[6] In 1888 the 21-year-old Wiman began his studies at Uppsala University and in 1895 obtained his PhD degree with the thesis "Über die Graptoliten" (On Graptolites).

[6] He began his scientific career in 1891 under Arvid Högbom, centered around Jämtland and other Cambrian-Silurian underwater fossiliferous districts that were of interest but difficult to access.

During this time Wiman also refined the method of freeing fossils by dissolving the matrix in hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acid, which helped advance the field of graptolite zoology.

[9] In 1896 Wiman was made lecturer of palaeontology and pre-Quaternary historical geology by his PhD advisor, now professor, Arvid Högbom, who preferred to devote his time to other scientific endeavors.

Nevertheless, Högbom constantly sought for Wiman's success, and actively promoted the project of an independent professorship in palaeontology and historical geology.

[6] It was important in the sense that it triggered a number of successful Swedish expeditions that focused on finding vertebrate fossils, resulting in the collection of several fish, marine reptile (majorly Ichthyosaurs), and Temnospondyli fossils, ultimately leading to the foundation of the Palaeontological Institute in Uppsala and the elevation of Swedish vertebrate palaeontology into the international limelight.

Generous donations, in large part by the superintendent at the Royal Swedish Court, Axel Lagrelius, enabled Wiman to purchase and acquire a number of fine reptile specimens from Europe, North America, and from the famous American fossil hunter Charles Hazelius Sternberg, who made a special expedition to New Mexico for the Uppsala collections in 1921.

[6] Johan Gunnar Andersson, a prominent Swedish geologist and archaeologist, and Wiman's friend since early youth, was working in China in 1919.

[10] Wiman sent a few of his students, namely Otto Zdansky, Birger Bohlin, Torsten J. Ringström and Erik Stensiö from Sweden, as well as non-Swedish scientists such as Max Schlosser and Arthur T. Hopwood.