Somya Joshi to be SEI’s new Research Director

At a time when scientific research is under increasing pressure, yet more vital than ever, Somya Joshi takes on the role of SEI’s Research Director.

Joshi joined SEI in 2019 and is Docent (Associate Professor) at Stockholm University. With over 15 years’ experience bridging science and policy, her research blends cognitive science and technology to explore how data and systems can drive transparency and accountability in governance. She has become a leading voice on sustainable AI, chairing SEI’s AI Task Force, and has served as the Global Strategy Lead for LeadIT, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition. She most recently has been appointed to a visiting professorship at Hiroshima University in Japan, focusing on AI and global governance.

She steps into this role as SEI’s former Research Director and Deputy Director, Åsa Persson, embarks on a new chapter. After nearly 15 years of leadership and research at SEI, Persson will on 1 September join KTH Royal Institute of Technology as Strategic Advisor to the KTH Climate Action Centre.

In her role as Research Director, Persson has overseen research quality, ethics, major core-funded programming and innovation projects across SEI’s international network of centres. While SEI now bids farewell to Persson in her leadership role, we view her transition as an opportunity to build new forms of collaboration with KTH in the years ahead. SEI and KTH have a long history of collaboration on sustainability research, and Persson’s move represents a natural extension of that connection – strengthening the bridge between applied policy research and academic leadership.

“Åsa’s shoes are impossible to fill. I have so much respect and gratitude for how she has led the institution intellectually. I hope to continue in those footsteps and bring, with humility, new visions and energy to this exciting role,” said Joshi.

“I welcome Somya’s vision and guidance for the core of SEI’s work: scientific research,” said Måns Nilsson, SEI Executive Director. “What we do as a research-based organization – across all of our eight centres around the world – provides the basis for any other actions we might take, whether advising local governments on climate adaptation or pressing for more momentum for the Sustainable Development Goals. Somya’s experience as a researcher and in bringing science to policymakers will keep SEI on the right course, at the international, regional and local levels.”