2021
In December 2021, the SCI PhD Student Council has held elections for the upcoming 2022 term.
The new SCI PhD Student Council has been elected (2021-12-21)
The election for the 2022 SCI PhD Student Council is now completed! The results were presented at the Election Meeting on the 17th of December and can also be found below.
The council consists of PhD student representatives across the 4 departments of SCI (Physics, Applied Physics, Mathematics, and Engineering Mechanics). Members are elected for a 1-year period. Learn more about us on our webpage .
Election timeline
- Nomination period: 19th Nov – 3rd Dec
- Review of nominations and possible voting: 3rd – 7th Dec
- Voting period: 7th – 16th Dec
- Presentation of results at Election Meeting: 17th Dec
Results
| Council positions | ||
| Position | Name | Department |
| Chair | Mattias Åstrand | Applied Physics |
| Vice chair (2) | Charlie Börjeson | Applied Physics |
| Vladilena Gaisina | Engineering Mechanics | |
| Treasurer | Vladilena Gaisina | Engineering Mechanics |
| Webmaster | Sai Kausik Abburu | Engineering Mechanics |
| Event Manager | Jana Vasiljevic | Physics |
| PhD student representatives | ||
| Doctoral program | Name | Department |
| Vehicle and Maritime Engineering (2) | Niloofar Sayyad Khodashenas | Engineering Mechanics |
| Sai Kausik Abburu | Engineering Mechanics | |
| Solid Mechanics | Louise Rosenblad | Engineering Mechanics |
| Engineering Mechanics (2) | Saeed Davoodi | Engineering Mechanics |
| Rohan Ajit Kulkarni | Engineering Mechanics | |
| Mathematics | Nedialko Bradinoff | Mathematics |
| Applied and Computational Mathematics | Emanuel Ström | Mathematics |
| Physics (2) | Andrea Benfenati | Physics |
| Elina Charatsidou | Physics | |
| Applied Physics (2) | Cherrie Lee | Applied Physics |
| Charlie Börjeson | Applied Physics | |
Nominees
The candidates for the council positions are presented below, with name (department/doctoral program) and a short motivation as to why they are running for the position. The Nomination Committee has reviewed the nominations and proposed a composition for the 2022 council, which is indicated by endorsement of candidates. The endorsement is only a proposal made to the candidates (who could accept a nomination or pursue a different position) and the student body, as the deciding factor is what candidate gets the most votes for each position. If a person is elected for several positions, they will carry the combined workload. Several programs have two people endorsed for the position of PAD, which means the workload is aimed to be shared 50/50.
Chair
Mattias Åstrand (Applied Physics/Applied Physics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"Contributing to society, or at the very least to the reality I live in, has always been a priority of mine. By getting enrolled as chairperson or PAD, I aim to learn about interdisciplinary and program-specific issues within the SCI school, and do my best to improve our workplace environment. I have been student representative at NanoLund, would like to share my experience and continue developing my administrative skills.
I am socially active, positive, easy to talk to, and happy to listen."
Vice chair
For the Vice chair position, the Nomination Committee has decided to endorse two candidates, which will split the workload of the position as well as carrying additional positions within the council.
Vladilena Gaisina (Engineering Mechanics/Solid Mechanics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I would like to be more involved in the PhD representation at the school level and have an opportunity to improve the PhD experience for SCI students. I have previous experience being in leadership positions of social and professional organizations. I have limited Swedish proficiency, though I intend to take more Swedish courses next year."
Charlie Börjeson (Applied Physics/Applied Physics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"As vice-chair of the PhD student council, I would aim to learn how KTH works at all levels of the SCI school, and to improve the situation for PhD students. I would for example want to advocate for proper introductions to the school, department and program for new PhD students. I also aim to be part of the student council for more than one year to push for more long-term projects."
Treasurer
Vladilena Gaisina (Engineering Mechanics/Solid Mechanics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
See description under Vice chair.
Webmaster
Charlie Börjeson (Applied Physics/Applied Physics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
See description under Vice chair.
Event manager
Jana Vasiljevic (Physics/Physics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I would like to continue to be part of the SCI Council, since I am still at the first half of my PhD studies. Also this year was interesting for me and feel like I can contribute more to the Council."
PAD for Applied and Computational Mathematics
Emanuel Ström (Mathematics/Applied and Computational Mathematics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I think being a student representative will be a good experience.
In part as an opportunity to learn how the system works, and also to contribute actively to a better working environment, both by communication and organisation."
PAD for Applied Physics
Cherrie Lee (Applied Physics/Applied Physics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"To be engaged and get first hand information about any changes KTH are making regarding PhD students and influence these changes.
Networking among PhDs from various departments is useful for potential inter-departmental collaboration, exchange of knowledge and skills and also providing support to each other. I would like to help make this connection possible and easier among PhD students by organising fun social activities whereby PhDs can interact and bond in a fun environment."
PAD for Engineering Mechanics
Rohan Ajit Kulkarni (Engineering Mechanics/Engineering Mechanics) – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I have a management experience with a team of 15 people. By being part of PhD council I want to be part of recruitment process and understand the management aspect at better level. I also would like to involve in planning scientific as well as fun activities in the department to ensure more engaging workplace bonding."
