SMHI recruits Nedjeljka Žagar to its professorship in meteorology
Following a thorough recruitment process in which five candidates reached the final stage, Nedjeljka Žagar has been appointed Professor of Meteorology at SMHI. She will take up the position on 1 September 2026.
Nedjeljka Žagar
Nedjeljka Žagar is the agency’s fourth professor. The main scientific focus of the professorship in meteorology is research and development in weather forecasting, both using traditional numerical weather prediction (NWP) and new methods based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. A particular emphasis is on strengthening understanding of, and preparedness for, extreme meteorological events with major impacts on lives, health, infrastructure and society.
“We are pleased that we have now recruited Nedjeljka Žagar to our Professorship in Meteorology. This strengthens our meteorological research and development and is an important step in ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the field, for the benefit of the entire agency”, says Håkan Wirtén, Director General of SMHI.
Helén Andersson, Director of Research at SMHI, looks forward to welcoming Nedjeljka Žagar to SMHI and to the new role as Professor of Meteorology at the agency:
"Nedjeljka Žagar is an exceptionally skilled and highly regarded professor, and we are very pleased that she has chosen to continue her research career in Sweden and at SMHI. She will be extremely important for SMHI at a time when AI technology is revolutionising the production of weather forecasts, while we also need to continue strengthening our understanding of how the atmosphere and weather events function and change", says Helén Andersson.
"Research questions related to numerical weather prediction have been central to my work ever since I became a meteorologist. NWP research demonstrates its value when it contributes to real forecasting practice, and I appreciate the opportunity to work in an environment where scientific development and operational needs are closely connected", says Nedjeljka Žagar.
Strong academic background
Nedjeljka Žagar began her academic career at the Department of Meteorology at Stockholm University, where she completed her PhD in 2004. She then worked at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, with a two-year postdoctoral position at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States during this period. She was appointed professor at the University of Ljubljana in 2017. Since 2019, she has been working as a professor at the University of Hamburg in Germany.
The position as professor at SMHI includes scientific leadership and development of the research environment, as well as research and supervision of junior researchers, postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students. The work is largely carried out within externally funded national and international projects, but also within grant-funded projects aimed at the development and operational implementation of SMHI’s regional numerical weather prediction systems.
Strengthening SMHI’s research
High scientific competence is a prerequisite for successful research. The ability to appoint professors enables SMHI to strengthen expertise across the entire agency and to enhance collaboration with universities and higher education institutions, nationally and internationally.
The decision to appoint the professorship in meteorology was made by SMHI’s Director General, following a presentation by Helén Andersson, Director of Research. The position was advertised in May 2025 and attracted 20 applicants. After external expert assessment of the applicants’ qualifications, where Nedjeljka Žagar was ranked very highly by all external expert reviewers, five candidates progressed to interviews and trial lectures. Following evaluation and a second interview, SMHI’s appointment committee recommended her for the position.
Since 2017, SMHI’s instructions have allowed the agency to appoint one professor within each subject area. The professorship in climatology is currently held by Erik Kjellström, the professorship in hydrology by Berit Arheimer, and the professorship in oceanography by Lars Arneborg. Nedjeljka Žagar will take up the professorship in meteorology on 1 September 2026.
SMHI is an expert government agency in meteorology, hydrology, oceanography and climate. SMHI’s Research Department has just over 140 employees working with applied research, method and model development, thereby contributing to sound societal planning and a thriving and safer society. All of the agency’s activities are founded on a scientific basis.
