Disease researcher who (sometimes) enjoys teaching

Hussein Khalil started as a temp for the former programme director of studies, but is now the permanent replacement on the job, and onto his second term.

The programme Hussein oversees is Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife, and it’s been around for quite a while; almost 20 years. A history that long and storied usually means you know quite a lot about your students, current and former. But this is an area where more work is needed, according to Hussein. Not just on “his” programme but the university at large:

- I’d like to say we know a lot about our students. But most of what I know are things I’ve heard from colleagues. We could really use a real alumni programme. Not just on Fish and Wildlife, but all of SLU. It would help us improve and it would be a selling point for the university.

After graduating from Conservation and Management of Fish and Wildlife, students can choose a wide number of fields and professions. Some end up in places like Länsstyrelsen, in hydropower, at consultancy firms and so on. Several also choose to remain and pursue a Ph. D.

Hussein Khalil considers this professional breadth Hussein Khalil a major strength for the programme.

- We’re a little different from the forest-related programmes in that ours deals with things like resource management, wild game, hunting, water and so on. There is a lot to be studied in forests and forestry too, to be sure, but we have an unmatched variety of topics, I think.

From Lebanon to Umeå

Hussein Kalil was born and raised in Lebanon and earned his bachelor’s at a Lebanese university. He then moved to Stockholm for his master, which was followed by doctorate studies at SLU. Quite the journey for a young student.

Many have heard of Lebanon, but mostly in a negative light. What was it like to grow up there?

- Geography-wise and climate-wise it’s a small Mediterranean country. I grew up in the mountains overlooking the sea. It was a lush, vibrant place, with lots of olive trees and vineyards. Bird life was rich, plant life too. The weather was warm of course, but you also had ski slopes which a lot of people probably don’t know about. But unfortunately, war and conflict have dominated the news about Lebanon for many years now.

Dr. Vole fever

Hussein’s focus has always been on biology, specifically disease ecology. His dissertation dealt with something anyone will know who’s ever cleared out a shed or an attic:

- I wrote about vole fever. A very seasonal disease that is spread from animal to humans. I dealt with aspects like change in land-use, forestry practices, biodiversity, climate change and so on. All those things affect when and why voles move into houses and buildings.

”Useless in the lab”

Hussein Khalil has a very broad view in his own research. He’s not a man of details but likes to have an overview and see things in context.

- I don’t focus much on specific diseases really. I’m useless in the lab. I’m more about disease context – where the animals are, how they live, what they thrive on, what makes us more or less likely to encounter them, and so on.

Hussein’s dream, research-wise at least, is taking this broad, comprehensive outlook even further. To become even broader, you might say:

- My dream, as far as there is one, is taking the “one health” thing further. One health is a bit of a buzzword, but it’s about taking an inter-disciplinary look at both animal and human health, and see how they’re connected. Being holistic about societal and environmental challenges and being a spokesperson for that – that, I suppose, is my dream.

Loves to teach – sometimes

Research is Hussein’s favourite part of the job. He enjoys being the PSR and teaching too, but when it comes to teaching, he prefers talking about his latest work. That’s when it’s easy to be positive and dedicated.

- I really enjoy teaching about my latest work, whatever I’m doing right now. The best thing is to teach smaller modules and doing guest lectures.

Why do you enjoy teaching about the “new stuff”?

- That’s a good questions. I think it’s just easier to be engaged and invested in what I talk about. And when I am, I can transfer that to the students as well. One of the most important questions in research overall is “why should I care?”. And it’s easier to answer that if you’re still wrapped up in your subject. That being said, I’ve never been particularly creative. There are amazing teachers out there, who can make almost anything sound exciting. But that’s not me.

Text and photo: Henrik Persson

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