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Become a coordinator for an EU project

Group of giraffes in sunset. Photo.

Research Services will help you along the way, both with funding and support. Rolf Lood, Docent at Infectious medicine at IKVL, and currently on his way to Tanzania, is the coordinator of a project in Africa, and encourages more people to try out the role of coordinator.

Portrait of Rolf Lood. Photo.
Rolf Lood, Coordinator for an ODIN project funded by Horizon Europe, the EU framework programme for research and innovation.

What is it like to be a coordinator? 

"Wonderful and stressful at the same time! Getting a group of about 50 researchers, representing nine different organizations in different time zones and different cultures, to push in the same direction is a challenge. But we are an unpretentious group with great respect for each other and we all want to contribute to improving the world". 

 

The group started as a group of colleagues, but now we call each other friends. I really recommend others to apply!  

What has been the biggest challenge? 

"The biggest personal challenge has been to go beyond the comfortable confines of my own field of research, where I am an expert, to coordinate a global project spanning over several fields of research to be implemented and integrated into several different countries' governmental organizations, and to prepare a communication plan and training plan for this. To constantly feel like you're dipping your toes in something new and untried".  

What support have you received from Research Services at LU? 

"Research Services has been a fantastic support. Not only have they, with great enthusiasm and support, developed templates to use, proofread parts of the application and been there throughout the process, but they have also financially supported this process by offering financial coordination support, which has made it easier to dedicate time to the project. In addition to this, LU has continuously offered high-quality legal assistance in producing documentation for agreements and supported in that process". 

It is a privilege to be part of this type of project where so many people come together to achieve greater goals. 

About Rolf Lood´s project

The project will develop and implement surveillance of wastewater-based epidemiology, which was used in the western world during the pandemic, in Africa. The project also includes capacity building, training, communication and policy work. The project is a collaboration between nine different groups spread across Europe and Africa and runs between 2024-2026.