/A RSS feed provided by Umeå Universityen-usFri, 20 Feb 2026 10:30:25 +0100/en/news/mixed-reality-increases-realism-in-training-for-mass-casualty-incidents_12163265/A new thesis from Umeå University shows how emerging virtual technologies can complement traditional disaster training and offer emergency medical personnel the opportunity to practice complex situations in realistic ways – before they occur in real life.Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:14:42 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Fredrik Schulz's thesis shows how new virtual technology can complement traditional disaster training.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>MED1stMR</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">combines real and digital environments</p><p>&ldquo;My results show that mixed reality simulation training, which combines real and digital environments, is an effective and pedagogically robust method that allows emergency medical personnel to immerse themselves and prepare to handle major incidents with multiple casualties,&rdquo; says Fredrik Schulz that recently received his PhD degree. He conducted his doctoral studies at the Department of Nursing and the Knowledge Centre for Disaster Medicine at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Major incidents often mean that available resources are insufficient relative to the number of injured. This places immense pressure on emergency responders, who must prioritize and make decisions under time constraints &ndash; situations where mistakes can have life‑or‑death consequences. Effective and realistic training is therefore essential, both for managing stress and performing critical tasks.</p><p>Previous research has shown that despite various forms of training, many professionals in emergency care feel insufficiently prepared for mass‑casualty incidents. As preparedness challenges in healthcare continue to grow, mixed reality is becoming an increasingly important tool for realistic and flexible training.</p><p>Mixed reality is a technology that combines the physical world with digital elements. Unlike virtual reality &ndash; where the user fully enters a computer‑generated environment and typically uses handheld controllers &ndash; mixed reality takes place within the real environment. Participants see and interact simultaneously with real people and virtual objects projected into the room, such as patients or accident scenarios. This allows them to move freely and collaborate as they would in real life, while encountering digital events that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to recreate during training.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Fredrik Schulz is a registered nurse and earned a PhD at the Department of Nursing and Knowledge Centre for Disaster Medicine at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Fredrik Sundvall / FotoINorr</span></div></div><p>In his thesis, Fredrik Schulz explored how mixed reality technology can complement traditional disaster training and identified the factors that facilitate or hinder the learning process of skills required for major incidents. With this dissertation, he is among the first to study both technical (medical management) and non‑technical skills (such as communication, stress management, and situational awareness) in a larger group of participants.</p><p>Data were collected from emergency care services in several European countries using various methods, including observations during field exercises, interviews, self‑assessment instruments, surveys, and group discussions.</p><p>The results confirm that there remains a strong need for new methods that can strengthen both the practical and mental preparedness of emergency medical personnel.</p><p>One clear factor that supported learning through mixed reality was the strong sense of presence and immersion in the scenario.</p><p>&ldquo;By presenting the accident scene virtually, emergency responders can practice forming an overall picture of the situation, collaborating with other actors on site, and understanding the different roles and areas of responsibility that exist during a major incident.&rdquo;</p><p>At the same time, Fredrik Schulz found that increased realism does not automatically lead to better learning of technical skills.</p><p>&ldquo;For mixed reality technology to reach its full potential, simulation training needs to reflect clinical practice to an even greater extent,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>The hope is that the research findings will support the future development of mixed‑reality‑based training programmes in disaster medicine education and thereby strengthen emergency responders&rsquo; preparedness for future crises.</p>/en/news/mixed-reality-increases-realism-in-training-for-mass-casualty-incidents_12163265//en/news/advanced-security-technology-rarely-used--researchers-at-umea-university-explain-and-offer-a-solution_12162711/Whether bacteria compete or cooperate depends on subtle interactions, often studied using abstract mathematical models. Now, students at Umeå University have transformed this research into a computer game, making microbial dynamics visible and playable.Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:06:10 +0100<p>In the microscopic world, bacteria often compete for nutrients and other essential molecules. At the same time, they can also cooperate,&nbsp; using by-products released by other bacteria in the same environment. Understanding when bacteria compete versus cooperate, and how they respond to their environment is research carried out by Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn, postdoctoral fellow, and Eric Libby, associate professor, both affiliated with the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) at Ume&aring; University, and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>Because these processes cannot be directly observed in detail, they are often investigated using mathematical models. While powerful, such models can be difficult to understand for those outside of their immediate research field.</p><p class="quote-center">We thought not only about communicating our research, but also that in designing the game you learn aspects of your system that you didn&rsquo;t fully appreciate</p><h3>From research to game</h3><p>Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby proposed developing a game through the Design Build Test course &mdash; an undergraduate project-based course where students work on real-world challenges.</p><p>A game might not seem like the most immediate way to approach this complex research.</p><p>&nbsp;Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn first proposed the idea to Eric after a workshop she attended during the summer of 2025 on science communication. &ldquo;There was someone at the workshop that developed a game. It sounded kind of cool and fun and I thought maybe this is a useful tool to use to talk across disciplines.&rdquo;</p><p>Eric Libby, an avid player of games in his spare time, immediately jumped on the idea.</p><p>&ldquo;We thought not only about communicating our research, but also that in designing the game you learn aspects of your system that you didn&rsquo;t fully appreciate,&rdquo; Eric explained. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s as much of a game for us as it is a learning tool and a communication exercise.&rdquo;</p><p>During the 2025 autumn term, a team of students worked to transform microbial competition and cooperation into an interactive experience. The researchers deliberately left the format open.</p><p>&ldquo;I had no expectations&hellip; I didn&rsquo;t know what it was going to be,&rdquo; Eric said. &ldquo;What they created was great.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9f61e28a-e7e8-41a1-b936-f670a3f5ed2c" data-contentname="BacMan Game Play">{}</div><p>The result is Bacman, a multiplayer strategy game where players must survive by selecting nutrients, responding to environmental conditions, and navigating interactions with other bacteria.</p><h3>Designing survival</h3><p>In August 2025, Eric Libby and Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn pitched their project to the Design-Build-Test students. After voting on preferred projects, students were placed into teams and began project development . For Jesper Erixon, one of the student developers, the appeal of the microbial dynamics game was immediate.</p><p class="quote-center">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nothing like the other courses&hellip; everything isn&rsquo;t perfectly laid out. You have to get around these bumps and figure stuff out as you go, so you learn a lot.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;It really struck me as an interesting opportunity,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Partly as an educational tool to get more people inspired and interested in biology, but also as a research tool where you can have a simplified situation that still models some of the complex behavior we can see in research in a fun way.&rdquo;</p><p>In the game, survival depends on strategy.</p><p>&ldquo;You choose your bacteria&hellip; you have to be wary of the surrounding environment and the other players,&rdquo; Jesper Erixon explained. Players can cooperate by using waste products produced by others or compete by securing nutrients first.</p><p>The process was not without challenges.</p><p>&ldquo;None of us are game developers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We had very ambitious ideas. We had to scale them back&hellip; but it&rsquo;s a very fun and playable game, and there&rsquo;s a lot of opportunity to develop it further.&rdquo;</p><h3>A tool for learning across disciplines</h3><p>The Design-Build-Test student team presented their work to researchers in IceLab in January. They played the game together and discussed how well it captured key ideas from the research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Presentation of the 'BacMan' Design-Build-Test student game in IceLab</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s very creative&hellip; it shows how cells compete with each other over different nutrients and gives a lot of different ideas when you think about strategies,&rdquo; said Sena Gizem S&uuml;er, PhD student studying bacterial stress responses, after testing the game.</p><p>Luis Jose Fernando, a PhD student with a background in hydrology, noted that the experience challenged his assumptions.</p><p>&ldquo;I learned at least a little bit more about how they interact because I quite frankly know nothing about it,&rdquo; he said, adding that the game was &ldquo;fun to play&rdquo; and &ldquo;very smooth to use.&rdquo;</p><p>Aswin Gopakumar, a PhD student who models ecosystem dynamics, highlighted a broader parallel between modelling and game design.</p><p>&ldquo;Games cannot replicate all parts of real-life physics&hellip; we do the exact same thing with models,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Mixing those two sounds like a no-brainer.&rdquo;</p><h3>Real-world project experience</h3><p>The Design Build Test course is structured around open-ended projects that mirror professional settings. Students from engineering physics, computer science, and biotechnology collaborated on Bacman, making creative and technical decisions along the way.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nothing like the other courses&hellip; everything isn&rsquo;t perfectly laid out,&rdquo; Jesper Erixon said. &ldquo;You have to get around these bumps and figure stuff out as you go, so you learn a lot.&rdquo;</p><p>For the researchers involved, the project showed how collaboration between students and researchers can create new ways to communicate science. It also demonstrated how translating research into another format can sharpen researchers&rsquo; own understanding of the systems they study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Four members of the Design-Build-Test student project team sit in IceLab next to their project owners, Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby from IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby are already considering future iterations, potentially exploring rule changes that reflect different microbial settings and introducing AI players. The team is also planning to present the game at the science festival ForskarFredag at Curiosum in September, where members of the public will be able to try it.</p><p>As Bacman continues to evolve, it highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration can make abstract research more accessible &mdash; and open new perspectives on the science itself.</p>/en/news/students-turn-bacterial-math-models-into-a-game_12162503//en/news/eco-friendly-spruce-bark-can-replace-toxic-chemicals_12162693/A decoction made from spruce bark can replace toxic chemicals used to inhibit bacteria that otherwise produce dangerous gases and slime in paper mills and wastewater systems. This is shown in a collaborative project between SLU and Umeå University.Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:16:01 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maria Hedberg, staff scientist at the Department of Odontology at Ume&aring; University, has seen how spruce bark can keep microbes in check.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Fotonord</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">surprising that so many species were highly sensitive to the spruce bark extract</p><p>&ldquo;It was surprising that so many species were highly sensitive to the spruce bark extract. But considering that the same compounds in the bark protect the spruce tree from various microbes, it is not that strange,&rdquo; says Maria Hedberg, staff scientist at the Department of Odontology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In the &ldquo;factory soup&rdquo; of fibres destined to become paper and cardboard, microorganisms also thrive in the lukewarm water. Particularly when recycled paper is used, large quantities of bacteria enter the process. If these microbes are allowed to grow, they produce explosive, toxic, foul‑smelling gases and a thick slime that clogs pipes and reduces paper quality. Today, a cocktail of biocidal chemicals is added to keep microbial growth in check.</p><p>Now, a research team in Ume&aring; has developed a more environmentally friendly method to control the bacteria. By boiling spruce bark in water and then pressing it, they obtain an extract that can be added to the process water.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">99 percent disappeared</h2><p>In a pilot project at the paper mill in Obbola, south of Ume&aring;, 99 percent of bacteria disappeared after 16 hours when spruce bark extract was added. In fact, the results suggest that spruce bark extract may be more effective than synthetic chemicals.</p><p>Initially, the chemical biocide was indeed stronger (more toxic), but over a slightly longer period the spruce bark extract delayed gas formation significantly better. This long‑lasting effect is important to avoid problems during production stoppages.</p><p>Maria Hedberg&rsquo;s experience of working with human bacteria and studying how they react to different substances was crucial in the project. She was responsible for the part of the research that examined the antimicrobial properties of the spruce bark extract. In the study, she analysed samples from two types of environments: the paper industry and municipal wastewater systems. From these environments, representative, dominant bacterial species were isolated, and their sensitivity to the extract was tested.</p><p>&ldquo;We mainly see a predominance of spore‑forming bacteria such as <em>Bacillus</em> and <em>Clostridium</em> species, as well as filament‑forming bacteria like <em>Thiothrix</em>. At the same time, the bacterial flora in recycled paper pulp is extremely complex, with many species present,&rdquo; says Maria Hedberg.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maria Hedberg identified above all a predominance of spore-forming bacteria, here <em>Clostridium</em> sp.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Maria Hedberg</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Harder to develop resistance</h2><p>The bacteria also seem to have more difficulty developing resistance to the spruce bark extract, which has a far more complex chemical structure than the pure chemicals normally used.</p><p>&ldquo;Most likely, it is simply more demanding for bacteria to &lsquo;outsmart&rsquo; the spruce bark extract compared to a traditional biocide. The extract consists of many components with complex structures, which makes it harder for microbes to develop resistance. The tannins likely play an important role in the extract&rsquo;s antimicrobial effect,&rdquo; Maria Hedberg says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A by‑product with potential</h2><p>The method has been developed within CEforestry, a European collaboration project led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU. The aim is to make better use of forestry by‑products. Spruce bark is abundant, as all timber is debarked at the processing plants. The bark has low value today and is burned. But as a raw material for an antibacterial extract, the bark would gain higher value.</p><p>In addition to paper mills, spruce bark extract could likely also be beneficial in municipal wastewater systems, where bacteria that produce corrosive and foul‑smelling gases &ndash; and slime that clogs pipes &ndash; cause problems.</p><p>To use the extract on a larger scale, more development is needed. Large‑scale trials in paper mills are required to confirm its effectiveness. A machine is also needed to produce the extract &ndash; preferably on‑site at the factory.</p><p>&ldquo;Spruce bark extract has all the prerequisites to become a strong and sustainable alternative to synthetic products in paper mills and wastewater treatment plants,&rdquo; says Mehrdad Arshadi, project leader at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU.</p>/en/news/eco-friendly-spruce-bark-can-replace-toxic-chemicals_12162693//en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-on-the-role-of-science-in-society_12161310/At a time when science is being questioned, it is more important than ever for researchers to show how research contributes to solving societal challenges, says professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel laureate and honorary doctor at Umeå University, in an exclusive interview.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:10:02 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier in Ume&aring;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We should raise our voices as a community, stop and explain what we do,&rdquo; says Emmanuelle Charpentier in this interview.&nbsp;</p><p>Click below to see the filmed interv&iacute;ew.</p>/en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-on-the-role-of-science-in-society_12161310//en/news/examining-the-innermost-machinery-of-viruses_12161301/Viruses are among the simplest biological structures in existence. Yet time and again they manage to take control of some of the most advanced systems we know of: living cells. How this actually happens is one of the major unresolved questions in modern biology. Lars-Anders Carlson and his research team at Umeå University aim to find the answer.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:53:04 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lars-Anders Carlson and his team will take three-dimensional &lsquo;close-up images&rsquo; of the inside of an infected cell to see how the virus factories are actually organized.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johan Guns&eacute;us</span></div></div><p>Using some of the world&rsquo;s most advanced microscopes, he wants to step inside the virus-infected cell and study how viruses remodel the cell&rsquo;s interior to create efficient virus factories. The project focuses on two viruses, with the aim of understanding the mechanics of infection at the atomic level.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to understand how viruses reconfigure the inside of an infected cell. Although viruses often have fewer than a dozen genes, they can still take over a cell that has tens of thousands of genes. It&rsquo;s really quite incredible,&rdquo; says Lars-Anders Carlson, a professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Compared with human cells, viruses are extremely simple. They lack their own metabolism, cannot reproduce on their own, and are completely dependent on infecting a host cell.</p><p>&ldquo;Viruses hijack functions that already exist in the cell. They remodel the cell&rsquo;s structure and create what we call virus factories &ndash; specialized environments in which they can copy their DNA and assemble new virus particles.&rdquo;</p><p>And it is these virus factories that lie at the centre of Carlson&rsquo;s research. What do they look like? How are they structured? And why do they look the same in different viruses, even though the viruses use completely different strategies to create them?</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Read the news article</h2><p><a href="https://kaw.wallenberg.org/en/research/examining-innermost-machinery-viruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the whole news article on the KAW website</a></p><p>Lars-Anders Carlson leads the project &ldquo;Conserved concepts and divergent details of membrane-bound viral replication organelles&rdquo; financed by Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, KAW.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/examining-the-innermost-machinery-of-viruses_12161301//en/news/tropical-shrimp-and-fish-could-be-grown-sustainably-in-umea_12161074/Soon it may be possible to farm tropical shrimp and fish in Umeå. With support from two EU projects, researcher Olivier Keech will develop a circular farming system with a low carbon footprint that utilises surplus heat from Umeå Energi's combined heat and power plant.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:28:43 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Olivier Keech leads the research behind a new initiative focused on circular and resource‑efficient farming of shrimp and fish.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Stephanie Robert</span></div></div><p>Producing shrimp and fish locally in Ume&aring; is significantly more climate-smart than importing them from the other side of the world. If the farming system is also heated by surplus energy &ndash; then the climate benefit will be even greater.</p><p>Ume&aring; University has long supported research that contributes to sustainable societal development and the green transition. Soon, the first steps will be taken towards making Ume&aring; &ndash; and eventually perhaps the entire region &ndash; self-sufficient in shrimp and fish. The project, which recently received funding from the EU's research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, is a collaboration between Ume&aring; University, Ume&aring; Municipality, Ume&aring; Energy and RISE.</p><p>But how is it possible to farm species that normally live in Southeast Asia and Latin America, in northern Sweden?</p><p>&ldquo;It's not that crazy if you think about it. After all, anyone can grow vegetables in the winter if they do so indoors. Our normal room temperature is close to that of a tropical climate,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech, researcher in cell metabolism and sustainable food production at Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Multitrophic farming enables efficient nutrient cycle</h2><p>The idea is based on something called multitrophic farming. It is a way of growing several species at different levels of the food chain together. The nutrients circulate in a cycle, where the residual products from one species become resources for another. Like a natural ecosystem &ndash; but optimised to be as productive and resource-efficient as possible.</p><p>Olivier Keech tested it for the first time about ten years ago together with his students. In a one cubic meter system, they grew everything from fish to carrots and parsley. Since then, he has continued to develop the idea.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Shrimp are one of the species included in the planned farming system.