Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen appointed new Director General of ESS

Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen has been formally appointed as the new Director General of the European Spallation Source (ESS). Her five-year mandate, set to begin on November 1, 2026, was approved by the ESS Council on April 24.

Nielsen possesses an internationally recognized career in materials science research and fifteen years of experience leading large scientific organizations. Most recently, she served as Head of the Physics Department at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where she oversaw more than 300 staff and was responsible for implementing research strategy, infrastructure development, and educational quality.

With a PhD in physics and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from DTU, Nielsen has a strong academic background. She has also held positions as a professor and associate professor at DTU and serves on multiple boards, including the Independent Research Fund Denmark and advisory panels for international institutions.

Nielsen is already familiar with ESS, having served as Denmark's scientific delegate to the ESS Council since 2019. Her involvement also includes the transfer of the Data Management and Scientific Computing center (DMSC) to DTU's campus in 2024. Robert McGreevy, Chair of the ESS Council, welcomed Nielsen, highlighting her suitability as ESS transitions from a construction project to an operational user facility. She succeeds Helmut Schober, who has led the facility since 2021.