Lund University has seen a record number of applications for its international recruitment initiative, Global Excellence. Eleni-Ira Panourgia is now joining the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts as an assistant professor specializing in artificial intelligence (AI).
Global Excellence is the university's largest international recruitment initiative to date and aims to strengthen world-leading research in strategically prioritized areas. The initiative is part of Lund University's long-term ambition to shape the global research of the future.
Assistant professor at the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts
At the Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts we welcome Eleni Ira Panourgia to a position as assistant professor (BUL). The appointment is for five years and may then be converted to a permanent position as senior lecturer. BUL positions aim to attract internationally renowned researchers at an early stage of their careers.
“The Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts is already an internationally oriented research environment, but this initiative has given us the opportunity to recruit international expertise in an area that is under development and in which we have great faith for the future,” says Carolina Jonsson Malm, research coordinator at the faculty.
Eleni-Ira Panourgia is employed at Malmö Theater Academy but will work in the faculty's interdisciplinary research environment and contribute to strengthening research throughout the faculty.
Artistic research with a focus on AI
There was considerable interest in the position, with many qualified applicants. Fredrik Haller, head of Malmö Theater Academy, describes what made Panourgia stand out.
It was her skill as both an artist and a researcher; she really has dual expertise in that area, Fredrik Haller.
Eleni Ira Panourgia is an artistic researcher focusing on how artificial intelligence can be used to develop new artistic methods. Her work straddles the boundary between sound, performing arts, technology, and multisensory storytelling.
In her role as assistant professor, she will contribute to method development and serve as a resource in the faculty's research environment, with a particular focus on AI.
Looking to the future
The hope is that this recruitment will further strengthen and expand the faculty's research environment.
“It would be exciting to be able to develop new courses in the long term, for example in AI and performing arts. We are now looking forward to Eleni-Ira joining us and seeing what her expertise can contribute,” says Carolina Jonsson Malm.
The Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts at Lund University is an established and growing environment for artistic research. The recruitment of Eleni-Ira Panourgia is part of the faculty's long-term strategy.
We want to position ourselves as an internationally leading institution in this field,” says Fredrik Haller.
Explore the full Lund University Programme for Global Excellence 2025