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sergio Zimmermann</span></div></div><p>The planned shrimp and fish farm at D&aring;va CHP plant uses the same principle. It will be a circular aquaculture system with several basins in succession where water and nutrients move in one direction. One basin contains shrimp or fish. Their feces are taken care of in the next step by various microorganisms that in turn convert it into new nutrients.</p><p>Multitropical farming requires a complex and carefully balanced mix of different organisms. In the project, Olivier Keech uses modelling, in collaboration with ecologists and mathematicians at Ume&aring; University, to find out how the different animals and plants interact with each other in the system and to optimise the flow.</p><p>&ldquo;This requires large amounts of data and knowledge. There are biological, physical and economic layers that must work together and in symbiosis with the combined heat and power plant,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech, who at the same time as this project also received funding for a separate basic research project on multitrophic farming.</p><p>He has already spent many years developing the farming method, which he believes has great potential. There is today a small pilot plant in V&auml;stervik. Through this project, it will be possible to scale up and build the next generation facility in Ume&aring;.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">An important step in Ume&aring;'s green transition</h2><p>The first step, which will start as early as spring 2026, is small-scale experiments at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre. The hope is to then be able to build a larger plant integrated in Ume&aring; Energi's CHP plant within a year.</p><p><strong>Will Ume&aring; residents be able to buy and eat shrimp from this facility?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;Eventually, yes. But the time frame is a little unclear. It depends, among other things, on permits, and we want to make sure we do this in a good way that works in the long run and that is profitable, or at least economically viable,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><p>This happening in Ume&aring; is no coincidence. According to Olivier Keech, Ume&aring; is a very dynamic municipality with a strong desire to develop sustainable solutions for the future and to take risks.</p><p>&ldquo;This is an important step in Ume&aring;'s green transition and shows that our work with circular solutions is at a high international level. The initiative strengthens our self-sufficiency, increases resilience, and reduces climate emissions by replacing imported food with local production,&rdquo; says Hans Lindberg, Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">The aim: a carbon-neutral food industry</h2><p>Ume&aring; University is also forward-looking and highlights sustainable food production as one of its priority research areas.</p><p>&ldquo;I have a lot of support from the university, the faculty and my department to engage not only in basic research but also in applied research that explores how the university and the city of Ume&aring; can help each other develop,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><p>The long-term goal of the project is to make the food industry carbon neutral by taking advantage of surplus energy and biological waste. After the experiments with shrimp and fish, the next step may be to grow mushrooms or vegetables, for example. Olivier Keech hopes that the project will have a ripple effect in other parts of Sweden and the world.</p><p>&ldquo;What excites me the most with this project is the win for everybody. That we can design our cities and our systems to produce food in a better way. Everyone I talk to about the project is motivated. This is a mini-revolution when it comes to food,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="610da301-2d77-4bc8-a243-b509179b7d2d" data-contentname="About the projects">{}</div>/en/news/tropical-shrimp-and-fish-could-be-grown-sustainably-in-umea_12161074//en/news/friday-the-13th--a-day-of-superstition-and-horror_12161014/Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, and fear of this day has even been given its own name — paraskavedekatriaphobia. But why Friday, and why the 13th? The idea that this day is unlucky can be linked to history, religion, and even popular culture. Katarina Gregersdotter is docent of English literature and a member of Svenska Deckarakademin. Her research focuses on crime fiction, horror films, and horror literature.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:25:46 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Katarina Gregersdotter, associate professor at the Department of Language Studies.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ulrika Bergfors</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;When Svenska Deckarakademin was founded in 1971, it had 13 members. This was a wink at the unlucky number 13 and Agatha Christie's 1934 crime novel Thirteen at Dinner. Today, we have 21 members, and none of us are particularly superstitious.&rdquo;, says Katarina Gregersdotter who holds seat no.20.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Common horror theme</h2><p>Superstition and superstitious beliefs are common themes in the horror genre, and the tarnished reputation of Friday the 13th is often reproduced, for example in Thomas W. Lawson's novel Friday, the Thirteenth (1907) and the horror film series Friday the 13th.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Funnily enough, there are 12 films in the Friday the 13th series. There have been rumors for a long time that a 13th film will be made, but perhaps no one wants to tempt fate? Serial killer Jason Voorhees may have swung his last machete, and if so, I don't think many people will mourn him.&rdquo;</p><p>The Master of Horror, Stephen King, suffers from triskaidekaphobia &ndash; simply a phobia of the number 13. He wrote an article in The New York Times in 1984 where he came out as a phobic and talked about how he avoids the number 13 in his everyday life.</p><p>&ldquo;He admitted: It's neurotic, sure. But it's also... safer. He went on to give many examples of terrible things that happened on Friday the 13th.&rdquo;</p><p>Katarina goes on to say that in the US, there is often no 13th floor &ndash; the elevator goes from 12 to 14.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Biblical roots</h2><p>In the Western world, the idea that Friday the 13th brings bad luck or misfortune is often linked to stories from the Bible: there were 13 people around the table at Jesus' last supper, and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. When the date 13 falls on a Friday, two factors that are believed to bring bad luck coincide. The Institute for Language and Folklore has several stories about superstitions linked to the number 13. For example, a record from Sm&aring;land says: <em>If you put thirteen slices of bread in the oven, your family will get smaller.</em></p><p>And those who are superstitious have a special year ahead of them. In 2026, the unlucky day and the unlucky date coincide three times: February 13, March 13, and November 13.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/friday-the-13th--a-day-of-superstition-and-horror_12161014//en/news/mentorship-strengthens-experienced-nurses_12160918/A new doctoral thesis from Umeå University shows that mentorship benefits not only newly graduated nurses but also the experienced nurses who act as mentors. For mentorship to be sustainable over time, employers and management must provide clear support and structure.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:17:16 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Stina Kallerhult-Hermansson, lecturer at the Department of Nursing, has studied nurses and mentorship in her doctoral thesis.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Mentorship is truly an investment in the whole team</p><p>&ldquo;When mentors grow in their professional role, the entire healthcare system benefits. Mentorship is truly an investment in the whole team,&rdquo; says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson, Lecturer at the Department of Nursing at Ume&aring; University-</p><p>While previous research on mentorship in healthcare has largely focused on the experiences of the newly graduated nurse, Kallerhult Hermansson&rsquo;s thesis shifts the spotlight to the mentors. The work is part of a Swedish&ndash;Norwegian collaboration in which a joint mentorship model was developed and tested in both V&auml;sterbotten and Nordland. Mentors received dedicated training and were paired with newly employed nurses, with the aim of strengthening mentorship as a support structure and contributing to a more sustainable working life.</p><p>The study also examined nurses in V&auml;sterbotten and Nordland more broadly, focusing on aspects such as job satisfaction and perceived professional competence. The results show that mentors experienced both personal and professional growth &ndash; including strengthened leadership skills, deeper reflection on their professional identity, and a renewed sense of pride in their expertise.</p><p>The findings further reveal that nurses with one and a half to five years of work experience reported the lowest job satisfaction. This group showed lower satisfaction than both newly graduated nurses and those with longer experience.</p><p>&ldquo;This group of nurses may benefit particularly from mentorship in order to remain in the profession,&rdquo; says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson.</p><p>Another key conclusion is that sustainable mentorship requires employers to integrate it into everyday routines and provide organizational support.</p><p>&ldquo;Mentorship must be part of daily practice and supported at the organizational level. This benefits both staff development and patient safety.&rdquo;</p><p>Stina Kallerhult Hermansson defended her doctoral thesis at Ume&aring; University on 5 December 2025.</p><p>Read the thesis: <a href="https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-246064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Being and becoming a mentor: personal and professional growth in a Swedish-Norwegian multicenter nurse mentorship intervention</a></p>/en/news/mentorship-strengthens-experienced-nurses_12160918//en/news/why-methane-surged-in-the-early-2020s_12160486/Methane rose at an unprecedent rate in the early 2020s. A new international study published in Science, with contributions from Umeå University, shows that this surge was driven primarily by a temporary weakening of the atmosphere’s ability to remove methane, combined with climate-driven increases in natural emissions in Africa, Asia, and the Arctic.Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>It was not primarily emissions from fossil fuels that caused the temporary increase in methane, but changes in the atmosphere combined with a wetter climate.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Wirestock on Freepik</span></div></div><p>Methane is the second most important human-driven greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. In the early 2020s, its levels in the atmosphere increased sharply, reaching a peak that researchers can now explain.</p><p>The atmosphere contains hydroxyl (OH) radicals that act as the main &ldquo;cleaning agent&rdquo;, breaking down methane. During the covid-19 lockdowns, emissions of nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants from transportation decreased. These pollutants are needed to form OH radicals through chemical reactions involving sunlight, ozone and water vapour.</p><p>When OH levels dropped, the atmosphere became less effective at removing methane, allowing it to accumulate faster.</p><p>Analyzing satellite observations, ground-based measurements, atmospheric chemistry data, and using advanced computer models, the researchers found a sharp decline in OH radicals during 2020&ndash;2021. This explains around 80 percent of the year-to-year variation in methane concentration growth. Fossil fuel emissions and wildfires only played a minor role.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">La Ni&ntilde;a affected methane levels</h2><p>Gerard Rocher-Ros, Assistant Professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University and IceLab, contributed to the study by estimating monthly methane emissions from running waters.</p><p>&ldquo;This study was a great puzzle, where scientists modelling methane fluxes from different sources and atmospheric models each brought one piece, and we had to figure out how to fit them together,&rdquo; he says.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Gerard Rocher-Ros researches the water bodies' emissions of greenhouse gases.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>At the same time as levels of OH radicals declined, climate variability strongly amplified methane emissions from natural sources. An extended La Ni&ntilde;a period from 2020 to 2023 brought wetter-than-average conditions across much of the tropics, expanding flooded areas and increasing methane emissions from wetlands and inland waters, which are the largest single methane source around the world at present.</p><p>The largest increases occurred in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, while Arctic freshwaters also showed significant growth.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Weaknesses in current models</h2><p>The findings expose important weaknesses in current methane emission models, many of which underestimated wetland emissions during this period.</p><p>&ldquo;Our current models for methane in rivers are still primitive compared to other ecosystems. My group is working on newer approaches that hopefully can help advancing science in this field, starting with Arctic, where emissions are increasing fast,&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher-Ros.</p><p>The publication in Science clarifies why atmospheric methane burden rose so rapidly &ndash; and why it has recently slowed down a little bit. It also underscores that future methane trends will depend not only on emission controls, but also on air quality policies and climate-driven changes in the natural methane cycle.</p><p>&ldquo;In particular, we should better monitor and understand how tropical and northern wetland emissions of methane respond to the Earth's climate, which becomes warmer and wetter,&rdquo; says Philippe Ciais, lead author of the study from the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l&rsquo;Environnement (LSCE) in France.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6cfb7ef6-476b-4522-a7af-10f2afa3d473" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/why-methane-surged-in-the-early-2020s_12160486//en/news/from-chemical-curiosity-to-key-piece-in-cancer-research_12159066/DNA’s iconic double helix does more than “just” store genetic information. Under certain conditions it can temporarily fold into unusual shapes. Researchers at Umeå University have now shown that one such structure, known as i-DNA, not only forms in living cells but also acts as a regulatory bottleneck linked to cancer.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:01:55 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Postdoctoral researcher Pallabi Sengupta studies i-DNA, a field of research that is still in its early stages.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">a kind of &lsquo;peek‑a‑boo structure&rsquo; in the DNA molecule</p><p>&ldquo;You can think of <em>i-DNA</em> as a kind of &lsquo;peek‑a‑boo structure&rsquo; in the DNA molecule. Its formation is tightly controlled in time and it must be resolved at precisely the right moment. We believe it plays an important role in gene regulation, because these structures can appear and disappear in sync with changes in the cell&rsquo;s state,&rdquo; says first author Pallabi Sengupta, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University. The study is now published in Nature Communications.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">A highly unusual DNA structure</h2><p>The familiar double helix can be imagined as a twisted ladder with sugar‑phosphate backbones as side rails and base pairs &ndash; adenine (A) paired with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) paired with guanine (G) &ndash; forming the rungs.</p><p><em>i-DNA</em>, however, bears little resemblance to this shape. Instead, it is more like a distorted, self‑folded ladder tied into a knot. It consists of a single DNA strand folding back on itself to form a four‑stranded structure. At the molecular level, the structure is held together not by standard A&ndash;T and C&ndash;G base pairs, but by pairs of cytosines.</p><p>These rare, short‑lived structures appear and disappear depending on the cellular environment. For decades, they were dismissed as too unstable to exist inside cells and regarded as laboratory artifacts. With new experimental techniques, researchers in Ume&aring; can now demonstrate that <em>i-DNA</em> does form, but only briefly, just before DNA replication begins.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Key protein controls structure resolution</h2><p>The study further shows that the protein PCBP1 acts as a critical regulator. It unwinds<em> i-DNA</em> at the right moment, allowing the DNA replication machinery to proceed. If the structures fail to open in time, they block replication, increasing the risk of DNA damage &ndash; a hallmark of heightened cancer vulnerability.</p><p>The researchers also discovered that<em> i-DNA</em> is not uniform: some structures are easy to unwind, while others are highly resistant, depending on the underlying DNA sequence.</p><p>&ldquo;The more cytosine base pairs that hold the knot together, the harder it is to resolve. In some cases, hybrid structures can form, making <em>i-DNA</em> even more stable,&rdquo; explains Nasim Sabouri, professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University, who led the study.</p><p>Notably, many <em>i-DNA</em> structures are located in regulatory regions of oncogenes &ndash; genes that drive cancer development &ndash; suggesting a direct link between <em>i-DNA</em> and disease.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The image shows how proteins become visible in a gel after being isolated from cells.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>To study these short-lived structures, the team combined biochemical assays, computational modelling and cell biology. They successfully visualized how PCBP1 progressively opens<em> i-DNA</em> and captured the structures in living cells at the exact moment in the cell cycle when they appear.</p><p>&ldquo;By connecting molecular mechanisms to actual effects in cells, we can show that this is biologically relevant and not a laboratory phenomenon,&rdquo; says Ikenna Obi, staff scientist at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">New opportunities for drug development</h2><p>The discovery reframes <em>i-DNA</em> from a molecular oddity to a potential weakness in cancer cells. Because cancer cells often experience high replication stress attempting to divide so rapidly that their DNA replication machinery approaches breakdown, any disruption in i-DNA handling may have severe consequences.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can influence <em>i-DNA</em> or the protein that unwinds it, we may be able to push cancer cells beyond their tolerance limit. This opens completely new avenues for drug development,&rdquo; says Nasim Sabouri.</p><p>The study was conducted in collaboration with Natacha Gillet, researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France. It was funded by Cancerfonden, the Wenner-Gren Foundations, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Nasim Sabouri, Pallabi Sengupta, and Ikenna Obi. The team will now investigate which cellular conditions promote i-DNA formation and whether these short‑lived structures can serve as new targets for diagnostics and cancer therapy.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div>/en/news/from-chemical-curiosity-to-key-piece-in-cancer-research_12159066//en/news/reshaping-gold-leads-to-new-electronic-and-optical-properties_12158682/By changing the physical structure of gold at the nanoscale, researchers can drastically change how the material interacts with light – and, as a result, its electronic and optical properties. This is shown by a study from Umeå University published in Nature Communications.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>In the laser laboratory, Tlek Tapani and Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri are testing how porous structures enable gold to absorb more light energy than ordinary gold.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Gold plays a crucial role in modern advanced technology thanks to its unique properties.</p><p>New research now demonstrates that changing the material's physical structure &ndash; its morphology &ndash; can fundamentally enhance both its electronic behaviour and its ability to interact with light.</p><p>&ldquo;This might make it possible to improve the efficiency of chemical reactions such as those used in hydrogen production or carbon capture,&rdquo; says Tlek Tapani, one of the leading researchers behind the study and doctoral student at the Department of Physics.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Absorbs more light energy</h2><p>The researchers worked with nanoporous gold, a so-called metamaterial produced in a laboratory. Thanks to its sponge-like structure, nanoporous gold has even better properties for technical applications than ordinary solid gold.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The nanoporous structure allows the gold to interact with light in a way that would otherwise not be possible.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Generated by AI</span></div></div><p>In this study, the researchers observed that a thin film of nanoporous gold interacts with light in ways that solid gold cannot. By exposing the "gold sponge" to ultrashort laser pulses, they found that the porous structure allows the material to absorb more light energy over a wider spectrum.</p><p>As a result, the electrons become considerably more energetic. The electronic temperature was estimated to reach about 3200 K (~2900 &deg;C) in the nanoporous film, compared with just 800 K (~500 &deg;C) in the unstructured gold film used as a reference, under the same conditions. It also takes longer for the "hot" electrons to cool down and return to their initial state at room temperature.</p><p>&ldquo;Such elevated electronic temperatures enable light induced transitions that would otherwise be nearly impossible,&rdquo; says Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri, leader of the Ultrafast Nanoscience Unit at the Department of Physics and senior author of the article. &ldquo;Interestingly, using advanced electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments (XPS) here at Ume&aring; University, we were able to confirm that these unique behaviours are driven solely by the material's physical shape and not by changes to the electronic structure of gold itself.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Can be extended to other materials</h2><p>The experiments suggest that nanoporous structure can be used as a new design parameter to engineer materials used in advanced technologies. By systematically varying the filling factor (the ratio of gold to air in the &ldquo;sponge"), researchers can tune the electronic behaviour of not only gold but also other metals in a controllable way, which could improve the efficiency of chemical reactions.</p><p>&ldquo;Our research shows that by manipulating a material's architecture at the nanoscale, we can use structure itself as a design parameter,&rdquo; says Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri. &ldquo;These results can be generalised, in principle, to every material, with implications in how we design smart materials for sustainability and technology, with applications spanning from catalysis to energy harvesting, medicine and quantum batteries.