Meet Åsa Persson, Research Director

I first joined SEI as an early-career researcher. From school, I was interested in global environmental challenges and how they could be tackled. This led me to do a PhD in environmental policy at the LSE in the UK.

Joining SEI, I got to build up my own research portfolio and secured a series of research grants  but was also invited to join exciting projects – for example, developing the planetary boundaries concept, advising governments on the design of climate adaptation finance, and providing knowledge input to UN member states as they were negotiating the SDGs. For me, the combination of longer-term scientific grants geared towards academic research and shorter-term assignments for policy-makers and practitioners has been very stimulating and rewarding.

I like problem-solving! Essentially, tackling environmental problems is about identifying the positive drivers of actors, aligning incentives, and establishing clear boundaries and standards. I also like doing that problem-solving with creative and committed people from diverse geographical and disciplinary backgrounds – not just within research but also through frequent contact with practitioners.

I feel very lucky to get to contribute to problem-solving for a very meaningful purpose; a flourishing planet and people.

I meet many academic researchers today who want to have more impact in society and translate their research insights into practical action, given the urgency of the planetary crisis and the potential of solutions already out there. SEI is the perfect place to realize that aspiration.

As a researcher at SEI, you are encouraged to continue your scientific work, securing research council grants and publishing in high-impact scientific journals. At the same time, you are part of an institution whose mission is to bridge science and policy, with access to enabling conditions that are critical for research to achieve real world impact.

These enablers include SEI’s globally renowned reputation as a science-policy think tank, institutional access to high-level policymakers and arenas – from global level down to local communities in the regions we work in – as well as access to the expertise and skills of colleagues with professional backgrounds outside conventional academia, including policymaking, communications, data science and project management.

We recruit people with diverse backgrounds and at different levels of experience and research training. While many SEI colleagues have a PhD, it is not a requirement. However, we actively welcome candidates from academia who have completed a PhD, as they can lead research projects and contribute their expertise by sharing research skills with colleagues.

SEI supports researchers in building strong research careers by encouraging and valuing peer-reviewed publications. As part of our mission, we have a track record of publishing in high-impact journals as well as in SEI’s own policy briefs, tailored for targeted audiences.

We also facilitate university affiliations, allowing SEI researchers to engage in teaching, graduate supervision and advancing their academic qualifications – for example, by becoming adjunct professors. To support this, we have collaboration agreements with leading universities in the countries and cities where SEI offices are located, and many of our programs maintain strong networks with world-class research labs.

Additionally, SEI actively supports researchers in contributing to international scientific assessments, such as IPCC and IPBES reports, further bridging the gap between science and policy.

Like an academic institution, SEI is driven by the research interests, creativity and initiative of its researchers. We value individual entrepreneurship and discovery, while also recognizing the need to set clear priorities in areas where we can have the most impact.

We expect our researchers to fully embrace SEI’s mission – supporting decision-making and driving meaningful change. Researchers work in teams focused on delivering impact in SEI’s priority areas, contributing to the implementation of our Strategy.

A key difference from academia is that our performance evaluation criteria extend beyond scientific publications and research funding. While these remain important, SEI actively considers societal impact, as well as engagement with policy and practice, as critical measures of success.

Join SEI or other like-minded institutes and help deliver applied research!

I would also encourage researchers to take an active interest in the target audiences and policy settings where they want to make an impact. What are their needs and constraints? How can you make your research as useful and actionable as possible for the end users and beneficiaries?

Additionally, consider combining innovation with experience. For example, leveraging AI tools can enhance research, while long-term trusted partnerships with users are essential for meaningful change.

At SEI, we invest heavily in internal discussions to refine this balance – finding the sweet spot between innovation and practical experience to maximize real-world impact.