SAIN - SWEAH Alumni Interdisciplinary Network

Although the pursuit of longevity has been a success, there are challenges that follow an increasingly aging population. The process of aging is multidimensional and interdisciplinary research is needed to truly comprehend its mechanisms and consequences. This implies that the new generation of aging researchers is trained in interdisciplinary research.

The main purpose of the research network is to create a base for long-term and outstanding Swedish research on ageing through interdisciplinary collaborations between Swedish universities.

More specifically, this will take place through joint projects and research applications. As it is important to have continued support and stimulation after the completion of research training, the network will also support skills for strong professional career development and contribute with collegial support from other junior researchers with input from internationally recognized senior researchers representing different research directions.

The network is aimed at all current and future alumni from SWEAH, External link, opens in new window. the Swedish National Graduate School for Competitive Science in Ageing and Health. SWEAH is an interdisciplinary graduate school for Ph.D. students who address aging and health in their thesis projects. To date, 121 doctoral students have been affiliated, of which 61 have graduated, from 13 universities in Sweden: Lund University, Umeå University, University Dalarna, Luleå University of Technology, Örebro University, Linköping University, Mid University, Karolinska Institutet, Jönköping University, University of Gothenburg, Kristianstad University, Blekinge Institute of Technology, and Linnaeus University.

SAIN will utilize the experiences and qualities gained from being affiliated with an interdisciplinary research school to promote a productive interdisciplinary network for emerging scholars within the research field of aging.

Organization and management

SAIN is coordinated by an executive group:
Charlotta Nilsen, coordinator for SAIN, lecturer at the Institute for Gerontology (IFG), Jönköping University, researcher at the Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University and affiliated researcher at the Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet.

Malin Ericsson, convener of the steering group, postdoctoral fellow at the Aging Research Center and the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet

Caroline Hasselgren, researcher at the Center for Aging and Health (AGECAP) and the Department of Sociology and Occupational Science, University of Gothenburg.

Robin Jonsson, postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the department of sociology and work science, University of Gothenburg.

SAIN's senior advisory board:

Professor Merril Silverstein, External link, opens in new window. Syracuse University, USA; Professor Susanne Iwarsson, External link, opens in new window. Lund University, coordinator för SWEAH; Professor Liat Ayalon, External link, opens in new window. Bar-Ilan University, Israel; Professor Deborah Finkel, External link, opens in new window. Jönköping University, Indiana University Southeast och University of Southern California, USA; Professor emeritus Boo Johansson, External link, opens in new window. University of Gothenburg; Professor Nancy Pedersen, External link, opens in new window. Karolinska Institutet; Professor Martin Hyde, External link, opens in new window. University of Leicester, Storbritannien; and Professor Lena Dahlberg, External link, opens in new window. Dalarna University and Karolinska Institutet.

Funded by the Kamprad Family Foundation 2023-2025 and SWEAH.