Young Academy of Sweden holds dear. Additionally, it was a bonus that the application itself was quick to write, as only key information was requested. Before the interview, I had butterflies in my stomach as it was an unusual experience to be interviewed in a group with fellow applicants. However, after the panel's first question, the nervousness subsided thanks to the panel's encouraging body language and atmosphere, as well as the engagement of my fellow applicants. In my group, the interview took the form of a conversation where panel members took turns asking questions that we responded to as a group, sometimes in turn and other times by bouncing thoughts and opinions more dynamically. When I left the interview room, I felt, ”this is what I want more of!” Therefore, it was a joyful moment when I later received the news that I had been accepted as a member.

What did your previous engagement look like?

Interacting with people outside my research area has been important to me since I started my PhD. I find it very inspiring to hear others' thoughts and reflections on the research we conduct, as well as on research and knowledge more broadly. I also always learn from the questions posed during outreach activities, especially clever arguments from children and wise perspectives from the elderly. Before I became a member of the Young Academy of Sweden, I had primarily engaged in meetings with school children and lectures for older people with heart disease, as parts of my research concern this area. I had also tentatively tried to find ways to contribute to providing a more nuanced view of who can become a researcher, including by engaging in my university's initiatives for broadening recruitment. For me, it has felt important to encourage more youth to dare to open the door to higher education and show how varied and rewarding research can be. During my time in the Young Academy of Sweden, it has been fantastic to team up with other members who feel just the same and to gather new tools and experiences for outreach engagement. I have learned much more and have been part of far more than I could ever have dreamed of when I became part of the SUA community four years ago!

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