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d9f8e4d9-efdb-45d9-8462-46dc5c07a07d" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6f22254c-9580-4b48-937a-57a3c032649e" data-contentname="Tlek's defence">{}</div>/en/news/reshaping-gold-leads-to-new-electronic-and-optical-properties_12158682//en/news/adaptive-mechanisms-across-scales-researchers-meet-in-abisko_12158105/From 19–23 January 2026, nearly 40 researchers from Europe and South Korea met in Abisko for the Arctic Meeting for Adaptive Mechanisms in Biological Systems. Spanning physics, biology, mathematics and ecology, the meeting marked the close of a Swedish–Korean STINT collaboration while opening new research directions linked to IceLab’s Stress Response Modelling centre. Clear talks, lively discussions and fantastic auroras fostered strong interdisciplinary exchange.Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:01:50 +0100<p>On 19&ndash;23 January 2026, a group of almost 40 researchers from institutions in Korea and Europe, spanning physics, biology, mathematics and ecology, met in Abisko for the Arctic Meeting for Adaptive Mechanisms in Biological Systems. The conference was jointly organised by HyeJin Park of Inha University, Korea, together with Eric Libby and Ludvig Lizana of the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) at Ume&aring; University. It brought their Swedish&ndash;Korean STINT collaboration grant to a close, while also opening new possibilities linked to the Stress Response Modelling centre at IceLab.</p><p class="quote-center quote-left">It was a warm gathering&mdash;I laughed a lot and enjoyed talking with everyone.</p><p>An exciting scientific programme featured presentations ranging from experimental physics to theoretical modelling. A wide range of topics was covered, including ageing in bacteria, particle motion, multicellular stress responses, and epidemic vaccination strategies. Speakers and poster presenters did an excellent job of engaging the audience and communicating across research fields.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;All the presenters did a really good job of making sure that their talks were clear and that they didn&rsquo;t leave any of their diverse audience behind,&rdquo; said PhD student Aswin Gopakumar of IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>This inclusive presentation style kept the audience engaged, as reflected in the perceptive and constructive questions after each talk, which flowed naturally into lively discussions during the coffee breaks.</p><p>Beyond the talks, the conference also sparked new potential collaborations, according to Eric Libby, co-organizer and associate professor of IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Ume&aring; University. &ldquo;For me personally, there are several people I plan to reach out to in the coming months to continue our scientific conversations&mdash;and that is the mark of a successful conference.&rdquo;</p><p class="quote-right">Holding the conference in Abisko, of course we hoped to treat our Korean collaborators to an aurora show, and it exceeded all my hopes and expectations</p><p>The conference was valued not just for its scientific discussions, but also the scenery - and light displays - on offer in Abisko in January. When participants were asked about their highlights, there was a clear consensus: the aurora. Postdoctoral researcher Sunhee Chae of Inha University in Korea said, &ldquo;We were lucky to see the northern lights almost every day, especially pink! It was a warm gathering&mdash;I laughed a lot and enjoyed talking with everyone. I also enjoyed experiencing Swedish food and culture.&rdquo;</p><p>On the final evening of the meeting, the researchers took part in an organised trip to the Abisko Aurora Sky Station, where they were treated to a full 360-degree auroral display. &ldquo;Holding the conference in Abisko, of course we hoped to treat our Korean collaborators to an aurora show, and it exceeded all my hopes and expectations,&ldquo; said organiser, Ludvig Lizana, describing the scene as a beautiful dance of purple and green fronds across the sky. Another organiser, HyeJin Park, said, &ldquo;I think we were really lucky&mdash;when we were here 14 years ago, it was not this good.&rdquo;</p><p class="quote-center">There are several people I plan to reach out to in the coming months to continue our scientific conversations&mdash;and that is the mark of a successful conference.</p><p>While the conference marked the end of the current STINT collaboration grant, the organisers emphasised that it is not the end of their collaborations. Instead, they are excited to see what new projects emerge.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/adaptive-mechanisms-across-scales-researchers-meet-in-abisko_12158105//en/news/when-the-climate-crisis-becomes-a-public-health-issue_12157389/An extreme cloudburst brings an entire community to a standstill. In an interdisciplinary panel discussion, researchers meet with Sweden’s Ambassador for Global Health to explore how we manage climate-related crises from a health perspective – and what consequences these events have for people, the environment and society. You can watch the fictional scenario and the full discussion via UMU Play.Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:29:25 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>A discussion between researchers at Ume&aring; University and Sweden&rsquo;s Ambassador for Global Health, moderated by Sverker Olofsson</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span></span></div></div><p>Heavy rain has poured down over the small community of Bergsvik in Sweden. As whole neighbourhoods become submerged, vital societal functions are knocked out. Mobile networks falter, electrical substations flood, and drinking water becomes contaminated as the sewage system is overwhelmed. At care homes, the most vulnerable residents are evacuated in darkness and without lifts, and when the water reaches classroom floors, primary schools are forced to close. The crisis is undeniable.</p><p>Although this is a fictional scenario, it reflects situations that Swedish towns may face as the impacts of climate change intensify and local adaptation measures prove insufficient. In an interdisciplinary conversation, researchers from ecology, philosophy, medicine, global health and virology come together to explore how such a scenario can be understood and managed from a health perspective. The discussion focuses on which groups are most affected, which ethical, social and biological dimensions must be considered, and how the research community can contribute to improved preparedness.</p><p>Together, they reflect on climate change and societal vulnerabilities, but also on trust, responsibility and how knowledge can be translated into practical crisis management. Through their different perspectives, the complexity of climate-related crises becomes clear &ndash; as does the need for interdisciplinary solutions.</p><p>The discussion is moderated by Sverker Olofsson, with the following panel members:</p><ul><li>Magnus Evander, Professor of Virology/One Health</li><li>Maria Furberg, Physician and specialist in General Medicine and Infectious Diseases</li><li>Sofia Jeppsson, Associate Professor of Philosophy</li><li>Daniel Metcalfe, Professor of Ecology</li><li>Karin Tegmark Wisell, Sweden&rsquo;s Ambassador for Global Health</li></ul><p>Watch the full 90-minute discussion via Umu Play, English subtitles are available: <a href="https://play.ͯ����Ƶ/media/t/0_1ztv70rf">The Cloudburst in Bergsvik 2035</a></p><p>The seminar is organised in collaboration between Ume&aring; Transformation Research Initiative (UTRI) and Sustainable Health in Partnership (SHIP) as part of the dialogue series <em>New Perspectives on Sustainable Health</em>. The planning and facilitation of the dialogue were carried out by Maria Nilsson, Professor of Public Health, and Annika Egan Sj&ouml;lander, Professor of Media Studies.</p>/en/news/when-the-climate-crisis-becomes-a-public-health-issue_12157389//en/news/interest-in-umea-universitys-international-programmes-at-record-levels_12157014/Umeå University continues to strengthen its international profile. For the autumn 2026 application period, 13,146 prospective students have applied to one of the university's international master's programmes, the highest number since tuition fees were introduced in 2011. This represents an increase of 40.9% compared to the previous year.Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:34:18 +0100<p>The number of first-choice applicants out of the 13,146 who applied for master's programmes is 4,390, which is an increase of 39.9% compared to the previous year. Ume&aring; University offers 45 programmes at master's level and four at bachelor's level. At bachelor's level, the number of applicants has also increased by 39.8%, with 2,056 applicants, of whom 581 are first-choice applicants.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s encouraging to see such strong and growing interest in our international master&rsquo;s programmes,&rdquo; says Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education at Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="902ded86-39e4-4ca5-8c1c-576d0969910a" data-contentname="International master’s programmes with the most applicants for autumn 2026">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="65b9c529-b02b-477c-ba3c-7b49783c8873" data-contentname="In percentage terms, the increase is greatest for:">{}</div><p>It is evident that two years of intensive and strategic recruitment efforts within the EU/EEA have yielded results, with continued strong interest from Germany and applicants from countries such as the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain, where several recruitment initiatives have been carried out.</p><p class="quote-center">The growing interest reflects the current geopolitical climate, in which many students are actively seeking stable and appealing educational environments in Europe and Scandinavia.</p><p>&ldquo;The aim of the initiative was to strengthen recruitment from Europe, and the work carried out has also created a ripple effect globally. The growing interest reflects the current geopolitical climate, in which many students are actively seeking stable and appealing educational environments in Europe and Scandinavia,&rdquo; says Francine Ferretti Horst, project coordinator for international student recruitment in Europe.<br><br>During the year, Ume&aring; University has increased its visibility by launching a new user-friendly education website and ensuring that the university's international programmes were searchable earlier on the application portal universityadmissions.se, the website where international students apply for higher education in Sweden. The University has participated in a large number of digital fairs, combined with a strong physical presence at over ten education fairs around Europe.<br><br>The University has also invested in digital advertising and follow-up of prospective students. Through personal chats, social media, films and blogs, student ambassadors have contributed authentic student-generated content that builds trust and engagement among prospective students worldwide.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Number of applicants to international master's programmes on the final application date for autumn 2026.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>International Office</span></div></div>/en/news/interest-in-umea-universitys-international-programmes-at-record-levels_12157014//en/news/call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026_12157000/Do you want to foster collaboration in research for and within the Arctic regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden? If so, take the opportunity and apply to become an Arctic Six Chair. Deadline is 20 March, 2026.Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:56:49 +0100<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Become an Arctic Six Chair</h2><p>The Chairs programme is the primary format for research collaboration within The Arctic Six, comprising scholars with the will and capacity to build alliances in research between the Arctic Six universities, thereby forming new collaborations or strengthening existing ones.</p><p>The objective is to:</p><ul><li>generate collaborations in research within The Arctic Six through a bottom-up approach, and</li><li>formulate broader fields of collaboration.</li></ul><p>The overarching aim is to enhance the success of Arctic Six universities in securing external funding, thereby helping to meet our goal of finding research-based solutions to the joint problems facing our northern societies.</p><p>Prospective Arctic Six Chairs are established scholars at an Arctic Six university, with either recent or ongoing research collaborations with other Arctic Six partner universities, or who plan to develop such partnerships. As an Arctic Six Chair, you will be able to build these collaborations whilst providing support for developing joint projects, as well as assistance with applying for larger funding calls.</p><p>Successful applicants will work on their projects on a part-time basis, with a guaranteed time allocation of at least 20% (implementation determined by the host university) and an annual budget approximating &euro;10,000 to cover operational costs. Each Chair appointment is for 2 years, with the possibility of an additional 1-year extension (without guaranteed funding).</p><p>Applicants from all disciplines or fields of study are welcome to apply!</p><p><strong>Apply before 20 March, 2026</strong></p><p>Visit the Arctic Six webpage to learn more about the call and to apply.</p><p><strong><a href="https://projweb.ltu.se/arctic-six/news/news-archive/2026-01-16-call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026">Arctic Six webpage: Call for Arctic Six Chairs 2026</a></strong></p>/en/news/call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026_12157000//en/news/the-arctic-is-the-planets-early-warning-system_12156848/Drawing on the latest findings from NOAA’s Arctic Report Card (2025), record warmth and precipitation, shrinking early-summer snow cover, and unprecedented glacier losses in Scandinavia indicate that the Arctic system is changing faster and in more interconnected ways than previously observed. Together, these signals form a shared evidence base for researchers seeking to frame new questions, strengthen proposals, and connect local observations to pan-Arctic processes.Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:23:41 +0100<p><a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/"> NOAA&rsquo;s Arctic Report Card 2025</a> (ARC 2025) is a peer-reviewed annual &ldquo;stocktake&rdquo; of Arctic climate and environmental conditions&mdash;now in its 20th year&mdash;covering the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and tundra, alongside focused essays on emerging phenomena.</p><p>Arctic observing is globally consequential as &ldquo;to observe the Arctic is to take the pulse of the planet&rdquo;. The region is warming several times faster than the global average, with cascading effects on ecosystems, livelihoods, and global climate dynamics.</p><p>The report documents another year of exceptional warmth and a strengthening hydrologic cycle. Arctic-wide surface air temperatures from October 2024 to September 2025 were the warmest in the instrumental record back to 1900, and total precipitation over the same period set a record high. Snow conditions underline the &ldquo;faster, wetter, more variable&rdquo; character of a warming Arctic: snowpack was above normal across much of the Arctic through May, yet June snow cover extent still dropped below normal&mdash;part of a long-term decline in which June snow cover is now about half of what it was six decades ago.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">On land: Melting ice, greening tundra, and rusting rivers</h2><p>Glaciers in Arctic Scandinavia and Svalbard experienced their most negative mass-balance year on record in 2023/24, linked to persistent warmth over northern Scandinavia and the Barents Sea. Tundra ecosystems continue to transform, with circumpolar maximum tundra greenness ranking third highest in the 26-year satellite record, extending a run of near-record values since 2020. Meanwhile, permafrost-driven biogeochemical change is becoming visible: in Alaska alone, more than 200 watersheds now show &ldquo;rusting rivers,&rdquo; where iron and other elements mobilised by thawing permafrost discolour streams, increase acidity, and release toxic metals, degrading aquatic habitats&mdash;raising direct concerns for drinking water and subsistence fisheries.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Ocean and sea ice: Record lows, vanishing old ice, and unprecedented heat</h2><p>Winter sea ice reached the lowest annual maximum extent in the 47-year satellite record (March 2025), and September 2025 recorded the 10th lowest minimum extent&mdash;continuing a pattern in which the 19 lowest September minima have all occurred in the last 19 years. The oldest, thickest multi-year ice has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, with resilient ice now concentrated mainly north of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago. In the Atlantic-sector marginal seas, August 2025 sea-surface temperatures were ~7&deg;C above the 1991&ndash;2020 average&mdash;an extraordinary marine heat anomaly. ARC 2025 also highlights &ldquo;Atlantification&rdquo;&mdash;the northward spread of warmer, saltier Atlantic-origin waters&mdash;now detected in the central Arctic Ocean, with implications for sea-ice formation, ocean stratification, weather, and ecosystem structure.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A baseline for proposals&mdash;and a catalyst for new research</h2><p>The report presents a practical and citable synthesis of the conditions that shape environmental risk, infrastructure needs, food security, and governance challenges. It also models how knowledge is produced: Indigenous-led and community-driven monitoring is treated as essential, not supplemental, and the report explicitly notes that observing gaps still limit what can be assessed and managed. For researchers developing proposals or new questions, the Report Card is both baseline evidence and an idea generator&mdash;an annual reference point for what is changing, where, and why it matters.</p><p>You can join the Arctic Centre as an <a href="~/link/a1c619a0154647e486170f26f0f6f4f8.aspx">Associated Researcher</a> and receive the weekly Arctic Digest newsletter, where you can learn more about opportunities for collaboration, mobility, funding, and more.</p><p>Read the highlights, watch videos, or read the full <a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/">Arctic Report Card</a> (<a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ArcticReportCard_full_report2025.pdf">PDF</a>).</p>/en/news/the-arctic-is-the-planets-early-warning-system_12156848//en/news/investigates-gut-bacterias-role-in-viral-disease_12156536/'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral researcher Nazar Beirag explores how bacterial membrane vesicles affect viral infections, a cutting-edge study at the intersection of virology and gut microbiota. Originally from the Netherlands, his academic career took him to the UK before moving to Umeå.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:04:26 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&uml;'EC' postdoc Nazar Beirag works across the Departments of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Ume&aring; has impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere and international research community</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">What is your academic background?</h2><p>&ldquo;I hold a PhD in Immunology and Infection from Brunel University London, where I studied innate immune surveillance mechanisms in the context of COVID-19. My research identified how complement regulatory proteins, such as Factor H and Properdin, can modulate SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in several publications in Frontiers in Immunology and Viruses. Previously, I earned an MSc in Immunohematology and a BSc in Biomedical Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University, with a focus on immune regulation and coagulation in human disease contexts.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Why did you decide to work at Ume&aring; University?</h2><p>&ldquo;I came across the EC postdoctoral advertisement through Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s career portal. The emphasis on collaborative infection-biology research immediately caught my attention. Ume&aring; University stood out for its strong interdisciplinary approach and the presence of leading researchers working on host&ndash;pathogen interactions. The facilities and culture here encourage experimental innovation, and being part of a Nordic research hub known for high-quality science felt like an excellent step to build upon my PhD foundation.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What is your research focusing on?</h2><p>&ldquo;My project examines the impact of bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs), nanoparticles released by bacteria, on human adenovirus F40/41 infections in the gastrointestinal tract. I study how BMVs from commensal and pathogenic bacteria can either promote or suppress viral infection. The goal is to identify BMV-associated factors that could be harnessed for novel microbiota-based antiviral strategies.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What is challenging and rewarding about being a researcher?</h2><p>&ldquo;The challenge lies in the uncertainty of experimental science&mdash;results often surprise you, forcing you to adapt and think critically. Yet that same unpredictability is also the reward: each unexpected finding can open an entirely new path of inquiry. During my PhD, discovering that complement regulatory proteins act as soluble pattern-recognition receptors for viruses was one of those moments that reminded me why scientific curiosity matters.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Where do you see yourself in five years?</h2><p>&ldquo;In five years, I aim to be leading an independent research line focused on viral and bacterial co-infections, ideally bridging academic research and translational biotechnology. I would like my work to contribute directly to therapeutic development or the improvement of vaccines.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">What are your first impressions of Ume&aring; and its university?</h2><p>&ldquo;Ume&aring; has impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere and international research community. The balance between academic excellence and quality of life here is remarkable, with a natural setting that offers an inspiring contrast to the long days of experiments.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">What is your driving force for research in life sciences?</h2><p>&ldquo;My motivation comes from understanding how gut microbiota impact viral infections. The possibility that fundamental discoveries can lead to tangible medical benefits is what drives me every day.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info7" data-magellan-target="info7">What do you like to do in your free time?</h2><p>&ldquo;In my free time, I enjoy staying active outdoors. I am a long-distance runner and often take long walks in nature to clear my mind after a day in the lab. I have also recently started learning to swim, which has become a new and rewarding challenge.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>What Nazar Beirag finds exciting about his subject is the ability to uncover how gut microbiota affect viral infections at the molecular level and translate that knowledge into human health solutions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/investigates-gut-bacterias-role-in-viral-disease_12156536//en/news/new-chair-of-the-industrial-doctoral-school-steering-group_12156573/Deputy Vice-Chancellor Thomas Olofsson is new chair of the steering group of the Industrial Doctoral School. His ambition is to continue developing the doctoral school’s unique breadth and its strong collaboration with businesses, organisations and public authorities.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:38:22 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Parts of the Industrial Doctoral School steering group 2026. From the left: Ingrid Und&eacute;n Lindehell, Amrei Aubrunner, Thomas Olofsson, &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Patrik Ryd&eacute;n, Jonas Nilsson, and Stefan Gelfgren.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sara-Lena Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><p>Thomas Olofsson assumed the role of chair of the steering group of the Industrial Doctoral School in connection with taking up his position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University in July 2025.