Why international researchers love to call Malmö home

Malmö's not that big of a city. And it's not world-famous, either. But researchers love it anyway - why?

Published: Thu 7 Apr 2016 13:51 CEST
Why international researchers love to call Malmö home
Photo: Christoph Zielinski

You would struggle to find a country which does not want to attract the world’s brightest brains in the hope that what they might achieve will help secure scientific, medical, societal and economic prosperity.

And post-graduates looking to study a PhD abroad arguably - and with funding allowing – can pick and choose a research hub almost anywhere in the world.

Sweden has long had a reputation for academic prowess, but what is it which draws researchers to these Nordic shores, and, more specifically, Malmö University?

Silvia Galli, from Modena, Italy, graduated in dentistry before eventually finding herself in Malmö.

Since then, her ground-breaking PhD work has led her to secure second place at the Researchers’ Grand Prix, a Swedish competition that challenges scientists to present their findings in as captivating, inspiring and educational a way as possible.

“I always thought I was a Mediterranean girl,” she confesses. “I would have pictured myself in Madrid, Lisbon, Athens or Rome. I didn’t choose Sweden for Sweden; I chose it as the best place to do this work.”

Her research came from an interest in titanium dental implants designed to substitute the root. After completing her master’s thesis on developing such implants, she attended a lecture by a professor which fuelled her interest and led her to a one-year scholarship in Gothenburg.

It was there that a professor recommended she apply for a PhD at Malmö University’s Faculty of Odontology.

Now she is on the cutting-edge of developing a magnesium-based metal which has the potential to change how fractured bones are treated. While Galli’s primary focus is on the jaw, new funding is enabling the exploration of the potential of using this smart material to heal bones elsewhere in the body.


Photo: David Bergström

“Some fractures need to be operated on and stabilised with metal plates or screws, which later need to be removed, but with the materials we are developing, the fracture will heal and then the metal will dissolve by itself,” Galli explains.

That means that the patient won’t need a second operation, reducing hospital stays, trauma, and further scars.

“At the moment there are clinical applications for fractures in small bones in the hands, fingers, feet, and ankles, and we are trying to develop them for longer bones like the femur, especially for children.”

Galli credits Sweden and Malmö University for opening up her world to the field of research.

“I saw it as a chance to have an experience abroad. There were many factors in this decision, but then I liked it very much when I started doing research. Before I came here, I didn’t even know what a PhD involved! It really opened up the world for me.”

And it was at Malmö University, with its ethos and multidisciplinary approach, that she fully realised the potential of her research.

“One department alone, like ours, can of course not have all the devices, all knowledge and all expertise”, she explains. “But if you take our network, that is an important strength. You really need to cooperate, and when it comes to that, Malmö University is excellent.”

“I think one plus that Sweden has when it comes to research is that there is a better work-life balance than in other countries,” she adds.

“Research can sometimes take up all of your time and if you are in a group in society which expects you to invest all your time working, that can affect your life. But here I have a life outside of research.”

Of course Galli and the other researchers work hard, she clarifies. But life feels easy and the work environment is democratic, as opposed to the hierarchical structure she was used to in Italy.

“In Italy a professor is ranked much, much higher than a PhD student, and they like to highlight that,” Galli says.

While Galli is due to complete her doctoral studies in December, she has no plans to leave Malmö any time soon. The city is a perfect fit – both personally and professionally.

“It’s an attractive city, the western harbour and the beach in particular,” she says. “The Skåne region has lots to explore. We have Copenhagen nearby, but to be honest I don’t tend to go there that often. I prefer to spend my time in Malmö. It’s home.”

Discover more about the Faculty of Odontology’s research here.

Check out all Malmö University’s international bachelor’s and master’s programmes here.

More Malmö University stories on The Local

 This article was sponsored by Malmö University.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also