Students dressed in formal attire and wearing graduation caps stand in a row, holding flags. The student at the front carries a wooden staff.
As per tradition, the procession is led by the Head Marshal, veterinary student Stella Bergman, along with the student flag procession. Stella Bergman also serves as the toastmaster at the banquet following the ceremony. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU

Doctoral award ceremony 2026: celebrating SLU’s new doctors and award winners

News published:  14/10/2026

On Saturday 3 October, it was time for the Doctoral award ceremony at SLU. During the ceremony 61 new doctors, five jubilee doctors and four honorary doctors received their degrees. The Alumnus of the Year, the Medals for Distinguished Service and the Educational awards were also presented.

The doctoral award ceremony is SLU’s largest annual celebration. As always, the day was a magnificent white tie occasion, accompanied by processions and majestic music.

A person wearing a red velvet cape standing at a lectern in an auditorium, in front of an audience.
Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel gives a welcoming speech. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


In her welcome address, Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel reflected on how knowledge comes into being. She spoke of the importance for doctoral students of finding their place in academia. She also discussed the importance of developing judgment and integrity, and the need to learn how best to harness artificial intelligence while ensuring it is used both ethically and responsibly. Finally, she highlighted the significance of creativity and the joy of discovery.


A person in a tailcoat stands on a decorated stage, surrounded by rows of seated people. Projected on the wall behind is a scientific image and the text "Infection – clever pathogens".
Professor Rickard Ignell delivers an honorary lecture on research into disease-transmitting mosquitoes. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


This year’s honorary lecture, titled “Why Am I So Attractive?”, was delivered by Professor Rickard Ignell. He spoke about his research into the scents that drive the most important events in the lives of mosquitoes—not least how they locate humans and what makes some of us particularly attractive to them. His work focuses on mosquito species that transmit serious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever in tropical and subtropical regions.

The doctoral degrees were conferred by faculty. The SLU medals for distinguished service, educational awards, and the Alumnus of the Year were also presented.


A smiling man wearing white tie and a laurel wreath holds up a rolled diploma in a stage.
Sebastian Pineda, one of the new doctors at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


An elderly man dressed in white tie and a doctoral hat standing on a stage surrounded by people in student hats and blue-and-yellow silk sashes.
Christer Svensson, one of the five jubilee doctors this year at the Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A person with long brown hair, wearing a brown dress and a laurel wreath, is standing on a stage holding a rolled paper.
Mahboobeh Yazdani, one pf the new doctors at the Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Sciences. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A young festively dressed person standing at a lectern on a stage.
Jasmin Pettersson, Chair of the joint student unions at SLU, delivers the speech on behalf of the student unions. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Two people wearing white tie, standing on a stage holding black diploma folders.
Jonas Bohlin and Cecilia Kronqvist, this year's recipients of SLU's Educational award. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Two formally dressed individuals on a stage. One is holding a black folder bearing a logo, while the other is wearing a doctoral hat, a Vice-Chancellor’s chain and a red velvet gown.
SLU Alumnus of the year Jens Thulin is the first recipient to get his diploma at the doctoral award ceremony. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Two festively dressed individuals shaking hands on a stage. In the background there are two more individuals holding black diploma covers.
Ingrid Öborn, recipient of this year's Great Medal for Distinguished Service, shakes hand with Joakim Stymne, Chair of the SLU board. Also pictured on the left are Maliheh Mehrshad, recipient of the Silver Medal for Distinguished Service, and Ann Dolling, recipient of the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Happy festively dressed people wearing doctoral hats and laurel wreaths walking in procession.
Joyful new doctors from the Faculty of Forest Sciences leave the auditorium. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Two elderly persons wearing festive dresses smiling into the camera. One of them wearing a medal.
Thomas Rosswall, Vice-Chancellor of SLU 1994–2000, together with Gunilla Angemo. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Five festively dressed persons wearing black doctoral hats standing outside.
SLU's new honorary doctors of 2026 together with Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel. From the left: Brett Butler, Franciska Rensberg, Maria Knutson Wedel, Mikhail Durkin and Daniel Berlin. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A person takes a photo of a group of festively dressed people standing against a wall with a big logotype on.
A group of promovendi with their families pose for a photograph in front of the SLU logo, a popular spot for commemorative photos. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Four festively dressed persons standing below a few trees on a square having their picture taken.
Ingrid Öborn, recipient of the SLU Great Medal for Distinguished Service, poses for a photo with her family. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


Four persons in dark festive dresses standing outside smiling into the camera.
Maliheh Mehrshad, recipient of the SLU Silver Medal for Distinguished Service 2026, surrounded by colleagues and friends. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A person dressed in white tie standing at a lectern.
Brett Butler, Honorary Doctor of Forest Sciences, delivers the speech from the honorary doctors. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A singer, a bass player and a keyboardist on a stage in a large hall.
SLU Jazz Trio entertaining the dinner guests in Rikssalen. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A person in a beige dress standing at a lectern smiling.
Josefine Jerlström, Doctor of Agronomy, delivers the speech on behalf of the promoti at the banquet. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


A man dressed in white tie standing at a lectern in a big hall.
Stefan Attefall, Governor of Uppsala County, delivers the vote of thanks at the end of the banquet. Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU


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