</p><p>&ldquo;I think it is important that the Industrial Doctoral School continues to be attractive, both for researchers seeking funding for doctoral students and for the businesses, organisations and public authorities that want to collaborate with us. The ambition is a high level of applications, but also a broad distribution across different research areas. We are a comprehensive university, and it is unique to be able to bring together so many research fields within the same doctoral school,&rdquo; says Thomas Olofsson.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Knowledge in demand in society</h2><p>The steering group provides overarching support for the activities of the Industrial Doctoral School and is responsible, among other things, for the admission of research projects. It consists of a chair, five representatives from the university, three external representatives and one doctoral student representative, and meets four times per year.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>Thomas Olofsson sees collaboration as one of the doctoral school&rsquo;s greatest strengths.</p><p>&ldquo;An important purpose of research is to contribute knowledge that is relevant and in demand in society. The Industrial Doctoral School is a valuable platform for identifying and developing research questions together with external partners &ndash; questions that might otherwise be difficult to pursue,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Supporting researchers in collaboration</h2><p>As of 1 January 2026, the Industrial Doctoral School will be organisationally affiliated with the Research Support and Collaboration Office. The steering group has also recently welcomed two new members: Stefan Gelfgren, new academic representative from the Faculty of Humanities, and &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Head of the Research Support and Collaboration Office.</p><p>&ldquo;Through this organisational placement, we can create better conditions for collaboration and provide more coherent support for researchers who want to work closely with society and industry,&rdquo; says &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m.</p>/en/news/new-chair-of-the-industrial-doctoral-school-steering-group_12156573//en/news/large-parts-of-the-tropics-overlooked-in-environmental-research_12156508/Environmental research in the tropics is heavily skewed, according to a comprehensive study led from Umeå University. Humid lowland forest ecosystems receive a disproportionate amount of attention, while colder and drier regions that are more affected by climate change are severely underrepresented.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:16:32 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Some tropical regions are very understudied, such as the montane grasslands in the Peruvian Andes. This risks creating a misleading picture in research and leading to poor policy decisions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Metcalfe</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Current research patterns risk giving a misleading picture about how tropical ecosystems function. This can lead to policy recommendations that fail to take into account the environments that are most vulnerable, or that take lessons learned from one system and mistakenly apply them to other systems,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe, lead author of the study and professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The researchers analysed 2,738 published studies conducted in natural terrestrial tropical environments across all scientific disciplines. By mapping both field sampling locations and how often different studies are cited, they were able to reveal strong geographic and ecological patterns in the research. The results are published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Climate-vulnerable ecosystems</h2><p>The study shows that just five ecoregions&mdash;all located in moist broadleaf forests&mdash;account for 22 percent of all citations, despite representing only 3 percent of the total tropical land area. In contrast, drier regions with low tree cover make up 57 percent of the tropical region but stand for only 20 percent of total citations.</p><p>Many of the regions that receive the least research attention&mdash;such as mountain regions, deserts and grasslands&mdash;are also among those facing the most severe climate change impacts. This means that policy decisions affecting them may be based on incomplete or misleading science.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Imbalance in research</h2><p>By clearly showing where research effort and scientific attention are lacking, the study provides a basis for guiding future research investments more strategically.</p><p>&ldquo;To ensure effective environmental policy worldwide, research needs to better reflect the full range of tropical ecosystems. This is both a scientific necessity and a matter of fairness,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe. &ldquo;Similar imbalances are likely to exist beyond the tropics. Understanding where research is lacking in other regions, such as Europe&rsquo;s temperate and boreal ecosystems, could help shape future research agendas.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="90a6b9b3-cf1e-4fba-a402-3f0e200014bd" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/large-parts-of-the-tropics-overlooked-in-environmental-research_12156508//en/news/professor-johanna-bjorklund-featured-by-sprakbanken_12156227/She is the co-founder of three media technology companies, has been recognised as one of Sweden's most innovative entrepreneurs, and has recently been appointed professor of Computing Science at Umeå University. Johanna Björklund is now featured as Språkbanken’s Profile of the Month.Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:29:53 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Her research lies at the intersection of formal languages, machine learning and semantics. Professor Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund is now focusing on finding new and improved ways to evaluate generative AI.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>_Foto Peter Karlsson Svarteld</span></div></div><p><a href="~/link/8f363b1a29bd4ab1a5dc5943afeeb8f6.aspx">Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund</a>, professor of Computing Science at Ume&aring; University, specialises in semantic analysis of multimodal data &ndash; advanced computational systems capable of interpreting and generating combined media such as text, images and forms. She is co‑founder of the media technology companies <a href="https://www.codemill.se/">Codemill</a>, <a href="https://aeternalabs.ai/">Aeterna Labs</a> and <a href="https://www.deeptensor.ai/">DeepTensor</a>, and is head of <a href="~/link/a7920213123e4d14aaa641a5617ff5b6.aspx">WARA Media and Language</a>, a research arena within <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a>, the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Programme.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">AI in focus</h2><p>Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund is now being recognised by <a href="https://sprakbanken.se/sprakbankeninenglish.html">Spr&aring;kbanken</a>, a national research infrastructure jointly funded by the <a href="https://www.vr.se/english.html">Swedish Research Council</a> and 10 universities and government agencies. Read more about her research and plans for the future on Spr&aring;kbanken&rsquo;s website, where she is currently featured as <a href="https://sprakbanken.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2025-12-18-manadens-profil-johanna-bjorklund">Profile of the Month</a>.</p><h3>Further information</h3><p>For additional details, please contact Professor Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund at the <a href="~/link/f1ccf1d251be4f538a13df854f18fb07.aspx">Department of Computer Science</a>.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6f2d32cc-10fa-4e2f-a9c4-b5b8b9a3aed5" data-contentname="Johanna Björklund kontakt">{}</div>/en/news/professor-johanna-bjorklund-featured-by-sprakbanken_12156227//en/news/a-bacterial-toxin-can-counteract-colorectal-cancer-growth_12156271/A toxin secreted by cholera bacteria can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer without causing any measurable damage to the body. This is shown by a new study by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. Systemic administration of the purified bacterial substance changes the immune microenvironment in tumours, and the results may open the way for research into a new type of cancer treatment.Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:58:38 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sun Nyunt Wai.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"The substance not only kills cancer cells directly. It reshapes the tumour environment and helps the immune system to work against the tumor without damaging healthy tissue," says Sun Nyunt Wai, professor at Ume&aring; University and one of the lead authors behind the study.</p><p>Colorectal cancer, i.e. cancer of the colon and rectum, is the third most common form of cancer in the world and the cancer with the second highest mortality rate globally. Today, cancer is usually treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. While it is effective in many cases, those methods also have significant side effects. Colorectal cancer is also increasing in the world. Therefore, it is valuable to find alternative treatment methods.</p><p>The researchers in Ume&aring; have studied the cancer-inhibiting properties of the purified substance MakA, a so-called cytotoxin secreted by the cholera bacterium Vibrio cholerae. In experiments with mice, it was possible to see that systemic administration of MakA significantly reduced the growth of the tumours.</p><p>The substance accumulated specifically in the tumour tissue, where it increased cell death of tumour cells and reduced their ability to increase in number. In parallel, MakA changed the composition of the cellular environment in tumours and increased the number of innate immune cells, especially macrophages and neutrophils, which in turn contributed to inhibiting tumour growth.</p><p>The treatment did not lead to any harmful inflammation in mice. No adverse effects on body weight, general health, or the function of vital organs could be seen even after repeated dosing. This suggests that the effect of MakA is local and specifically targeted at tumours.</p><p>Further analyses confirmed that MakA stimulated the formation of so-called immune mediators in the tumour that promote cell death while maintaining regulatory mechanisms that limit damage to surrounding tissue.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Saskia Erttmann.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"Although more research is needed, the results clearly show an interesting path for developing a new type of cancer treatment, which utilizes substances that bacteria create to both kill cancer cells and strengthen the body's own defences," says Saskia Erttmann, one of the lead authors behind the study.</p><p>The researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to explore the anti-cancer potential of MakA in other models as well as to assess its suitability for future clinical use.</p><p>The study is published in the scientific journal Cell Death &amp; Disease. It has been carried out at Ume&aring; University through close collaboration between research groups affiliated with the UCMR and MIMS units. The research has been funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Kempe Foundation.</p>/en/news/a-bacterial-toxin-can-counteract-colorectal-cancer-growth_12156271//en/news/plastic-particles-increase-inflammation-and-cross-barriers_12156283/A previously unknown mechanism that makes it possible for aggressive so-called triple-negative breast cancer to fine-tune its production of proteins has been discovered by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. The discovery increases our understanding of how tumours grow and adapt, and it opens up for research into new future treatments.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:14:17 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Three of the researchers behind the study, Kanchan Kumari, Francesca Aguilo and Margalida Esteva, Department of Molecular Biology.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"We have found a critical control point that, when disturbed, can tip the balance against cancer," says Francesca Aguilo, associate professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University and who has led the current study.</p><p>All cells in the body use ribosomes, small molecular factories, to translate genetic information from RNA into proteins. Ribosomes are complex structures made up of ribosomal RNA and proteins, and they have built-in control systems that ensure that everything works as it should. When these systems are disrupted, diseases such as cancer can occur.</p><p>Ribosomal RNA is rich in chemical modifications that help the ribosome function optimally. One such modification is 2&prime;-O-methylation, Nm, which is controlled by the enzyme fibrillarin. The new study shows that fibrillarin plays a key role in how ribosomes are built and which proteins are made.</p><p>The researchers discovered that fibrillarin collaborates with the ribosome protein RPS28 to create specialized ribosomes with unique properties. When fibrillarin is missing, RPS28 also disappears, leading to a mixture of different ribosome types &ndash; so-called ribosomal heterogeneity. This imbalance affects which proteins are produced and can drive the development of cancer.</p><p>"Cancer is not only about mutated genes, but also about how cells control the amount and type of proteins that are produced," says Francesca Aguilo.</p><p>Although more research is needed before the results can be translated into treatments, the study points to a new direction for research on treatments; to attack cancer as a disease of misregulated protein production.</p><p>The study has been conducted in collaboration with several European universities and published in the scientific journal Cancer Letters. It has been funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg and Kempe Foundations, among others.</p>/en/news/discovery-on-how-aggressive-breast-cancer-controls-protein-production_12156007//en/news/new-study-shows-how-the-cell-repairs-its-recycling-stations_12156177/When the cell’s recycling stations, the lysosomes, start leaking, it can become dangerous. Toxic waste risks spreading and damaging the cell. Now, researchers at Umeå University have revealed the molecular sensors that detect tiny holes in lysosomal membranes so they can be quickly repaired – a process crucial for preventing inflammation, cell death, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:30:23 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&nbsp;Leaks in the cell's lysosomes can be life-threatening. The discovery by researchers Yaowen Wu and Dale Corkery may help to understand and prevent diseases such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Yue Li </span></div></div><p>Lysosomes are the cell&rsquo;s recycling stations, handling cellular waste and converting it into building blocks that can be reused. Lysosomal membranes are frequently exposed to stress from pathogens, proteins, and metabolic byproducts. Damage can lead to leakage of toxic contents into the cytoplasm, which in turn may cause inflammation and cell death. Until now, the mechanism by which cells detect these membrane injuries has remained unknown.</p><p>In a recently published study, professor Yaowen Wu and his research group at the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, identified the signalling pathway that is activated in response to lysosomal damage. This discovery laid the foundation for understanding how the cell senses membrane injuries.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Sensors identified</h2><p>In the new study, the researchers take it a step further and have discovered two autophagy protein complexes that serve as the long-sought sensors of lysosomal damage.</p><p>&ldquo;They respond and quickly move to the damaged membranes when protons or calcium leak out, initiating the repair system that seals the hole. We observed that without these two key proteins, the cell fails to repair the damage, causing the lysosome to rupture,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu, lead author of the study.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Combination of techniques</h2><p>The team used a combination of live-cell imaging, genetic knockout models, advanced microscopy, and functional repair assays to map the sequence of events following controlled lysosomal damage.</p><p>The results apply to several different types of cells and show the same underlying mechanism.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Next step in research</h2><p>&ldquo;The discovery provides a new understanding and opens the door to new treatment strategies for diseases where lysosomal damage plays a central role. In future studies, we will investigate links to neurodegeneration, infections, and inflammation,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu.</p><p>Dale Corkery, staff scientist and first author, adds:</p><p>&ldquo;It is vital that lysosomal contents stay where they belong. If we understand why leaks sometimes go undetected, we can also understand why cells die in neurodegenerative diseases.&rdquo;</p><p>The study is published in the scientific journal EMBO Journal.</p>/en/news/new-study-shows-how-the-cell-repairs-its-recycling-stations_12156177//en/news/new-library-director-at-umea-university-library_12154781/Malin Josefsson will become the new Library Director at Umeå University Library from 1 January 2026. This was decided by the Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University on Friday 19 December following a unanimous recommendation from the Library Board and a unanimous recommendation from the recruitment group. Malin Josefsson has been serving as acting Library Director at the library since the summer of 2024. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:47:21 +0100<p>"With her strong leadership and extensive network, Malin Josefsson will be a significant force in the continued development of Ume&aring; University Library, which is currently undergoing major changes in terms of both premises and organisation. We in the management team are confident that our wonderful and important university library is now in safe hands under the leadership of our new library director," says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Malin Josefsson has many years of experience in senior management within library services, most recently as head of department at the Medical Library at the University Hospital of Ume&aring; and, for the past year and a half, as acting library director at Ume&aring; University Library. She is a librarian by training and has held senior positions at the library since 2015.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Malin Josefsson will become the new Library Director at Ume&aring; University Library from 1 January 2026. Photo: Linus Talltj&auml;rn</p></div></div><p>"I am both delighted and proud to have been entrusted with the task of leading Ume&aring; University Library. It is a task I am taking on with great commitment and confidence. There is no shortage of challenges, both in the long and short term, but there are also exciting opportunities," says Malin Josefsson, continuing:</p><p>"After many years of service at the library, I know what drive and expertise there is, and I am therefore really looking forward to developing the business together with all my colleagues. The timing couldn't be better, given the vision work currently being carried out at the university."</p><h3>Contributed to Ume&aring; getting a university</h3><p>Ume&aring; University Library is the largest academic library in northern Sweden and provides services to both students and employees at Ume&aring; University, but is of course also open to the public. The library is currently undergoing an exciting phase of renovation to better meet the needs of visitors and accommodate its growing collections.</p><p>Ume&aring; University Library has its origins in the &lsquo;Scientific Library in Ume&aring;&rsquo;, which was established in 1950 and was located at Ume&aring; City Library. The government then decided that the Ministry of Justice's review copies should be sent to Ume&aring;, the so-called <em>fifth copy</em> of all Swedish publications. This is also said to be one of the reasons why Ume&aring; eventually got a university.</p><p>When the government decided to establish a medical college in Ume&aring; in 1958, a medical library was also created. When Ume&aring; University was inaugurated in 1965, Ume&aring; University Library had already been in existence for a year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-library-director-at-umea-university-library_12154781//en/news/recognised-and-distinguished-teachers-autumn-2025_12154910/During the autumn, an additional 35 teachers have been appointed within Umeå University’s model for the recognition of teaching qualifications, 24 at the Recognised Teacher level and 11 at the Distinguished Teacher level. Since the start, more than 400 teachers have been appointed within the model which rewards and highlights pedagogical competence.Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:38:09 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p><span class="photo" style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Image</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Ellen S&auml;ll</span></p></div></div><p>All teachers appointed within the model for the recognition of teaching qualifications receive a salary adjustment, a diploma, and a ceremonial pin. New this autumn is that the Distinguished Teachers are recognised in connection with the Annual Ceremony. They are invited to pedagogical discussions together with recipients of teaching awards and presented in the programme for the ceremony.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Clarification of eligibility requirements</h2><p>Applicants to the model must have completed higher education pedagogical training amounting to at least 10 weeks or 15 ECTS credits. Eligible training includes formal courses in higher education pedagogy with clear learning outcomes and requirements, and which provide certification upon completion.</p><p>Other professional development activities, such as seminars, workshops, conferences, teaching days, Skrivum, Punktum projects, or similar, are also valuable pedagogical experiences. They should be highlighted in the CV and in the application, but cannot be counted toward the 10 weeks or 15 ECTS required to meet eligibility.</p><p>A comprehensive evaluation of the model for the recognition of teaching qualifications is planned for 2026. In connection with this evaluation, an updated overview will be compiled of how many Recognised Teachers and Distinguished Teachers are currently active at the university.</p><p><strong>The next application period for the model is 16 January to 16 February 2026.