After research studies in Combustion Physics, Öivind Andersson worked for seven years with development of combustion systems at Volvo Car Corporation. He was recruited to the division of Combustion Engines at Lund University in 2007, became Docent (reader) in 2010 and is Professor since 2011. His research is mainly connected with in-cylinder processes in piston engines, and mostly conducted using optical measurement techniques in optically accessible research engines. Recently, his research interests have focused on hydrogen engines and hydrogen fuel cells.

Öivind Andersson is a member of the LTH Pedagogical Academy ('excellent teaching practicioner'). He has a role at the Centre for Engineering Education (CEE), the pedagogical development unit of Lund University's engineering faculty. At CEE, he teaches doctoral supervisors and gives faculty-common doctoral courses. He is also a member of the faculty research programmes board as faculty director of research studies.