Saeed Davoodi – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I was part of students council when I was high school student and I really liked it. I want to be part of SCI school council now to be able to reflect my colleagues issues and opinions in the meetings."
PAD for Mathematics
Nedialko Brandinoff – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"My name is Nedialko Bradinoff, and I am a first year PhD student in the Random Matrices, Stochastic Models, and Analysis Group in the Mathematics department. I believe that the first hand experience in the organization of the department would be really interesting and invaluable for me. Naturally I think that representation of PhD students in the department is essential and it would be an honor for me to take part in it. Please consider my nomination for PAD."
PAD for Physics
Elina Charatsidou – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"As a student ambassador throughout my master's studies, I was able to communicate with a variety of students, from many different backgrounds, help with questions and assist with problem-solving. As a PAD I would like to offer the students a chance to be represented by a student who is responsible and cares deeply about the department and studies matters."
Andrea Benfenati – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I have been vice chair and PAD under the year 2021, and would like to continue to contribute to the continuity of the work of the board. My expected graduation date will be before the end of 2022."
PAD for Solid Mechanics
The PAD for the Solid Mechanics program has already been elected locally.
PAD for Vehicle and Maritime Engineering
Niloofar Sayyad Khodashenas – endorsed by Nomination Committee
Sai Kausik Abburu – endorsed by Nomination Committee
"I have been a PAD the past year and I really liked to be involved in developing the structure and being involved in the decisions within the school and the department. So I would like to continue with this role and contribute more this year as the corona restrictions reduce. Hopefully will be able to continue in this role."
Position Descriptions
The positions to be filled are:
- Chairperson
- Vice-chairperson
- Treasurer
- Webmaster
- Event manager
- Program-responsible PhD student (PAD) – 1-2 PADs can be elected per program
The PAD is elected among the students within each program. Any PhD student within any program at the SCI school can apply for any of the remaining positions. However, it is seen as an advantage to have some Swedish proficiency for the positions of chair- and vice-chairperson. Many of the relevant meetings at the school level are held in Swedish, which makes knowledge of the language a useful skill for the two chairing positions.
A brief description of the responsibilities of the respective positions is found below (translated from the newly revised Rutin för studentinflytande – Routine on student influence).
Positions at school level
| Position |
Description |
Representational duties |
Remaining duties |
| Chair of PhD council |
Heads the activities of the PhD council and is the primarily responsible for organising student influence within the doctoral programs at the school. Responsible for communication with THS through the PhD chapter. |
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| Vice-chair of PhD council |
Supports the chair in the duties described above, and acts as a substitute for the chair when needed. |
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| Treasurer of PhD council |
Through the PhD chapter of THS, the PhD council will manage its own budget every year, with the purpose of organising activities within the doctoral programs at the school. The treasurer is responsible for managing transactions and for reviewing the finances. |
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| PhD council webmaster |
Responsible for the PhD council webpage, e-mail lists, creating communication material for activities and spreading information, etc., and other administrative tasks. |
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| PhD council event manager |
Responsible for organising activities for the PhD-students at the school, within professional development, education, and purely socialising events. Also responsible for the nomination tasks. |
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Positions at department level
| Position |
Description |
Representational duties |
Remaining duties |
| PhD student representative (PAD) (1-2 per doctoral program) |
Represent the students at the doctoral program. Advisory contact for the PhD-students, answers questions regarding everything from education, courses, and administration to more sensitive matters, for example issues with the advisor. When needed the PAD forwards questions to the PA. The PAD also acts as a representative in the continuous quality assurance within the program council, where PA is responsible. |
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Time compensation
As of 2022, the positions within the SCI PhD Student Council are time compensated, meaning that the people elected are eligible for extensions of their contracts and/or reduction of departmental duties (how to implement this is decided with the primary supervisor and closest manager). The extent of the positions is to be compensated according to the following (when 2 people share one position, the extent is shared 50/50):
| Position |
Extent (of full-time) |
Calculation of extent |
Compensated by |
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| Chair |
15% |
Approx. ~6h per week |
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| Vice-chair |
7.5% |
Approx. ~3h per week |
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| Treasurer |
5% |
Approx.~2h per week |
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| Webmaster |
2.5% |
Approx. ~1h per week |
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| Event manager |
7.5% |
Approx. ~3h per week |
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| PAD, Vehicle and Maritime Engineering |
10% |
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| PAD, Solid Mechanics |
8% |
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| PAD, Engineering Mechanics |
12% |
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| PAD, Mathematics |
9% |
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| PAD, Applied and Computational Mathematics |
9% |
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| PAD, Physics |
10% |
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| PAD, Applied Physics |
13% |
Nomination Committee
The committee organising the election for the 2022 SCI PhD Student Council consists of the following persons (Name and Department/Programme):
- Kian Shaker (Applied Physics/Applied Physics)
- Magda Kaplan (Engineering Mechanics/Solid Mechanics)
- Federico Izzo (Mathematics/Applied and Computational Mathematics)
- Aleksa Stankovic (Mathematics/Mathematics)
Contact
If you have questions about the SCI PhD Student Council or the elections, you are welcome to contact the current chairperson at: sci-chair@dr.kth.se .