Eleanor Campbell

Name: Eleanor Campbell
Age: 47
Born: Scotland
Lived in Scotland: since returning in 2004

"I was born in Scotland and left after completing a Ph.D to follow an academic career, firstly as a postdoctoral researcher and then moving up the ladder within the German system until becoming a departmental head in a research institute. I then moved to Sweden to become professor of atomic and molecular physics at Gothenburg University.

"In the past I had occasionally considered returning to Scotland (especially after devolution, as a patriotic Scot) but had a very successful career and was happily married to a fellow professor and not really seriously considering moving again.

Edinburgh University approached me last year and asked if I would be interested in the chair of physical chemistry. This was a very difficult opportunity for me to ignore so after discussing this with my husband and obtaining his full support I decided to follow up and successfully applied for the position.

"It was very attractive for me to return to Scotland. I still have family (parents, siblings, nieces) based here and whenever I visited recently there was a very positive atmosphere and a feeling as if things were really beginning to happen for Scotland. I had the same impression when I visited the university. Fortunately my husband was also offered a part-time position at Heriot Watt University, allowing him to spend roughly 50% of the time in Scotland while retaining his position and research group in Sweden.

"It is challenging to start over again in a university system that I am no longer familiar with and in a country where, although I sound as if I am a 'local' I have no experience of working in the country and know very little about how things are done. However, it is a great pleasure to come back and contribute to the exciting new developments in the land of my birth and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to do this at this stage of my career."

Related links

• Edinburgh University