</strong></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Appointments to Distinguished Teacher Autumn Semester 2025</h2><h3>Faculty of Social Sciences</h3><p>Irina Alexeyeva, Associate Senior Lecturer, Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics, Business Administration<br>Johan Holm, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Law<br>Maria Nordin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology<br>Ted Saarikko, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Lotta Str&ouml;msten, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology</p><h3>Faculty of Arts and Humanities</h3><p>Nils Franz&eacute;n, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Kalle Grill, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Maria J&ouml;nsson, Professor, Department of Culture and Media Studies</p><h3>Faculty of Medicine</h3><p>Malin Brundin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Odontology<br>B&ouml;rje Rehn, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation<br>Maria Wiklund, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Appointments to Recognised Teacher Autumn Semester 2025</h2><h3>Faculty of Social Sciences</h3><p>Karin Brod&eacute;n, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Josefin Brodin, Teaching Fellow, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science<br>Virginie Fernandez, Associate Senior Lecturer, Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics, Business Administration<br>Johan Hellstr&ouml;m, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science<br>Robert Lundmark, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology<br>Tord G&ouml;ran Olovsson, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Education<br>Pedro Sanches, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Linda Sandberg, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography<br>Erika Sandow, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography</p><h3>Faculty of Arts and Humanities</h3><p>Giovanni Fort, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Language Studies<br>Peter Henning, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Culture and Media Studies<br>Christian L&ouml;w, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Per Stam, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Culture and Media Studies</p><h3>Faculty of Science and Technology</h3><p>Per Arnqvist, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics<br>Eduardo Gracia, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics<br>Lisa Lundin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry<br>Tommy L&ouml;fstedt, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Johanna L&ouml;nngren, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Science and Mathematics Education</p><h3>Faculty of Medicine</h3><p>Katarina Wik&eacute;n Albertsson, Teaching Fellow, Department of Odontology<br>Pernilla Lif Holgerson, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Odontology<br>Kristina Lejon, Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology<br>Karin Nilsson, Teaching Fellow, Department of Nursing<br>Maria Str&ouml;mb&auml;ck, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation</p><h3>Ume&aring; University Library</h3><p>Peter Vinnervik, Associate Senior Lecturer, Centre for Educational Development</p>/en/news/recognised-and-distinguished-teachers-autumn-2025_12154910//en/news/60-years-of-arctic-research-at-umea-university_12154759/When Umeå University was inaugurated on 17 August 1965 by King Gustaf VI Adolf, it was built on land that, just a decade prior, had served as winter grazing grounds for the reindeer of Rans Sameby. This intersection of Sápmi, the boreal forest, and the industrialising North—set the stage for the university’s academic future. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2025, we look back on a journey that has transformed a regional teaching institution into a global leader in Arctic research.Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:29:51 +0100<p>Today, the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University acts as an interdisciplinary hub for over 300 associated researchers. But the story of Arctic research here is not just one of volume; it is a story of evolution. From the early, distinct disciplines of biology and medicine to the complex, interdisciplinary systems thinking of "The Arctic Six" alliance, Ume&aring; University has consistently defined what it means to study the North.</p><p><em>The following reflection is not intended to be comprehensive, but it highlights many of the significant Arctic events, research, and education activities, as well as notable achievements. Any omissions are unintentional and solely reflect the limits of the author's knowledge</em>.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">1965&ndash;1974: The Foundations</h2><p>In North Sweden&rsquo;s first decade, research was shaped by the region&rsquo;s defining conditions: vast distances, dispersed settlements, limited access to specialist services, and a policy mandate to build capacity beyond Sweden&rsquo;s established academic centres. Early medical and dental research addressed the practical challenge of delivering equitable care across sparsely populated counties. In parallel, teacher education and the humanities expanded to address professional shortages and to build the scholarly infrastructure needed to document and interpret northern society and history.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ccc57293-c4e1-4237-b52b-0ed768e93d9d" data-contentname="PIC GLES">{}</div><p>From the outset, the social sciences (including political science from 1965) made "glesbygd" (sparsely populated areas) and centre&ndash;periphery relations central analytical concerns. It examined how policy, service provision, and economic restructuring affected coastal towns, inland communities, and governance across vast distances, tracing the historical processes that shaped settlement and development. In this wider regional setting&mdash;where Ume&aring; sits within S&aacute;pmi&mdash;the decade&rsquo;s significance lay less in narrow &ldquo;local studies&rdquo; than in establishing durable research and training systems that could sustain the institutions, workforces, and basis of evidence northern communities relied on.</p><p>Leading this geographical inquiry was <strong>Erik Bylund</strong> (1922&ndash;2005), one of the university&rsquo;s first appointed professors and the founder of its Department of Geography. Known as <em>"The Norrland Professor,"</em> Bylund&rsquo;s work bridged the gap between historical analysis and contemporary regional policy; he utilised his seminal research on the colonisation of Pite Lappmark to inform modern understandings of inland depopulation and glesbygd dynamics. His dedication to the region extended beyond the classroom, laying the groundwork for the future <strong>Centre for Regional Science (CERUM)</strong> and serving as President of the Royal Skyttean Society. He established a research tradition that viewed the North not merely as a resource frontier, but as a complex social landscape requiring specific, locally grounded scientific inquiry.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">1975&ndash;1984: Broadening Horizons &ndash; Forestry and History</h2><p>As the university expanded, the forestry industry&rsquo;s growth into the northern interior spurred research into boreal ecology and silviculture.</p><p>However, a significant shift occurred in the humanities. Historians began to challenge the "wilderness" narrative of the North. <strong>Lennart Lundmark&rsquo;s</strong> 1982 work, <em>Uppb&ouml;rd, utarmning, utveckling</em> (Taxation, Impoverishment, Development), offered a critical socio-economic analysis of the transition from hunting to reindeer nomadism among the Sami (Lundmark, 1982). This decade marked the beginning of Ume&aring;&rsquo;s strong tradition in S&aacute;mi studies, moving beyond description to analysing colonial power structures.</p><p>In ecology, researchers such as <strong>Christer Nilsson</strong> initiated long-term studies on riparian vegetation along northern rivers, work that would later become crucial for global discussions on dam removal and river restoration (Nilsson, 1984).</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="990ee1b6-9516-47d0-906f-ba82682cf9fa" data-contentname="PIC ÄLV">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">1985&ndash;1994: Institutionalising the North &ndash; Climate and Culture</h2><p>In 1985, the university and county council launched a pioneering counter-offensive against the region&rsquo;s most deadly statistic: V&auml;sterbotten&rsquo;s status as the cardiovascular mortality capital of Sweden. Starting in the small municipality of Norsj&ouml;, <strong>Stig Wall</strong> initiated the <strong>V&auml;sterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP)</strong>, which replaced the traditional "wait-and-treat" model with a proactive strategy of mass screening and preventive health dialogues for individuals aged 40, 50, and 60 years old. <strong>Lars Weinehall</strong> co-developed and coordinated the V&auml;sterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP). This massive undertaking not only reversed the region&rsquo;s premature mortality trends&mdash;preventing hundreds of deaths&mdash;but also created <strong>Biobanken Norr</strong>, one of the world&rsquo;s most valuable population-based biobanks. By linking lifestyle data with biological samples across decades, VIP transformed the sparsely populated North into a global "gold mine" for epidemiological research, enabling groundbreaking studies on the long-term interactions between genetics, lifestyle, and diabetes.</p><p>On the cultural front, the <strong>Centre for Arctic Cultural Research</strong> was established, aggregating research on northern identities. <strong>Roger Kvist&rsquo;s</strong> anthologies on S&aacute;mi history helped secure the university&rsquo;s role in northern cultural heritage research (Kvist, 1992).</p><p><strong>Sverker S&ouml;rlin</strong> earned his PhD in the history of ideas at Ume&aring; University in 1988 with the dissertation <em>Framtidslandet: Debatten om Norrland och naturresurserna under det industriella genombrottet</em> (S&ouml;rlin, 1988). Here, Sverker lays out that industrialisation in Norrland took on the image of a &ldquo;land of the future&rdquo;, where people were expected to move to this new large-scale industrial province, business would flourish, and the riches would spread across Sweden. It was not the first time Norrland played this role, nor would it be the last. Sverker became a Professor in the History of Ideas at the Humanities faculty from 1993 to 2007.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="613ab797-a440-4d7b-83cd-e8559c9a2dc5" data-contentname="PIC SVERKER">{}</div><p>Early warnings of climate change characterised this decade. <strong>Leif Kullman&rsquo;s</strong> monitoring of the treeline in the Scandes mountains provided some of the first concrete evidence of vegetation shifts due to summer warming, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s (Kullman, 1993). His work demonstrated that the treeline (an often-cited boundary between the Boreal and Arctic regions) was not static; it was in constant motion.</p><p><strong>Lars-Erik Edlund</strong> has served as a guardian of Northern Sweden&rsquo;s linguistic identity, most notably as the editor-in-chief of the monumental four-volume <em>Norrl&auml;ndsk uppslagsbok</em> (1993&ndash;1996), which transformed the region from a perceived periphery into a documented centre of knowledge. His research mapped the "linguistic landscape" of the North, analysing how place names reveal centuries of interaction between Swedish and Sami populations. At the same time, his leadership as President of the Royal Skyttean Society further reflects the importance of the region&rsquo;s academic infrastructure.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">1995&ndash;2004: The Human Dimension and the Rise of V&aacute;rdduo</h2><p>The turn of the millennium marked a pivotal transformation in how the university engaged with Indigenous issues. In 2000, Ume&aring; University established <strong>CeSam (Centrum f&ouml;r samisk forskning)</strong>, which would later evolve into <strong>V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research</strong>. Under the leadership of scholars who advocated for Indigenous methodologies, the centre began to pivot research from being <em>on</em> the S&aacute;mi to being conducted <em>with</em> and <em>by</em> S&aacute;mi peoples.</p><p>Central to this era was <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong>, a historical demographer whose influence would come to define Ume&aring;&rsquo;s Arctic profile for decades. While his doctoral work provided crucial data on the impact of smallpox on northern populations (Sk&ouml;ld, 1996), Sk&ouml;ld&rsquo;s contribution quickly transcended his own discipline. As the director of <strong>CeSam</strong> (and later the founding director of <strong>ARCUM</strong>), Sk&ouml;ld became the primary architect of Ume&aring;&rsquo;s "Human Dimension" in Arctic research. He positioned the university as a global hub for Arctic social sciences, later serving as president of the International <strong>Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)</strong>. His work tirelessly emphasised that the Arctic was a lived space&mdash;a home&mdash;rather than just a climate laboratory, a perspective that became central to the policy engagement.</p><p>Simultaneously, political science and law gained prominence. As the EU began to look North, Ume&aring; researchers like <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong> started to analyse how the "Arctic" was constructed politically. Her work on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of northern communities challenged the notion that the Arctic was merely a victim of climate change, instead highlighting local resilience (Keskitalo, 2004).</p><p>In the late 1990s, the establishment of the <strong>Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC)</strong> in Abisko allowed researchers to move from observation to prediction.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="c308b3a2-f905-4b98-95bc-bd759b5fdedf" data-contentname="PIC ABISKO">{}</div><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">2005&ndash;2014: A Global Arctic &ndash; Tourism and "Arctification"</h2><p>The formal inauguration of the <strong>Arctic Research Centre (ARCUM)</strong> in 2012, with <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong> as its first director, marked the beginning of an era of expansion. The Arctic was no longer just a research subject; it was a global brand.</p><p>In medicine, the focus shifted to the intersection of climate change and infectious diseases. <strong>Birgitta Eveng&aring;rd</strong> co-led pioneering interdisciplinary work on "Climate change and infectious diseases," warning of the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as tularemia, as winters warmed (Eveng&aring;rd et al., 2011).</p><p>From <strong>CIRC</strong> in Abisko, <strong>Jan Karlsson</strong> and his colleagues reshaped the long-standing paradigm in freshwater ecology, which posits that nutrients are the primary constraint on lake productivity. Their 2009 <em>Nature</em> study showed that in many small, nutrient-poor lakes, light availability rather than nutrient supply often limits ecosystem productivity, which in turn cascades up to invertebrates and fish (Karlsson et al., 2009). This work reframed our understanding of what controls energy flow in unproductive lakes, particularly in northern regions.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="eb17c1aa-8c42-4f5b-a1f5-2d07303c1c3b" data-contentname="PIC CAMILLA">{}</div><p>In 2009, interdisciplinary ambition materialised in the forests with the launch of <strong>Future Forests</strong>, a collaborative research program between <strong>Ume&aring; University</strong>, the <strong>Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)</strong>, and <strong>Skogsforsk</strong>. Breaking the traditional silo where forestry was solely a technical pursuit, the project reimagined the northern boreal forest as a complex social-ecological system. By integrating political science, history, and sociology with silviculture, the program directly addressed the deepening conflicts in Norrland&rsquo;s interior&mdash;where the drive for intensified timber production increasingly clashed with reindeer husbandry, biodiversity conservation, and recreational needs. Under the leadership of <strong>Annika Nordin</strong> at SLU and <strong>Camilla Sandstr&ouml;m</strong> and, later, <strong>Janine Priebe</strong>, both at Ume&aring; University, Future Forests moved beyond the deadlock of "preservation versus production," producing over 350 publications that offered evidence-based strategies for managing the forest's multifunctional landscape. This work laid the foundation for a more nuanced understanding of the "Green Transition," proving that sustainable forestry in the North requires not just new planting methods, but a fundamental renegotiation of how the forest is valued.</p><p>While <strong>Dieter M&uuml;ller</strong> (1968-2025) conceptualised the Arctic as a "pleasure periphery" for global markets, examining the socioeconomic and political forces driving tourism in the region. He discusses the dual role of climate change&mdash;as a threat to local ecosystems and as a driver of "last chance tourism"&mdash;while addressing the challenges of seasonality and the conflicts between tourism growth and indigenous land use. M&uuml;ller (2011a) concludes that effective governance is crucial for striking a balance between economic development and the preservation of the Arctic&rsquo;s fragile environment and social fabric.</p><p>In 2014, the university&rsquo;s Arctic profile deepened its focus on the "European Arctic" with the launch of the <strong>Mistra Arctic Sustainable Development program</strong>, a major interdisciplinary initiative hosted by <strong>ARCUM</strong>. Moving beyond the romanticised view of the Arctic as a remote wilderness, this program analysed the North as a complex, industrialised arena where global demand for resources clashes with local livelihoods. Under the scientific leadership of <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong> and <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong>, the program examined the friction between competing land uses&mdash;forestry, mining, tourism, and reindeer husbandry&mdash;providing critical governance strategies for a region under intense geopolitical and economic pressure. By integrating historical analysis with modern political science, the project established that sustainable development in the North is not merely an environmental challenge, but a matter of managing conflicting rights and resources in a globalised world.</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">2015&ndash;2024: The Geopolitical and Green Shift</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7bfb84bd-6ac9-44cf-a969-abe425d6a634" data-contentname="PIC VÁRDUO">{}</div><p>The most recent completed decade has been defined by the "Green Transition," the re-militarisation of the North, and the cementing of Indigenous research sovereignty. In 2015, <strong>CeSam</strong> was formally renamed <strong>V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research</strong>, taking its name from the Ume S&aacute;mi word for "a view with a wide horizon." <strong>V&aacute;rdduo</strong> is unique in Sweden, driving research that focuses on decolonisation, language revitalisation, and Indigenous land rights in relation to diverse colonial, state, and industrial contexts.</p><p><strong>The Mistra Arctic Sustainable Development</strong> program&rsquo;s scientific legacy was cemented through three flagship outputs that collectively reframed the "European Arctic" as a complex, industrialised arena. Led by <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong>, the primary synthesis volume challenged the global "new frontier" myth, conceptualising the region instead as the "Old North"&mdash;a landscape defined by centuries of integration rather than remoteness (Keskitalo, 2019). Complementing this, <strong>Karin Beland Lindahl</strong> and colleagues exposed how regulatory "silos" make land-use conflicts inevitable, particularly between forestry and reindeer husbandry (Beland Lindahl et al., 2018).</p><p>Simultaneously, research by <strong>Dieter M&uuml;ller</strong> and <strong>Arvid Viken</strong> revealed the social friction involved in commodifying Indigenous culture for the tourism industry in a region already dominated by extractive powers (M&uuml;ller &amp; Viken, 2017). Together, these works demonstrated that sustainable development in the North is not merely an environmental challenge, but a matter of managing conflicting rights in a globalised world.</p><p>In 2017, Ume&aring; University joined UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, Lule&aring; University of Technology, the University of Oulu, and the University of Lapland to form the<strong> The Arctic Five</strong> university alliance, which aims to act as a regional development and innovation engine for the European Arctic. Two years later, the European Union published their first<strong> European Green Deal</strong> strategy, setting the stage for new research into green technologies and industries. More importantly, it led to a diversity of research focused on goal conflicts and justice.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6ce63cde-bc9e-405a-83c6-724a9e8b69ca" data-contentname="PIC LARS-ERIK">{}</div><p><strong>Lars-Erik Edlund</strong> published <em>Minority Language Place-Names: A Practice-Oriented Study of the Establishment of the South Sami Kraapohke in Swedish Laplan</em>d (Edlund, 2018), examining the administrative and symbolic struggle involved in officially restoring the South Sami place name Kraapohke (Dorotea), arguing that such toponyms are vital for validating Indigenous identity in a post-colonial society. The study demonstrates that the "linguistic landscape"&mdash;specifically road signs&mdash;serves not merely as a navigational tool, but as a profound arena for cultural revitalisation and political recognition.</p><p><strong>Anna Zachrisson</strong> and co-authors challenge the dominant "ecological modernisation" discourse&mdash;the idea that economic growth and environmental protection are easily compatible (a core tenet of the Green Transition).<strong> Beland Lindahl</strong> et al. (2016) argue that this consensus often silences alternative views and deep-seated conflicts, particularly regarding natural resource management (forestry and mining) in the North.</p><p>Shifting to forestry, <strong>Janina Priebe</strong> focused on gaining a critical understanding of why environmental policy often faces gridlock despite widespread consensus on climate goals. <strong>Priebe</strong> et al. (2022) apply systems thinking to the contentious debate surrounding Swedish forestry and climate change. The authors demonstrate that while stakeholders&mdash;from industry representatives to environmentalists&mdash;agree on the urgent need for action, they predominantly focus on "shallow" leverage points while avoiding the profound, structural paradigm shifts required for genuine sustainability.</p><p>In 2024, the <strong>The Arctic Five</strong> alliance expanded to the <strong>The Arctic Six </strong>(with the full accession of Nord University), cementing a powerful Nordic research bloc. This era also saw the creation of Sweden&rsquo;s first <strong>Arctic Graduate School</strong>, training a new generation of PhDs to think interdisciplinarily - across the borders of disciplines.</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">2025 and Beyond: The Future</h2><p>As we stand in 2025, Ume&aring; University is pioneering the use of AI and refining carbon budget models for the boreal and Arctic regions. The <strong>European Polar Board</strong> (EPB) and the <strong>European Polar Coordination Office</strong> (EPCO) relocated from the Netherlands to the heart of the campus, adjacent to the Arctic Centre. The EPB and EPCO coordinate Arctic and Antarctic research across Europe, bringing new opportunities for collaboration.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f74950f7-112b-4f16-963c-be4683ead72d" data-contentname="PIC GERARD">{}</div><p>Continuing CIRC's work to better understand the impacts of climate on Arctic ecosystems. <strong>Gerard Rocher-Ros</strong> initiated his <strong>European Research Council Starting Grant</strong> project, ARIMETH (A mechanistic understanding of Arctic River methane emissions). The project aims to uncover the mechanisms driving methane emissions from Arctic rivers, a significant but currently underestimated source of greenhouse gases. The research is designed to close the knowledge gap on how these emissions respond to climate change by focusing on the complex interplay between biogeochemical processes and hydrological changes.</p><p>The journey from biology to health, Indigenous rights, and global geopolitics continues. We are no longer just studying the Arctic; we are shaping its future.</p>/en/news/60-years-of-arctic-research-at-umea-university_12154759//en/news/dna-floating-in-air-reveals-the-hidden-past-of-ecosystems_12154903/DNA captured on air filters and stored since the 1960s acts as an ecological time capsule, according to a recent publication in Nature Communications. The findings show that tiny fragments of genetic material can paint a detailed picture of life across the landscape. They also reveal a distinct decline in biodiversity over three decades.Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:54:46 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Daniel Svensson and Anna-Mia Johansson take a break from DNA extractions to discuss new results. Both are research engineers at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience and co-authors of the study.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Bea Andersson</span></div></div><p>All organisms shed cell fragments with DNA to the environment. Now, researchers have performed the largest and most detailed analysis to date of airborne DNA using filters originally used to monitor radioactive fallout.</p><p>Air monitoring filters are found at hundreds of sites worldwide. These particular filters come from a station outside Kiruna, in northern Sweden, and have been archived in a basement at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, since the 1960s. When researcher Per Stenberg learned about the archive about a decade ago, he and his colleague Mats Forsman realised what a goldmine it was.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Shows ecosystems week by week</h2><p>Week after week, the filters collected DNA from all living things: plants, fungi, insects, microbes, birds, fish, and even large mammals like moose and reindeer. By sequencing the DNA, the research team was, on a weekly basis, able to identify the presence of 2,700 organism groups within several miles of the station, and track how their populations increased or decreased over 34 years.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a stroke of luck that the filters had been kept &ndash; and that they were made of a material that preserves DNA. The archive turned out to be a time machine, allowing us to revisit the past and watch an ecosystem changing in almost real time,&rdquo; says Per Stenberg, lead author of the study conducted by researchers from Ume&aring; University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and the Swedish Defence Research Agency.</p><p class="quote-center">It was a stroke of luck that the filters had been kept &ndash; and that they were made of a material that preserves DNA</p><p>When the researchers looked at long-term patterns, they saw a clear decline in biodiversity in the area, from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Examples of declining organisms include birch together with wood-associated lichens and fungi. The overall decline cannot be explained by changes in the climate, but rather seems to be linked to human activities such as forest management.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Entirely new method for airborne DNA</h2><p>Analyses of airborne DNA have been done before, but this is an entirely new and far more comprehensive approach that spans several decades. The research team used extensive DNA sequencing, machine-learning-based identification of organisms, and air-flow modelling to track the sources of the DNA. Comparisons with traditional field surveys show that the method is reliable both for identifying organisms and for detecting changes in their abundance.</p><p>&ldquo;This work is the result of nine years of intense research and development. I look forward to applying these data, together with ongoing sequencing of additional filters, to a wide range of questions,&rdquo; says Daniel Svensson, a co-author of the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Per Stenberg at the site of the air-filter station outside Kiruna.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Edvin Karlsson</span></div></div><p>The study shows that existing networks of air-filter stations can be used to monitor biodiversity trends and reconstruct ecosystems in places where baseline data are missing. This is essential for predicting future changes and adapting management and restoration strategies.</p><p>&ldquo;The method can also detect and track genetic variation as well as the presence of invasive species and pathogens,&rdquo; says Per Stenberg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0d43a963-880d-40a4-b90f-8e5e8d9d7711" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/dna-floating-in-air-reveals-the-hidden-past-of-ecosystems_12154903//en/news/thinner-ice-and-heavier-politics--swedish-polar-research-gathers-for-the-future_12154584/Between 10 and 11 November, the second Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic took place in Stockholm. The forum had a varied program with sessions from both early- and senior-career researchers, funding agencies, and other organisations, aiming to discuss future needs and directions for Swedish polar research.Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:22:45 +0100<p>The theme of the second Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic was &ldquo;Raising the ambition of Swedish polar research&rdquo;, and it attracted more than 100 participants, including researchers, representatives of governmental agencies, and stakeholders.</p><p>The Forum is an annual event of the Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic (SCAA), which is an initiative aimed at establishing a collaborative centre for Arctic and Antarctic research in Sweden, involving research environments at Swedish universities engaged in polar research. SCAA was established in 2024 as a collaboration between the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University and the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Lule&aring; University of Technology, with the Forum as an annual event held in partnership with the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. In 2025, the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University joined the initiative and hosted the second forum in Stockholm.</p><p>&ldquo;The ambition is to establish this as an annual event, hosted in rotation by Swedish universities and research institutes. Each year, the forum will address common polar issues and showcase the research of the hosting institution, as this year with Stockholm University,&rdquo; says Ulf Jonsell, Head of Department of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2486a811-6856-44d9-9467-cffa45a52d56" data-contentname="PIC FAA KL & DA">{}</div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The SCAA welcomes Stockholm University</h2><p>For the second year of the Forum, the organising group of the Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic also welcomes Stockholm University as a part of the university alliance network, and looks forward to elevating collaboration within polar research in Sweden and beyond the borders.</p><p>&ldquo;We are very pleased to welcome Stockholm University into this collaboration. It will strengthen our work towards gathering and coordinating polar research throughout the country,&rdquo; says Dag Avango, Professor and Director of the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Lule&aring; University of Technology.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Days of collaboration and visions for the future</h2><p>The forum days opened with a welcoming speech from State Secretary Maria Nilsson. She highlighted that the polar research is gaining momentum, not by chance, but through years of collaboration. Polar communities combine science, infrastructure and people across land, sea, ice and society to work towards a resilient future.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ecdc187f-3ef9-42b9-b26f-e236139c4587" data-contentname="PIC FAA APECS">{}</div><p>The first day focused on the next generation of researchers, as well as Swedish funding opportunities for polar research. After an introduction and workshop with SCAA, representatives from APECS Sweden, Bolin Centre Early Career Researchers Network, The International Arctic Science Committee &nbsp;(IASC), and Swedish Polar Research Secretariat all presented opportunities for early career researchers, such as fellowship programs, networks, events, and support opportunities. They also invited the audience to share their ideas on how to best collaborate between early and senior career researchers, as well as with society.</p><p>&ldquo;It is a great opportunity to share what we do, and to encourage the forum participants to interact and think about what future in polar research we can create together. We hope that this can work as a springboard for network-building and new horizons for research collaborations across generations,&rdquo; says Felicia S&ouml;derqvist, PhD Candidate at Lule&aring; University of Technology, and board member of APECS Sweden.</p><p>The second day focused on polar research as a concept, from the early days of risky expeditions to the North Pole, to where we are in our research, where we are going, and what the future might hold. Some of the key points included how globalisation and issues like climate change are directing the course of research, as well as how polar research no longer limited to the fields of natural sciences, but rather within all research fields, making it an interdisciplinary field of research. Professor Peder Roberts from the University of Oslo emphasised that people and environments in the polar regions have rights, and that it is essential for both material and non-material cultures to have a voice in future polar research.</p><p class="quote-center">The polar regions have never been as high on the agenda as they are now. We must act to create a future that is sustainable and just for the polar regions and the peoples of the Arctic.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Polar research has never been more critical</h2><p>Certain events in the world are inevitably making the situation dire for the polar regions, which in turn makes polar research more important than ever before. Current research shows that ice is melting and sea levels are rising, and political issues are dividing the points of interest for the polar regions, challenging their future purpose and scope of application. The last session discussed future ambitions, and highlighted how the 5th International Polar Year (IPY5), International Conference on Arctic Research Planning &nbsp;(ICARP) IV, and the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences are all global initiatives working towards coordinating and prioritising polar research to address these issues and work towards a sustainable and resilient future.</p><p>&ldquo;These initiatives are crucial. The polar regions have never been as high on the agenda as they are now. We must act to create a future that is sustainable and just for the polar regions and the peoples of the Arctic,&rdquo; says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Even though our present times are unstable and the future is heading towards terrains of uncertainty, the Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic demonstrates that Swedish polar researchers are eager to come together and collaborate across their research fields to tackle the triple planetary crisis, climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability for a better future for all.</p>/en/news/thinner-ice-and-heavier-politics--swedish-polar-research-gathers-for-the-future_12154584//en/news/new-masters-programme-tackles-challenges-in-modern-biology_12154347/Six researchers at Umeå University will receive SEK 38 million in grants from the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Memorial Fund for humanities and social science research with forestry relevance. Almost half of the thirteen projects approved are going to Umeå University, which demonstrates the university's strength and breadth in this field. Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:56:57 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for research. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;The Swedish forestry issue has largely relied on research in natural sciences and technology, but forestry is really a social and humanistic issue, which is why this call for proposals is both relevant and innovative. And the fact that we have six projects included in this forward-looking initiative is a really good indication of the breadth of our research in this area,&rdquo; says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for research.</p><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology, will receive a grant of six million Swedish kronor for a project that, in short, will investigate acceptance of climate-adapted forest management.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology. Photo: Mattaias Pettersson</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;Since forest management can provoke strong reactions and even lead to conflicts between different interests and different groups, it is important to understand the role that the social context plays in our attitudes to how forests are managed. This is particularly important when forest management is changing to meet major challenges such as climate change. These funds give us the opportunity to develop our understanding of how social processes contribute to shaping people's attitudes to forest management. They also help to strengthen expertise in environmental psychological perspectives on the management of natural resources,&rdquo; says Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology.</p><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, docent and associate professor at Department of Informatics, has been awarded a grant of seven million Swedish kronor for a project that will examine how all the data collected about forests is actually presented and to whom.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, Docent and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>"Today, there is an enormous amount of data about Swedish forests. Thanks to satellites, drones and other digital technologies, the condition of the forest can be mapped in ways that were not previously possible. This information is crucial for forest planning, harvesting and logistics. At the same time, the digital systems used today are difficult for non-experts to use, and both data and models are often based on the priorities of large players. This is unfortunate, as it can make it difficult for a number of actors to influence decisions, despite the high level of digital maturity in Sweden. Digitalization has opened new possibilities, but it also brings new challenges. These are the issues we want to explore in the project,&rdquo; says Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, Docent and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics.</p><p><strong>All research projects at Ume&aring; University that are awarded funding:</strong></p><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology, receives a grant of SEK 6 million for the project: Bridging the Gaps: Social Dynamics in Climate-Adapted Forest Management.</p><p>Britt-Inger Keisu, Associate professor at Department of Sociology, receives a grant of SEK 7 million for the project: Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden.</p><p>Camilla Sandstr&ouml;m, Professor at Department of Political Science, receives a grant of SEK 8 million for the project: Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden.</p><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, docent and associate professor at Department of Informatics, receives a grant of SEK 7 million for the project: One Forest, Many Voices: Leveraging Digital Forestry to Promote Environmental Justice.</p><p>Erland M&aring;rald, Professor at Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, receives a grant of SEK 5 million for the project: Forests of Emotions: Merging Historical and Philosophical Perspectives to Understand the Role of Emotions in Forest Debates.</p><p>Janina Priebe, Associate professor at Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, receives a grant of SEK 5 million for the project: Optimized trees: The intersection of scientific knowledge and public discourse in the transition from natural to artificial methods of tree improvement.</p>/en/news/six-researchers-receive-wallenberg-grants-for-forestry-related-social-research_12154304//en/news/cybersecurity-researcher-at-umea-university-sweeps-top-global-awards_12148976/Data security breaches and advanced cyber-attacks cost society billions. One who recognised the risks at an early stage and continues to develop effective solutions is Alexandre Bartel, Professor and Head of the Software Engineering and Security research group at Umeå University. He now receives five internationally renowned awards for his efforts. "It is satisfying to see how our research is helping companies, developers and users around the world", says Alexandre Bartel. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:55:00 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alexandre Bartel, Professor of Software Engineering and Cybersecurity at Ume&aring; University, has received a series of prestigious awards over the past year. He is now recruiting both PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for WASP and the new Cybercampus, a national initiative aimed at strengthening both skills development and research in cybersecurity.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Victoria Skeidsvoll</span></div></div><p>We are facing a growing digital threat. Cyber-attacks against companies, authorities and critical infrastructure have increased significantly, resulting in huge costs. One aspect of making it harder for attackers to compromise computer systems is to have robust software and reliable data security systems. This is something that Alexandre Bartel, Professor at the Department of Computing Science is improving through his research.&nbsp;</p><p>Now he's been awarded some of the most prestigious prizes, as well as an honorary award for his excellent academic leadership. <br>"This is proof that my colleagues from around the world and I are creating solutions that are appreciated by both the research community and society at large, and are relevant and useful," Prof. Bartel says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Recorded people's conversations</h2><p>His research has sparked a minor revolution in data and cybersecurity, leading to the development of entirely new and advanced tools that detect vulnerabilities, anomalies, and attacks on digital systems at an early stage. An international breakthrough came as early as 2015, when he and his colleagues analysed the popular Android app <em>Shake them all</em>, which had been downloaded millions of times worldwide.</p><p>With their analysis tool IccTA, the researchers revealed that the app was secretly recording users&rsquo; conversations. "This was a clear and serious security issue that we were able to find. It marked a breakthrough in the research community, and our technology has since influenced the entire field of Android application analysis. Android is an operating system used on billions of devices globally, including by major manufacturers such as Samsung", says Professor Alexandre Bartel.&nbsp;</p><h3>Significant impact on development</h3><p>For this achievement, Professor Bartel has now been awarded the prestigious <em>Most Influential Research Paper Award ICSE 2025</em>, a distinguished prize given to research that has demonstrated significant impact over an extended period. <a href="~/link/478b1b120fde457abcb1159e38ddda69.aspx">Alexandre Bartel</a> has also been awarded this year's <em>ACM Sigsoft Distinguished Paper Award</em> for his analysis of vulnerabilities in Java, one of the world's most used programming languages, together with <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a> doctoral student <a href="~/link/02109ee24ff34a10b8cb4b4c73419562.aspx">Bruno Kreyssig</a>. Prof. Bartel was also honored with the Most Influential PLDI Paper Award 2024 for the work on FlowDroid, a tool now used globally to detect security flaws in Java and Android programs. This research has been cited 2,000 times and is used by researchers and developers to test and improve their own tools. "Our research has enabled companies to review code and prevent attacks through techniques such as fuzzing and reverse engineering. In this way, we contribute tools that can analyse code both during development and execution. This allows more complex vulnerabilities to be detected and addressed, says Prof. Bartel.&nbsp;</p><h3>Acclaimed expert reviewer&nbsp;</h3><p>In addition to his research awards, Professor Bartel has also been honored with the <em>ACM CCS 2025 Top Reviewer Award</em> as well as the <em>IEEE SecDev 2024 Distinguished Reviewer Award</em> &ndash; recognitions of his work as a peer reviewer of scientific articles. "This process is a complex but crucial step in research. If it fails, it can affect both the quality of the research and public confidence", says Prof. Bartel. "The research community recognizes our great work, and I am honored to share these distinctions with my outstanding group members whose efforts greatly shaped our success.&nbsp;</p><h3>Future computer security and AI&nbsp;</h3><p>At Ume&aring; University, Professor Alexandre Bartel leads the research group <a href="~/link/65e3403c35f24ad0b5c4154c2dced97b.aspx">Software Engineering and Security</a>, which is financed by <a href="https://www.kempe.com/">the Kempe Foundations</a> and <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a>.&nbsp;Bartel is currently recruiting doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers on <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a> and <a href="https://www.cybercampus.se/">Cybercampus</a> projects. Professor Alexandre Bartel has also received an educational <a href="~/link/2ff47968ffe44e76a197f378d0500842.aspx">award for his teaching</a> in Cyber security &ndash; <a href="~/link/ec9d148e49b34a0b88e2faffdf08d030.aspx">a highly popular course</a> that attracts many students in Sweden.&nbsp;</p><p>The Software Engineering and Security research group is closely monitoring developments in artificial intelligence and is raising awareness about the risks of AI-generated code, which may contain hidden vulnerabilities. "AI is a powerful tool, but it requires human oversight. Otherwise, we risk building systems with inherent weaknesses that can, for instance, be exploited in supply chain attacks", Bartel says.&nbsp;</p><h3>Respected expertise in cybersecurity&nbsp;</h3><p>Alexandre Bartel's work holds significant value both in academic research and in real-world applications. "His expertise in cybersecurity is widely recognized and has a broad impact across society", says Professor Frank Drewes, Head of the Department of Computing Science at Ume&aring; University. "It stands as a clear example of the high regard in which our researchers are held within the international scientific community".&nbsp;</p>/en/news/cybersecurity-researcher-at-umea-university-sweeps-top-global-awards_12148976//en/news/umea-university-leads-national-research-school-on-future-cement-materials_12153819/The Swedish Research Council has awarded SEK 35 million to Markus Broström and Nils Skoglund to lead a research school in materials science focused on cementitious materials. Umeå University is establishing the research school in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, and the MAX IV synchrotron at Lund University. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:23:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Nils Skoglund and Markus Brostr&ouml;m are leading a new research school that will bring together expertise in cement-based materials.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Magnus Mikaelsson</span></div></div><p>The theme of the research school, known by the acronym RECEM, is how minerals can be processed to develop the next generation of cementitious materials and how mineral waste can be recycled. The research covers the entire chain &ndash; from extracted or recycled materials, through mineral processing, to low-carbon cement-based construction materials.</p><p>&ldquo;Our goal is to create a national network of leading experts with strong international connections. We do this by bringing together prominent academic environments with complementary competences,&rdquo; says Markus Brostr&ouml;m at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Knowledge for use in industry</h2><p>Rooted in materials science, the research school will address critical questions in mineral processing for sustainable cement production. Another aim is to provide the doctoral students with advanced analytical skills that can be applied in the mineral and mining processing industries.