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Junior Faculty Board

The JF board is composed of five or six members who are elected by the JF members for a two-year term: one representative from each faculty, a chair and a vice-chair.

The JF board meets approximately four times per year and is responsible for:

  • Representing junior faculty interests at ORU and at the national junior faculty
  • Acting as an information channel between the University and junior faculty members
  • Strategic junior faculty decisions
  • Coordination of JF activities

You are welcome to contact any of the board members directly or via juniorfaculty@oru.se with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have.

John Brauer, Chair
Getting your head around the life as a recent PhD is challenging to say the least. The university offers many resources to overcome these challenges – resources that are not always promoted sufficiently. My engagement within the Junior Faculty is motivated by an interest to connect junior researchers with existing resources offered by the university as well as to communicate additional needs of junior researchers to people at the university who can satisfy these needs. Further, I am also engaged to increase collaboration and connections between junior researchers in different disciplines.

Virginia Rosales Orquera, Vice chair
The Junior Faculty (JF) is a great community to meet people at the same career stage and to share experiences, learn from each other and evolve together. There are plenty of opportunities for networking and career development, through fun and more serious activities. As a member of the JF board I am happy to contribute to developing the JF community by introducing new faculty members and organizing events such as the writing retreats that help us grow our networks and move forward in our career development.

Andi Alijagic, Business, Science and Engineering

Early-career researchers work tirelessly throughout the year, and it is important they have time to unwind after working hours. As a Junior Faculty (JF) board member, I believe JF offers an excellent platform for after-work and social activities that allow us to connect beyond our academic roles. I am dedicated to creating a lively networking environment with interdisciplinary events and regular social activities that help us build meaningful connections and collaborations across different fields.

Rongrond Wu, Medicine and Health

As the Junior Faculty representative for the Faculty of Medicine and Health, I want to help create an open, supportive environment where early career researchers can thrive. I aim to build on the strong foundation already in place—continuing to promote collaboration, career development, and meaningful connections across disciplines. I believe JF should be a space where members feel seen, heard, and encouraged to explore opportunities both within academia and beyond. Whether through expanding skill-building initiatives, strengthening ties with industry, or simply making sure we enjoy the journey together, I’m committed to serving our community with energy, empathy, and purpose.

jw_3Sara Karimzadeh, Humanities and Social Sciences
Junior Faculty is a vibrant community where early-career researchers connect with peers and senior colleagues to navigate the twists and turns of academic life together. As a member of the JF board, I’m happy to contribute to organizing the Junior–Senior Dialogue Series—a regular forum for discussing career development, work–life balance, and the future direction of higher education. Our goal is to build strong networks, share practical insights, and foster the resilience needed for a rewarding, sustainable research career.