Erika Franzén

Candidate KI Academic elections 2026 - for the position of Dean of Doctoral Education

Who am I and what motivates me?
I am a Professor of Physiotherapy with a joint appointment at Karolinska University Hospital and have a long-standing and strong commitment to doctoral education. For the past seven years, I have served as Vice Chair of the Committee for Doctoral Education (KFU). I am also Temaprefekt, Director of the uMOVE core facility , leader of a large research group, and KI-chair of the USVE/FOUU group for allied health professions at Karolinska University Hospital.

My background includes a wide range of key roles within doctoral education, including doctoral student representative, member of the Admissions Board and research school, Chair of Saco S, doctoral supervisor, research group leader, and Head of Research and Development (FoUU chef). I also have extensive experience from committees and councils at Karolinska Institutet, including the Research Council, the Infrastructure Council, the Education Board, the University Board (Konsistoriet), and several Search and Nomination committees for rektor and prorektor.

Through these assignments, I have developed broad leadership experience and gained strong insight into organizational structures and decision-making processes both at Karolinska Institutet and within the healthcare region. I work with a high level of capacity and decisiveness, which has contributed to, among other things, the establishment of additional research schools, the development of pedagogical ambassadors, increased inclusion of postdoctoral researchers in doctoral courses, and strengthened collaboration with the healthcare system regarding clinical doctoral students.

My vision is to contribute to doctoral education of the highest quality by:

• offering courses and research schools of high academic standard
• providing supervisors with strong conditions through support, training, and funding
• strengthening collaboration with the healthcare system to ensure clear conditions and improved support for clinical doctoral students

I also strive to promote transparency, an inclusive culture, and a creative and stimulating doctoral education environment.

/Erika Franzén

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I am professor at the division of physiotherapy, KI with a joint position between KI and at Karolinska University Hospital and affiliated to Stockholms Sjukhem. Currently, I also work as vice-chair of the committee of doctoral studies 2019-2026 and acting Head of Department (biträdande prefekt) at the department of NVS with responsibility as “temaprefekt” for the collaboration with Theme Womens Health and Allied Health Professionals at Karolinska University Hospital. I also work as scientific director of the uMOVE core facility at KI and member of its steering group.

I obtained my bachelor degree and professional diploma in Physiotherapy at the College of Caring Science in Boden, Sweden, master of physioterapy at KI and PhD in medical sciences at KI with the theisis Effects of healthy aging on balance : A quantitative analysis of clinical tests. I thereafter made my postdoctoral training under the supervision of Professors Fay Horak and Victor Gurfinkel at the Balance Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA.

My research focus is on balance (postural control) and motor control with a special interest in elderly and individuals with neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebellar ataxia and stroke). I have unique competence in both clinical and laboratory methods for measuring postural control and movement. I lead a research group of 15 members with a focus on translational research from exploring neuronal mechanisms to clinical interventions/implementation in the field of neurological and geriatric rehabilitation. Today my research group consists of me as leader and two team leaders/deputy group leaders (docents), PhD students, PhDs, postdocs, assistant professors and research assistants.

I am currently main supervisor for three PhD students and co-supervising six PhD students. I am also currently supervising two postdocs. In the past I have supervised 6 PhD-student as main supervisor, 9 as co-supervisor, 8 postdoc’s and several master and bachelor students.

Supervision to doctoral degree

• Nadejda Baraznenok, ParkMOVE project: Development and evaluation of a personalized exercise program in people with Parkinson’s disease, 2025-
• Lisa Sandberg, Physical activity in people with Parkinson’s disease –risk factors, exercise effects and connections to brain function, 2023-
• Freidle Malin, Motor and cognitive abilities in Parkinson’s disease with a brain activity perspective: performance at baseline and the effects of a balance training program, 2022
• Bendt Martina, Adults with Spina bifida –from health and living conditions to motor-cognitive performance, 2022
• Alexander Kvist, Evaluating complex walking in aging and neurological disease: from motor behavior to brain activity, 2021-
• Johansson Hanna, Balance control and Exercise in Parkinson’s disease: from perceptions to neuroplastic biomarkers, 2020
• Rennie Linda, Gait in elderly with Parkinson’s disease –Long term effects of a highly challenging balance training program, 2020
• Moulaee Conradsson David, Balance control in older adults with Parkinson’s disease - effects of medication and exercise, 2016
• Löfgren Niklas, Gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease- psychometric properties and effects of training., 2016