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cement is one of our most commonly used building materials.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Magnus Mikaelsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;This is a fantastic opportunity to gather national competence in materials science for cement-based materials and link it with world-leading analytical techniques,&rdquo; says Nils Skoglund. &ldquo;My experiences from the PRISMAS research school, led by MAX IV, clearly show how doctoral students are motivated by working in a larger context. As is evident from the Swedish Research Council&rsquo;s decision, I believe that RECEM will become a national flagship project.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Following technological developments</h2><p>RECEM will work within five focus areas and engage 14 doctoral students. Six of these will be admitted to Ume&aring; University, and the others will be distributed evenly between Lule&aring; University of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology. MAX IV contributes to advanced courses but also in roles as assistant supervisors, which ensures that the research school follows the latest developments in advanced analytical techniques.</p><p>&ldquo;We now look forward to starting the recruitment process in spring 2026 and finding good candidates to build a successful research school together,&rdquo; says Markus Brostr&ouml;m.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/umea-university-leads-national-research-school-on-future-cement-materials_12153819//en/news/ec2u-think-tank-on-universal-access-to-education_12153494/How can we ensure that education is accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstances? This question was the focus when Umeå University hosted its very first European Campus of City Universities (EC2U) Think Tank on 3 December. During the afternoon, researchers, teachers, doctoral students, students and community representatives gathered to share experiences, exchange ideas and discuss how education can become more equitable and inclusive.Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:31:27 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg speaks at Ume&aring; University's first EC2U Think Tank on December 3.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>David Meyers</span></div></div><p>The Think Tank was opened by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg, who highlighted how the EC2U collaboration strengthens both research and community development. She described the network as a catalyst for new ideas and collaboration between universities and community actors in Europe. Ume&aring; University participates in all focus areas and works to disseminate research-based knowledge to the region, develop interdisciplinary projects and provide policy proposals. The goal is to contribute to solutions to the educational challenges facing today's society.</p><p>The debut Think Tank for Ume&aring; University had the theme <strong>&ldquo;equitable and universal access to education&rdquo;</strong> and focused on two areas:</p><ul><li>digital inclusion</li><li>linguistic and cultural competences</li></ul><p>Discussions revolved around issues such as how we can create inclusive digital learning environments, ensure access to digital resources and strengthen critical thinking in the digital age. Participants also explored how language and culture can serve as resources for participation, with a particular focus on minority languages and multicultural learning environments.</p><p>The purpose of the Think Tank is to identify practical and sustainable solutions, develop new collaborations, and contribute to policy recommendations within EC2U and the EU. The results of the discussions will be compiled and presented at the EC2U Forum in Turku on 18&ndash;21 May 2026, under the theme &ldquo;Shaping European Futures through Quality Education.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/ec2u-think-tank-on-universal-access-to-education_12153494//en/news/eu-funding-secures-continued-research-on-chlamydia_12152269/The European Research Council (ERC) provides funding for five years with the consolidator grant to Barbara Sixt's research at Umeå University on chlamydia.Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:13:07 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Barbara Sixt, Department of Molecular Biology and Group Leader at The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS)&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Barbara Sixt is research group leader at MIMS, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden and resarcher at det Department of Molecular Biology.</p><p>Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Each year, more than 25,000 people in Sweden and around 130 million worldwide contract the disease. While symptoms are often mild, chlamydia can have serious consequences. It may cause infertility, chronic pain, complications during pregnancy, and even increase the risk of cervical and ovarian cancers.</p><p>Today, chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, which kill the bacteria and help the body recover. However, most antibiotics have a broad spectrum of activity. This means they attack not only harmful bacteria but also beneficial ones, such as those in our gut that support digestion. This can lead to side effects. Broad-spectrum antibiotics also accelerate the rise of antibiotic resistance &ndash; a global health threat that makes infections harder to treat and even puts routine procedures like surgery or cancer therapy at risk.</p><p>There is another challenge: the bacterium that causes chlamydia can alter the biology of our cells. Current antibiotics eliminate the bacteria but not these altered cells, which may contribute to the long-term complications mentioned above.</p><p>To overcome these problems, Barbara Sixt&rsquo;s research group at Ume&aring; University is exploring new strategies to treat chlamydia more selectively. In our current project, funded by the European Research Council. They focus on the bacterium&rsquo;s unique growth niche inside human cells &ndash; a compartment called the &ldquo;inclusion.&rdquo; When the bacterium causing chlamydia infects a person, it enters their cells and hides within this inclusion to escape the cell&rsquo;s defense systems. These defenses would normally destroy the invader or even trigger &ldquo;cellular suicide&rdquo; &ndash; the deliberate death of the infected cell &ndash; to stop the infection.</p><p>The research group&rsquo;s goal is to understand how the bacterium maintains the integrity of this protective inclusion. By uncovering these mechanisms, we hope to find ways to destabilize the inclusion, allowing our cell&rsquo;s natural defenses to fight back. The researchers also aim to learn how to steer the process toward cellular suicide &ndash; a strategy that could eliminate both the bacterium and the manipulated cells.</p><p>Ultimately, this research will lay the foundation for innovative treatments that are more sustainable than traditional antibiotics and could also help combat other disease-causing microbes that use similar growth niches.</p><p>The ERC Consolidator Grant is selected by the European Research Council (ERC), which is linked to the European Commission. This means five years of secured funding of up to two million euros. Researchers with 7-12 years of experience since completing their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise, and an excellent research proposal may be granted the grant.</p>/en/news/eu-funding-secures-continued-research-on-chlamydia_12152269//en/news/new-book-on-dark-romanticism_12153286/“Dark Romanticism: Literature, Art, and the Body”, is a new book by Silvia Riccardi at Umeå University. The book explores the dark regions of Romantic imagination in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century literature and art.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:26:46 +0100<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/c47291a05256448e93700a10445da02b.aspx">Silvia Riccardi</a> begins by telling how her background is rooted in literary studies, with a strong emphasis on visual culture and a comparative approach across text and image.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9101788c-d853-415b-bd5c-294e6c395238" data-contentname="Silvia Riccardi">{}</div><p>&ndash; The archival study undertaken in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK introduced an art-historical dimension to my work that continues to shape how I approach research. It also kindled my interest in how the material presence of books and artworks is being redefined within digital environments.<br>&nbsp;<br>On the question what inspired her to write the book, she says that the initial spark came from William Blake.</p><p>&ndash; How could it be that I saw darkness in his most radiant visions but light in the imagery grappling with death? That contrast was there, persistent and unresolved. I wanted to understand how he held those opposites together, and that question became the starting point for the book. Can darkness be visible?</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="48d4b231-d7bc-4fab-b97f-7e4cd6fd22c4" data-contentname="Dark Romanticism">{}</div><h3>Working with three different figures</h3><p>When it comes to the book series: Palgrave Studies in the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Cultures of Print, Silvia Riccardi says that the series foregrounds the material and cultural dimensions of print in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where literature and other disciplines, including art, medicine, and science intersect.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; My book contributes to this conversation by examining how methods of production shape the forms and meanings of literature and art, closely looking at the vibrant intellectual discourse surrounding anatomy and aesthetics at the turn of the century.<br>&nbsp;<br>She continues to say that one of the main challenges was working with three different figures: Henry Fuseli, a painter, Mary Shelley, a novelist, and William Blake, an engraver, poet, and painter.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; Blake is particularly hard to place alongside the others, and for a while I even considered writing a book on Blake alone. Bringing him into conversation with Fuseli and Shelley made sense conceptually, but shaping those connections was not easy. <br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; In retrospect, this approach reveals a dark sensibility that emerges across these distinct authors and artists, and the process taught me a great deal about allowing connections to unfold gradually, while also remaining open to unexpected insights and to revisiting some chapters along the way.</p><h3>Move beyond disciplinary boundaries</h3><p>Silvia Riccardi notes that the book is aimed at scholars and students of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literature and visual culture, as well as researchers interested in book history, media theory, and Romantic-period art.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; It also speaks to readers working on Henry Fuseli, William Blake, and Mary Shelley. Rather than presenting a genre, the book offers a framework for understanding Dark Romanticism as an aesthetic mode that exceeds categories such as the Gothic or fantasy. <br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; More broadly, the book invites readers to move beyond disciplinary boundaries and to consider how a distinctly dark sensibility operates across media at a time when aesthetics and empirical knowledge were both sites of fierce intellectual debate, ideological contention, and revolutionary rethinking.</p>/en/news/new-book-on-dark-romanticism_12153286//en/news/when-crises-amplify-each-other-interdisciplinarity-becomes-crucial_12152792/For the second year, Umeå Transformation Research Initiative convened researchers from across disciplines for a full-day conference on sustainability and transition.This year’s theme centred on polycrises – how today’s interconnected crises influence and reinforce one another, and why interdisciplinary research is vital to addressing these global challenges.Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:17:39 +0100<p>The conference began with an address by Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University, highlighting the seriousness of a world where global warming is accelerating, wars and security crises unsettle societies, and democracy is challenged in places where it was once unquestioned.</p><p>&ldquo;Academia has an important role in the complex world we inhabit. Science does not hold all the answers, but our mission is to question, develop knowledge, and contribute solutions. In times of polycrises and emergencies, we must point to new paths forward. Trust in science is high in Sweden, and we must harness that by disseminating knowledge and illuminating problems from multiple perspectives. Conferences like this are one way of doing just that,&rdquo; said Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d828e3b7-057f-483e-98d7-3515d4c45494" data-contentname="Tora Eng">{}</div><h3>Small Changes, Big Consequences</h3><p>Anne-Sophie Cr&eacute;pin from the Beijer Institute delivered the keynote address, stressing that we live within complex adaptive systems where changes occur at different speeds, and small shifts can have major consequences.</p><p>&ldquo;The pandemic was a rapid transformation with immediate impact, but we must also remain alert to slow changes happening quietly. For example, increased precipitation in rainforests can lead to species loss and, over time, create entirely new ecosystems,&rdquo; explained Cr&eacute;pin, further underscoring that uncertainty is a fundamental factor to consider.</p><p>&ldquo;We cannot predict every change or control every process, and that is precisely why trust becomes critical. Trust between states, organisations, and individuals is key to sharing knowledge and acting swiftly and in coordination when crises arise. Without it, we risk losing sight of the bigger picture,&rdquo; said Anne-Sophie Cr&eacute;pin.</p><h3>Different Perspectives on Crises</h3><p>Trust also emerged as a recurring theme in the subsequent panel discussion featuring four researchers from different disciplines: Heidi Burdett, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science; Kristina Sehlin Macneil, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of V&aacute;rdduo; Niklas Eklund, Professor at the Department of Political Science; and Maria Nilsson, Professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0cac93af-091f-4c28-ac5d-30b4d9db11f0" data-contentname="Panelists (eng)">{}</div><p>During their introductory presentations, the panellists highlighted diverse perspectives from their respective fields.</p><p>&ldquo;For Indigenous peoples, crises are deeply intertwined with culture. In Australia, devastating wildfires coincided with the pandemic paralysing the country. Indigenous communities received very little support from the state, and studies have shown increased suffering and declining trust. A similar scenario is unfolding in Kiruna, where the future of reindeer herding and its cultural significance is challenged by mining interests in the name of the so-called &lsquo;green&rsquo; transition,&rdquo; said Kristina Sehlin Macneil.</p><p>Moderator Ola Nordebo posed a question about the future of academic freedom and how funding conditions affect it. Both Heidi Burdett and Maria Nilsson shared experiences of abrupt project funding cuts mid-project, a situation many colleagues have faced.</p><p>&ldquo;I worry about academic freedom as much as I worry about the climate. It&rsquo;s complex, and we have an increasingly centralised system that dictates what is considered important for funding and innovation. This development risks limiting diversity in research and, in the long run, undermining our ability to tackle global challenges,&rdquo; explained Niklas Eklund.</p><h3>A Broad Picture of the Research Landscape</h3><p>The conference also featured research posters from various disciplines. One was presented by Lieuwe Jan Hettema, a doctoral student in linguistics, who illustrated the complexity of developing language policies for S&aacute;mi in Swedish municipalities.</p><p>&ldquo;I realised during the keynote how closely my work connects to the discussion on polycrises. By focusing on local language policy processes, I see that climate, language, and politics are tightly interlinked. To build resilience and social sustainability, it is crucial for municipalities to give the S&aacute;mi people influence over activities that affect them.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="621d1fbf-439f-4d43-b3e1-e2e21bd2a6f8" data-contentname="Posters eng">{}</div><p><br>The afternoon was devoted to parallel sessions where participants could choose different tracks. Topics included understanding Northvolt&rsquo;s bankruptcy as a polycrisis, how climate change affects our perceptions of weather and seasons, and how disease outbreaks can be understood in relation to climate and economics.</p><p>Together, the sessions provided a broad picture of polycrises and how they are addressed from different research perspectives, spanning local societal challenges to global systemic transformations.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="53dca1b4-cb74-44c8-b84d-2c4c0d5cfa2e" data-contentname="Faktaruta feedback eng">{}</div>/en/news/when-crises-amplify-each-other-interdisciplinarity-becomes-crucial_12152792//en/news/the-arctic-six-strengthens-research-at-umea-university_12152698/In 2022, The Arctic Six introduced a new two-year fellowship programme for mid-to-senior career researchers to develop new collaborations in the Nordic region. Through the Chairs Programme, researchers from the alliance of six universities received support to create new networks and projects, further strengthening the Arctic research environment.Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:08:32 +0100<p class="quote-center">The Arctic Six is a strategically important part of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s work to advance research and education in the Arctic.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">A strategic platform in the North</h2><p>The Arctic Six is a collaboration between six northern universities working together to strengthen research, education and cooperation across the Arctic. Through initiatives such as the Chairs Programme, the alliance has deepened academic exchange and laid the foundation for new projects and partnerships. In doing so, the collaboration has reinforced Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s position internationally and strengthened opportunities for continued joint development.</p><p>The two-year Arctic Six Chairs fellowship (2022&ndash;2024) saw fourteen research leaders organise more than sixty workshops and participate in over one hundred meetings. They collaborated to submit fifty-eight joint research proposals and together secured approximately EUR 35 million in external funding. Each euro invested in the programme has generated more than thirty euros in new funding &ndash; demonstrating the programme&rsquo;s leverage effect.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cathrine Norberg.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson, Simon J&ouml;nsson</span></div></div><p>Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, emphasises:<br>&ldquo;The Arctic Six is a strategically important part of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s work to advance research and education in the Arctic. The Chairs Programme demonstrates how long-term collaboration can foster academic cooperation and enhance our international presence. It helps us create the conditions for new knowledge that benefits the region and the wider Arctic community.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Results that point the way forward</h2><p>The Chairs Programme has led to significant scientific achievements and established a growing framework for collaboration in Arctic health, education, tourism, Indigenous studies, and governance. In addition, several participants have developed joint courses, publications and long-term partnerships that continue to strengthen northern cooperation.</p><p>&ldquo;For researchers at Ume&aring; University, the Arctic Six Chairs has opened new paths for international collaboration and external funding. The initiative has made it possible to pursue larger and interdisciplinary projects, which in turn enhances research quality and the university&rsquo;s Arctic profile,&rdquo; says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">From experience to development</h2><p>The Arctic Centre has played a key role in coordinating Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s engagement within Arctic Six and in increasing the university&rsquo;s visibility in the northern research landscape. By creating connections between researchers, faculties and leadership, the Centre has strengthened internal collaboration and strategic presence within the network.</p><p class="quote-center">The first round of Arctic Six Chairs shows that northern collaboration is not only possible &ndash; it is powerful.</p><p>The evaluation now points to the next steps &ndash; clearer support structures and more targeted communication &ndash; elements that together provide the foundation for the next phase of development.</p><p>&ldquo;The first round of Arctic Six Chairs shows that northern collaboration is not only possible &ndash; it is powerful. We are now building on these experiences to develop the next phase with a stronger structure and continued focus on supporting our researchers,&rdquo; says Johanne Raade, Director of The Arctic Six.</p><p>Through the work within The Arctic Six, it has become clear how international collaboration can be translated into tangible outcomes &ndash; for researchers and the university. The experiences gained through the Chairs Programme highlight the value of long-term structures, shared learning and mutual trust &ndash; factors that now shape the foundation for the continued development of the collaboration.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Hans Pettersson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Hans Pettersson served as an Arctic Six Chair (2022&ndash;2024) and reflects:</p><p>&ldquo;During my time as Chair of The Arctic Six, what struck me most was how quickly genuine collaboration emerges once researchers have the chance to meet regularly. Trust grows, ideas take shape, and suddenly you&rsquo;re working together on a proposal none of you could have created alone. That&rsquo;s the real strength of the Chairs Programme &ndash; it gives us the time and continuity to turn shared ideas into something substantial.&rdquo;</p><p>With approximately 41,500 students and 4,600 employees, Ume&aring; University is the largest Arctic university in the Nordic region and one of the most productive universities globally in Arctic research. Through The Arctic Six and initiatives such as the Chairs Programme, the university continues to deepen its role as a driving force in international collaboration and to strengthen the conditions for new knowledge about and for the Arctic.</p>/en/news/the-arctic-six-strengthens-research-at-umea-university_12152698//en/news/catherine-bellini-receives-the-rosens-linnaeus-prize-in-botany_12152386/On Tuesday this week, Catherine Bellini was awarded the Roséns Linnaeus Prize in Botany by the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund. She received the prize for her research on adventitious roots and carbon allocation and her strong commitment to promoting international scientific collaboration. Catherine Bellini shares the award with Alexandre Antonelli, professor at the University of Gothenburg.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:44:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Catherine Bellini combines research in Sweden and France to advance understanding of plant growth and adaptation.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Catherine Bellini&rsquo;s research spans two main areas, reflecting her dual affiliation: she is professor at Ume&aring; University and Director of Research in Sylvie Dinant&rsquo;s group at the Jean-Pierre Bourgin Institute (IJPB), part of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) in Versailles, France.