Installation Ceremony/ Inauguration of new Professors
Karolinska Institutet organizes an installation ceremony each autumn, during which KI’s newly appointed professors are formally installed and presented, and academic prizes and medals are awarded. The ceremony takes place in Aula Medica and is followed by a reception.
The Installation Ceremony is an academic ceremony that aims to both welcome the new professors into the university’s academic community and to highlight their field of research to colleagues and the public. By tradition, an installation ceremony also includes some form of teaching, which is why an inaugural lecture is given by one of the new professors.
The installation of professors has its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. The word installation comes from the ecclesiastical term ‘stallum,’ which was the seat in the choir that a member of the cathedral chapter received upon taking office.
Installation Ceremony October 8, 2026
Ceremony in Aula Medica, KI campus Solna, from 5:00 pm to approx 7:00 pm.
During the ceremony, in accordance with academic tradition, new professors who have taken up permanent appointments at Karolinska Institutet during the previous academic year are formally installed. Adjunct professors and visiting professors appointed during the same period are presented and welcomed on stage. A number of prizes and KI’s silver medals are also awarded during the ceremony.
A reception will follow the ceremony.
The event is only for invited guests, but anyone may follow the live broadcast of the ceremony.
Professors
Niklas Zethraeus has been appointed Professor of Health Economics at the Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics from 11 June 2026.
Gianluigi Savarese has been appointed Professor of Cardiology at the Department of Clinical Research and Education, Södersjukhuset from 1 June 2026.
Craig Wheelock has been appointed Professor of Metabolomics at the Institute of Environmental Medicine from 1 June 2026.
Claudia Hanson has been appointed Professor of Global Health Systems Research at the Department of Global Public Health from 27 May 2026.
Sophia Brismar Wendel has been appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health from 18 May 2026.
Joanna Rorbach has been appointed Professor of Mitochondrial Biology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics from 1 May 2026.
Marie Evans has been appointed Professor of Renal Medicine at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology from 1 May 2026.
Erik Andersson has been appointed Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience from 1 April 2026.
Maria Kasper has been appointed Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology from 4 March 2026.
Christofer Juhlin has been appointed Professor of Tumour Pathology at the Department of Oncology-Pathology from 1 February 2026.
Margareta Wilhelm has been appointed Professor of Tumour Biology at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology from 1 January 2026.
Richard Bränström has been appointed Professor of Health Psychology at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience from 1 January 2026.
Johan Björkegren has been appointed Professor of Systems Medicine at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge from 1 January 2026.
Helena Kopp Kallner has been appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital from 1 November 2025.
Cecilia Magnusson has been appointed Professor of Social Medicine at the Department of Global Public Health from 15 October 2025.
Björn Pasternak has been appointed Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology at the Department of Medicine, Solna from 1 October 2025.
Sophie Bensing has been appointed Professor of Endocrinology at the Department of Medicine, Solna from 14 September 2025.
Johan Lundberg has been appointed Professor of Psychiatry at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience from 1 October 2025.
Fredrik Lanner has been appointed Professor of Embryonic Stem Cell Biology at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology from 1 September 2025.
Sören Lehman has been appointed Professor of Haematology at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge from 15 September 2025.
Malin Jonsson Fagerlund has been appointed Professor of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology from 1 September 2025.
Adjunct Professors
Caroline Nordenvall has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery from 1 July 2026.
Giedre Grigelioniene has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Clinical Genetics at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery from 15 June 2026.
Emma Tham has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Clinical Genetics at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery from 1 June 2026.
Åsa Carlsson Tedgren has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Medical Radiation Physics at the Department of Oncology-Pathology from 1 December 2025.
Linda Mellbin has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Cardiology at the Department of Medicine, Solna from 1 November 2025.
Ernesto Sparrelid has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology from 3 October 2025.
Caroline Ingre has been appointed Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience from 1 October 2025.
Visiting Professors
Brian Hodges has been appointed Visiting Professor of Medical Education at the Unit for Teaching and Learning from 4 March 2026.
John Pachankis has been appointed Visiting Professor of Psychology at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience from 15 February 2026.
Valéry Zwiller has been appointed Visiting Professor of Quantum Science for Life Sciences at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery from 1 September 2025.
Prize recipients
The Medicine doctor Axel Hirsch Prize: Anna Dimberg
The Lennart Nilsson Award: Per Uhlén
The Pedagogical Prize: Karin Garming Legert och Nicola Orsini
The Prize for Innovation and Utilisation: Per Nordlund
Medalists
Grand Silver Medal: Gert Auer, Ann Langius-Eklöf och Mona Ståhle
Silver medal: Lena Nilsson-Wikmar och Arne Östman
Invitation
In August, an invitation is sent by email to all professors holding permanent positions, adjunct professors, and visiting professors who take up their appointment no later than July 1. The invitation contains all information about preparations for the ceremony, as well as instructions on how to register you and your guests.
Guests
Each Professor may invite up to 4 guests.
Dress code for new professors
KI’s professorial gown, together with the doctoral hat - the symbol of academic freedom - is worn throughout the ceremony. The gown and hat are provided on loan by KI. Fitting takes place shortly before the ceremony in Aula Medica.
Dress code for guests
Dark suit.
Rehearsal
A mandatory rehearsal takes place in Aula Medica on the day of the Installation ceremony.
Entrance tickets
Entrance tickets for you and your guests will be sent by email approximately one week prior to the event.
Invitation
An invitation is sent out by email in August. Registration is done through a link in the invitation.
Guests
Each prize recipient can invite up to 4 guests.
Dress code for you and your guests
Dark suit
Entrance tickets
Entrance tickets for you and your guests will be sent by email approximately one week prior to the event.
Invitation
An invitation is sent out by email in August. Registration is done through a link in the invitation.
Dress code
Dark suit
Entrance tickets
Entrance tickets will be sent by email approximately one week prior to the event.