"Stockholm could be the best place in the world to do a PhD"

Anne Charlotte Bunge is a PhD candidate in sustainability science at Stockholm Resilience Centre. Her research centres around understanding how we can eat in a healthy, sustainable, and socially just way. Her PhD project focuses on the role of emerging food innovations in transitioning towards more sustainable, healthy and just diets.

Anne Charlotte has already made a significant impact in her research field and is one of the Centre’s most prominent spokespersons, frequently featured in Swedish national media for her research findings.

From public health to sustainability

Anne Charlotte Bunge’s academic background is in public health but she moved to sustainability science when she realised how the climate crisis is a human health crisis. Her undergraduate studies were at Universität Bremen in Germany with an Erasmus exchange at Gothenburg University in Sweden, before graduating at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

As a child and later as a student, Anne Charlotte Bunge spent a lot of time in Sweden.
“I always liked the low hierarchies, which were so different to the context in which I was socialised and academised in Germany. When I decided to do a PhD, I knew it had to be in Sweden – or at least in Scandinavia, ” she says.

Special and privileged situation

There were several reasons for this:
“First, the conditions to do a PhD are among, or maybe are the best worldwide – you have a secure income, you are part of a graduate programme, you are employed but with a student status, which means that you have insurances, including sick and parental leave. And you have many rights as a PhD student. I often observe how Swedish colleagues take that for granted, but it is very special and a privileged situation from an international point of view.”

The second reason, according to Anne Charlotte Bunge, is that these safeguards allow you to focus on your research and only having to apply for grants to further advance your research (for instance for research visits to other universities or conferences).

“Third, being part of the PhD programme is very rewarding – you have certain deliveries that keep you on track during these 4–5 years. For instance, high-level PhD courses that teach you how to become a researcher and a university teacher, and colleagues who have signed up for the same PhD marathon and can support you through its ups-and downs.”

Disciplinary openness

Anne Charlotte Bunge says she applied to Stockholm Resilience Centre because she was thrilled by their inter- and transdisciplinary, progressive “solving real-world problems” oriented research.
“This ’disciplinary openness’ felt (and feels) very progressive and has enabled me to bridge disciplines and develop my own research focus,” says Anne Charlotte Bunge.

What is your impression of Stockholm University?
“I believe that universities should be integrated into society rather than being disconnected ivory towers, and Stockholm University provides a great example of this. While the university is accessible and plays an active role in society, it does not compromise on achieving scientific excellence.”

“As a PhD student you require a lot of resources and support, for instance agreements with journals to publish your research open access. For me, Stockholm University has always provided the required support or has been open to discuss agreements.”

How is it to live in Stockholm as a researcher?
“I fell in love with Stockholm as a place to live and to do research very quickly. I moved here from Berlin, where I loved the culture but missed the countryside, and realised that Stockholm offers both. Particularly the easy access to nature and water carries me through my PhD and fills me with energy. The campus is located next to a big lake and a nature reserve and year around my lunch breaks and after works are filled with swimming (including cold water dipping in the winter), trail running, ice-skating, kayaking, and beautiful walks. Sometimes I feel that Stockholm makes you addicted to being surrounded by water everywhere. During the summer, we sometimes go for a dip three times a day.”

The university as part of society

“Besides the access to nature, I love how the university is a part of society rather than a disconnected ivory tower. At Stockholm Resilience Centre, we work a lot together with actors outside academia such as policymakers, business representatives and civil society organizations and build networks to transition towards a more sustainable society.”
She adds that there are also many interesting talks and exhibitions in Stockholm which inspire her.

What would you say to someone thinking about applying to Stockholm University?
“When I started my PhD, someone told me that the ’PhD is a marathon not a sprint run’. Coming towards the end of this marathon, I am very grateful that I was taught this mindset and that Stockholm University enabled me to do that. If you want to learn from a society that values work-life balance while striving for high scientific quality, Stockholm and Stockholm University is a great place. If you do your PhD to become a researcher, rather than to just earn your degree, Stockholm University provides you with great training and resources. If you love open water swimming like me, it's the place to be!”

Would like to stay in Stockholm

Anne Charlotte Bunge will finish her PhD in the autumn 2025 and is thinking about writing postdoc proposals to stay in Stockholm.

“I would definitely like to stay here if both my partner’s and my academic career trajectories allow us do to that. The good part is that Stockholm offers so many different academic institutions working on sustainability related topics that you can move around and build a strong interdisciplinary network without necessarily having to leave the city/country or stay at one institute/department.”