Meet the Grants Office: Ulf

Hej Ulf! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hej! I was born and raised just outside Uppsala, but I briefly ventured all the way to Stockholm during my university studies. It wasn’t long before I found my way back to Uppsala though, and these days I’ve settled in Storvreta with my wife, three kids, and our basset hound, Dolly. I also spend as much time as possible at our cottage on Gräsö, which holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my interest in animals and nature really began – during the many hours I spent fishing with my dad and uncle. The island reminds me of that classic Ulf Lundell song Öppna landskap — there’s just something special about being close to the sea and the wide-open spaces. Sadly, I haven’t managed to pass on the fishing bug to my kids (it's hard to get hooked on the sport when there are fewer fish biting, I guess!).

I started working at SLU in 2017. Previously, I worked at Uppsala University, where I also assisted researchers in applying for external funding. My career in research support started thanks to what Swedes like to call a “banana skin moment”* - a lucky accident! After working as a field assistant at the limnological departments of both Uppsala University and Umeå University, including summers at the Abisko research station setting up experiments and analysing samples (and carrying lots of rafts over the mountains…), one of the researchers I worked with began a job at Formas and took me along for the ride. That’s when I discovered the world of European research funding - and the rest, as they say, is history.

*For the non-Swedes – “halka in på ett bananskal” (sliding in on a banana skin) means stumbling into something by chance, often with a good outcome!

What does your role as a Research Coordinator include?

I support SLU researchers with various types of external funding, particularly for collaborative projects. My primary focus is on helping researchers navigate the often complex world of European funding, particularly for large, multi-partner proposals. I’m also SLU’s contact person for our Brussels Office, keeping up with the latest discussions and policy developments within the EU research landscape and sharing relevant updates with colleagues here at SLU.

What engages you the most about your work?

What I enjoy most is meeting people who are truly passionate about their research and helping them take the next step toward success. It’s rewarding to be part of their journey and see their ideas develop into projects that make a difference.

One thing I’m especially proud of is that, together with my colleague Fiona, we’ve achieved our own goal of doubling the number of SLU-coordinated European projects compared to the previous framework programme. It shows what’s possible when we invest long-term effort into building SLU’s visibility and capacity in European research.

What is your best piece of advice for researchers applying for grants?

Start in plenty of time! I even have it in my email signature because it’s that important. Proposal writing always takes longer than expected, and giving yourself breathing room makes the process much smoother and increases your chances of success.

Finally, what is life like for you outside of work?

Outside of work, you’ll often find me supporting Sirius, both on the football pitch and at the bandy games. You might hear me singing (sometimes desperately!) among the blåsvarta crowd at Studenternas. I also try to squeeze in a trip north each year to go fishing and dust off my tent and gear. With a house and a summer cottage to look after, spare time is a rare commodity, but I’ve picked up some decent woodworking skills - though I prefer to keep my feet close to the ground while doing it! And when it comes to sports, I love pretty much anything involving a ball. Deep down, I like to think I’m the guy the Sultans of Ping F.C. had in mind:

Give him a ball and a yard of grass
He’ll give you a move with a perfect pass
Give him a ball and a yard of space
He’ll give you a move with goodly grace