Sven Drefahl becomes professor of Demography
Sven Drefahl has recently been promoted to professor of Demography, a relatively new field where he was one of the first students.
Sven Drefahl. Photo: Leila Zoubir/Stockholm University
What were you thinking when you received the news?
"I was of course very happy, especially because Demography is a small discipline, so there aren't many professors in the field. I was among the first students in the Demography master's program when it was established in Rostock, Germany, and part of the first cohort of the European doctoral school, so finding my own place in it—here at the Department of Sociology—feels quite satisfying."
What are you looking forward to professionally at the moment?
"I think one of the major advantages of becoming a professor is that one has even more freedom to pursue research of personal interest, rather than only what appeals to funding agencies. I look forward to exploring some of these research avenues."
What do you like the most about your job?
"I think what I like most is how flat hierarchies in Swedish academia allow for open discussion. Everyone is on a first-name basis regardless of position, which means ideas are evaluated on their merits rather than on who proposed them. In my experience, the same applies to teaching—recognition depends more on how well you teach than on what title you hold."
Last updated: 2026-02-05
Source: Department of Sociology