</p><p>In Ume&aring;, Catherine Bellini and her team study how plants develop adventitious roots - roots that grow from stems or leaves, such as those formed when new plants are grown from stem cuttings. They identified key genes controlling this process in the small model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and applied this knowledge to trees such as hybrid aspen, hybrid poplar and Norway spruce, which are important species for forestry.</p><p>In France, her research focusses on how plants transport sugars and allocate carbon, processes that are essential for growth and survival. She investigates how these mechanisms influence plant development and help plants adapt to their environment.</p><p class="quote-center">This award recognises more than twenty years of teamwork. I would therefore like to thank all the students and postdocs who joined my group and contributed.</p><p>Using her dual roles, Catherine Bellini has coordinated long-term collaborations between Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre and INRAE. This collaboration was later expanded to the trilateral INUPRAG cooperation which also includes the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics in Barcelona. These partnerships have strengthened international research collaborations, enabled the exchange of young scientists and resulted in more than 200 scientific publications.</p><p>&ldquo;I am very honoured to receive this prize&rdquo;, says Catherine Bellini. &ldquo;This award recognises more than twenty years of teamwork. I would therefore like to thank all the students and postdocs who joined my group and contributed. I would also like to thank Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre and the IJPB at INRAE for the excellent research environment they provided us with.&rdquo;</p><p>The Ros&eacute;ns Linnaeus Prizes in Botany and Zoology have been awarded every three years since 1935 to researchers who are resident in Sweden who are considered highly deserving by the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund. This year&rsquo;s prizes were presented at the society&rsquo;s annual meeting in Lund on December 2nd.</p>/en/news/catherine-bellini-receives-the-rosens-linnaeus-prize-in-botany_12152386//en/news/johan-trygg-elected-member-of-science-academy_12152271/Johan Trygg, professor of chemometrics at Umeå University, has been elected a new member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:31:32 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johan Trygg.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Billy Lindberg</span></div></div><p>Johan Trygg works at the Department of Chemistry developing chemometrics, that is, how statistical and mathematical methods can be used to understand chemical data. He is now one of the researchers representing Ume&aring; University within IVA.</p><p>IVA is the world&rsquo;s oldest engineering sciences academy and consists of just over 1,300 members with broad expertise in technology, economics and industry.</p><p>&ldquo;It feels both honouring and highly inspiring. Honourable because my mentor, Professor Svante Wold, was elected to the same IVA division, and inspiring because IVA brings together some of Sweden&rsquo;s most influential figures in research, technology and industry. Being part of that network gives me an opportunity to contribute to discussions where future innovations and research systems are shaped. It is a significant recognition &ndash; both professionally and personally,&rdquo; says Johan Trygg.</p><p>As a member of IVA, he will join the Chemical Engineering Division &ndash; one of the academy&rsquo;s twelve divisions. The division works to analyse and promote issues concerning how chemistry-based knowledge can help support sustainable development, both economically and environmentally.</p><p>&ldquo;We are in the midst of a technological revolution where AI, simulations and data-driven models are rapidly transforming how we develop new materials, design industrial processes and create tomorrow&rsquo;s pharmaceuticals,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Johan Trygg emphasises that IVA plays an important role in bringing together academia, industry and the technology sector to build a shared direction. With experience from both academia and the international pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, he wants to build bridges and help ensure that research delivers real benefits for patients.</p><p>&ldquo;I want to contribute with a clear future-oriented perspective in which AI, digital biosimulations and omics technologies become a natural part of everyday work and drive innovation in chemical engineering, life science and drug development,&rdquo; he says.</p><p><a href="https://www.iva.se/en/published/IVA-strengthens-with-new-members-Here-is-the-list/?epslanguage=en">Full list of IVA&rsquo;s new members</a></p>/en/news/johan-trygg-elected-member-of-science-academy_12152271//en/news/three-umea-researchers-appointed-wallenberg-academy-fellows_12152121/Max Renner at Umeå University receives SEK 10 million from the Swedish Research Council for a project that will uncover how dangerous viruses build tiny factories inside our cells. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers hope to understand how these viruses copy themselves – knowledge that could prove crucial in combating future outbreaks. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:17:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Max Renner, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Certain viruses such as pneumoviruses, which cause respiratory infections, and the rarer but deadly henipaviruses, build small &ldquo;viral factories&rdquo; inside human cells. These structures gather everything the virus needs to multiply and spread. Yet what actually happens inside them remains largely unknown.</p><p>This is something Max Renner, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, now aims to change with his newly funded project.</p><p>&ldquo;We are trying to figure out how these viruses work, down to the molecular level. Using advanced cryo-electron microscopy at cryogenic temperatures, we can see these processes in 3D inside frozen cells at extremely high resolution,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Synthetic proteins can slow down the virus</h2><p>The project will map what viral factories look like, how they work, how their key components move and interact, and how their structures vary between different types of viruses. The researchers will also use synthetic proteins, designed with machine-learning approaches, to stop or slow down the virus machinery.</p><p>&ldquo;We are currently just beginning to understand the internal structure of viral factories and how the virus&rsquo;s copying machinery works inside actual human cells. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to develop targeted antivirals in cases where vaccines are not available,&rdquo; says Max Renner.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Strengthens preparedness for future outbreaks</h2><p>By uncovering how these viruses replicate, hide from the immune system, and hijack our cells, the project will improve our ability to fight future viral threats. At the same time, there is potential to discover entirely new biological structures.</p><p>&ldquo;The exploration of viral factories is just getting started. This means we may find mechanism no one has seen before,&rdquo; says Max Renner.</p><p>Support from the Swedish Research Council now enables the research group to take important steps towards a deeper understanding of how viruses function &ndash; and, ultimately, how they can be stopped.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Max Renner with his research group: Rupesh Balaji Jayachandran, Erwan Quignon, Marcus Sundqvist, Kajsa Westberg and Jane Corwin.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/umea-researchers-aim-to-reveal-how-viruses-build-their-factories_12152022//en/news/critical-microbes-building-a-national-infection-research-infrastructure-inspired-by-denmark_12151786/Infection researcher Anne-Marie Fors Connolly has been awarded SEK 500,000 in investment funding from the ALF Committee to continue developing a national database infrastructure that will enable more researchers to study critical infectious diseases.Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:30:56 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anne-Marie Fors Connolly investigates both acute and long-term complications after infections by analyzing whole population data.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">I hope more research groups will recognize the importance of studying how infections affect public health</p><p>&ldquo;Improving patient care is what drives me,&rdquo; says Anne-Marie Fors Connolly, specialist physician and associate professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The research infrastructure Critical Microbes integrates test results from clinical microbiology laboratories with outcomes of infectious diseases across Sweden. By collecting and coordinating population-wide data, including socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical variables, it becomes possible to map how infectious diseases impact public health, work capacity, and societal costs.</p><p>&ldquo;It is an interdisciplinary effort that combines advanced statistical methods with clinical expertise to identify risk factors, optimize treatment strategies, and generate robust, evidence-based knowledge,&rdquo; Anne-Marie Fors Connolly explains.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Patient centred improvement in focus</h2><p>The idea for the infrastructure came from Denmark, where all test results are centralized in real time in a surveillance database. This makes it possible to monitor how infections affect the country.</p><p>&ldquo;In Sweden, we do not have the same capability, as only positive results for notifiable infections are centralized. I want to create an infrastructure where test results from all clinical microbiology laboratories in Sweden are historically collected. These will be linked to the population database already maintained by my research group, creating a connection between infection test results and patient outcomes across the entire population,&rdquo; says Anne-Marie Fors Connolly.</p><p>Other research groups with ethically approved projects will be able to request data for their studies. This will make it possible to conduct research on critical infectious diseases for many years to come.</p><p>&ldquo;I hope more research groups will recognize the importance of studying how infections affect public health. It is a crucial foundation for designing targeted preventive measures and improving patient care,&rdquo; Anne-Marie Fors Connolly adds.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Learning from Denmark</h2><p>The investment funds will enable continued development of Critical Microbes. Anne-Marie Fors Connolly will also visit the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark to learn from their experience.</p><p>&ldquo;It is the only place in the world with such an infection database, so their insights are extremely valuable.&rdquo;</p><p>Critical Microbes is also supported by <a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/news/four-collaborative-projects-selected-in-the-rdcp-call/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SciLifeLab/RDCP</a> with SEK 1 million and <a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/strategic-areas/pandemic-laboratory-preparedness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pandemic Laboratory Preparedness</a> with SEK 1.98 million.</p>/en/news/critical-microbes-building-a-national-infection-research-infrastructure-inspired-by-denmark_12151786//en/news/in-memory-of-dieter-k.-muller_12151607/On November 20, Professor Dieter Müller passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He was affiliated with the Department of Geography and served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University for nine years. His colleagues at the department have written an obituary in his memory.Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:42:27 +0100<p>It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that we acknowledge that Professor Dieter K. M&uuml;ller (1968&ndash;2025) is no longer with us. Dieter had been part of the Department of Geography at Ume&aring; University since 1993. He first came to Ume&aring; as an exchange student from Germany and graduated from Ume&aring; University in 1992. He then began his doctoral studies in human geography, focusing his dissertation on Germans purchasing second homes in Sweden. He earned his PhD in 1999 and later became Associate Professor in 2004. In 2007, he was appointed Professor of Human Geography. Dieter went on to serve as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2011 to 2016 and subsequently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University from 2016 to 2025.</p><p>Dieter had a rare ability to truly see people and care for others. As a supervisor, he was deeply committed to his doctoral students, always taking time to discuss, reflect, and talk about research&mdash;as well as life in general. He was humble in his work. Dieter possessed an exceptional drive as a researcher, with a keen interest in society at large and a strong desire to influence and improve it. In academia, he established himself as a respected name and earned significant international recognition for his contributions to the development of&nbsp;research on&nbsp;tourism and geography.</p><p>He served for eight years as Chair of the International Geographical Union&rsquo;s Commission on Tourism, Leisure and Global Change. In 2018, he received the Roy Wolfe Award from the American Association of Geographers for his outstanding contributions to tourism geography. In 2023, he was elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.</p><p>Dieter built a creative research environment around him and established the Department of Geography at Ume&aring; University as one of the leading centers for tourism research in Sweden and the Nordic region. He always spoke highly of Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University, becoming an ambassador not only for Ume&aring; but for all of northern Sweden. His network within academia and beyond was extensive, and many will miss his simplicity, clarity, and sharp intellect.</p><p>Our grief is profound, but we are grateful for the time we shared. Thank you for everything you gave us as a colleague and friend.</p><p><em>Colleagues at the Department of Geography, Ume&aring; University</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Memorial service</h3><p>A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 16:00 in Rotundan, Ume&aring; University. No registration is required. There will be an opportunity to share a memory during the event. If you cannot attend but wish to express your condolences with flowers or a telegram, please contact Sara Rambe, Secretary to the University Management.</p><p><br>Contact details:<br>sara.rambe@ͯ����Ƶ, +46 (0)90-786 63 78</p>/en/news/in-memory-of-dieter-k.-muller_12151607//en/news/calcium-sensitive-switch-boosts-the-efficacy-of-cancer-drugs_12151385/Cancer-fighting antibody drugs are designed to penetrate tumor cells and release a lethal payload deep within, but too often they don’t make it that far. A new study shows how this Trojan Horse strategy works better by exploiting calcium differences outside and inside cells.Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:37:50 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The calcium-regulated protein drug (green) and tumor cell receptors (red) have bonded and internalization is underway, 40 seconds after administration.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>KTH</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">The calcium switch is built into the drug design</p><p>A research team from KTH, Stanford University and Ume&aring; University has developed a calcium activated delivery system that could enable more precise treatment, with lower doses and less collateral damage to healthy tissue. The results have been published in PNAS, the journal of the National Academy of Sciences.</p><p>The concept takes aim at a common challenge with targeted drugs, which tend to cling too tightly to receptors expressed by tumors. On the positive side, that strong bond blocks receptors&rsquo; tumor growth signals. But ADCs (Antibody&ndash;Drug Conjugates) are also meant to attack and kill, and too often the protein can become stuck without ever penetrating deeper into the cell&rsquo;s real intended goal: an acidic compartment called the lysosome. There, in the kill zone, the targeting protein can be broken down, thus unleashing toxin that causes cell death.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Calcium dependent bond</h2><p>To avoid that problem, the researchers developed a calcium-sensitive switch that binds strongly to the cancer cell receptor on the outside of the cell where relatively high calcium concentrations are found, in the blood and the extracellular fluid.</p><p>Once bound together, the drug-loaded protein (or calcium-regulated affinity, CaRA) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are pulled inside the cell, into compartments with gradually lower levels of calcium. And because their bond is calcium dependent, the receptor and CaRA eventually go their separate ways: the receptor can recycle back to the membrane, while CaRA continues carrying its payload toward the lysosome.</p><p>&ldquo;The calcium switch is built into the drug design. It senses calcium levels and changes its grip automatically,&rdquo; says Sophia Hober, professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology who led the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>From Ume&aring; University, Professor Magnus Wolf-Watz's group participated in the study published in PNAS.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Very selective molecule</h2><p>The study was performed on living human cancer cell lines, using a payload of the cytotoxin, mertansine DM1. The drug conjugate showed a very high potency and it is highly selective&mdash;it only killed cells that overexpress EGFR, leaving healthy or low-EGFR cells unharmed. The researchers emphasize that this shows specific targeting and a strong therapeutic window, which is critical for reducing side effects.</p><p>Leon Schierholz, a doctoral student in Magnus Wolf-Watz's research group at Ume&aring; University, has determined a low-resolution structure of the complex between CaRA; and the extracellular domain of the EGFR receptor. The structure has been determined to a resolution of approximately 6 &Aring; using the single particle cryoEM technique on data collected at the Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy, UCEM, at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The structure provides a fundamental molecular understanding of the high affinity of the complex.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Doctoral student L&eacute;on Schierholz has spent many hours at the large microscope at the UCEM technology platform at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Next step an atomic model</h2><p>&ldquo;We are now moving forward and aiming to come up with a high-resolution structure with a resolution below 3.5 &Aring; that can allow us to make an atomic model that can be used to further improve the properties of CaRA. The data is of very good quality for this relatively small complex,&rdquo; says Leon Schierholz, who in this context wants to put the spotlight on his colleague Max Renner, who is highly involved in completing the atomic model.</p>/en/news/calcium-sensitive-switch-boosts-the-efficacy-of-cancer-drugs_12151385//en/news/representing-umea-university-in-an-international-programming-competition_12149645/A new influenza strain, the K variant, is spreading across Europe and detected in Sweden. It is a subtype of influenza A (H3N2) and raises concern as it causes more severe symptoms and spreads faster than previous strains. This year’s flu vaccine is not fully adapted to protect against it, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:56:15 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Niklas Arnberg, professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; university, says the K variant makes it especially important this year for older adults and people in risk groups to get vaccinated ahead of the flu season.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">there is extra reason to get vaccinated this year</p><p>&ldquo;Symptoms resemble classic influenza with high fever, chills, headache, dry cough, and muscle pain, but they may be more pronounced with this variant,&rdquo; Niklas Arnberg explains.</p><p>The K variant has been linked to an early start of the flu season in several countries, and experts warn that this season could be tougher than usual. Although the vaccine offers less protection against infection with the K variant, Arnberg emphasizes that vaccination remains important:&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The vaccine likely provides somewhat weaker protection against the K variant than we would like, but it is by no means ineffective. It also protects against other circulating influenza strains and reduces the risk of severe illness, which is particularly important for older adults and those in risk groups.&rdquo;</p><p>To reduce transmission, good hand hygiene, sneezing into your elbow, and avoiding close contact with elderly or vulnerable individuals when symptomatic are recommended. However, Niklas Arnberg does not believe society will need to impose restrictions or other measures.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;But I do think there is extra reason to get vaccinated this year, thus more reason than in previous years,&rdquo; he adds.</p>/en/news/new-influenza-variant-could-make-the-winter-season-extra-demanding_12151119//en/news/dieter-muller-has-suddenly-passed-away_12151130/Dieter Müller, Professor at the Department of Geography and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, 20 November.Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:51:10 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller died suddenly and unexpectedly on 20 November 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller served as Professor of Human Geography at the Department of Geography and his research focus was on tourism and regional development.</p><p>He was Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2011&ndash;2016 and thereafter took the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in the University Management with responsibility for research and doctoral education in the social sciences and humanities from 2016&ndash;2025. Beside those roles, he was also member of several boards, networks and committees both within and beyond Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;It is with great sadness that we have received the news that Dieter is no longer with us. I know that Dieter was a highly committed and well-regarded colleague who made a lasting impact both at the University and in society. My thoughts are especially with Dieter&rsquo;s immediate family and with everyone who have worked with him in any of his roles here at the University,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;</p><p>On Monday, 24 November, the flag will be flown at half-mast on Campus Ume&aring; in his memory.</p><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller was 57 years old when he passed.</p>/en/news/dieter-muller-has-suddenly-passed-away_12151130//en/news/kbc-days-2025-bridges-disciplines_12150919/Last week, the annual conference organised by Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) at Umeå University and SLU, gathered over 360 participants for two intensive days of knowledge exchange, networking, and celebrating the year’s achievements. This year’s theme, “Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos”, united discussions on how advances in physics, chemistry, life and Earth and planetary sciences can intersect to address fundamental questions about matter, life, and the universe.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:38:10 +0100<p>Since 2009, the KBC DAYS conference has offered a platform for knowledge exchange among researchers from different departments and disciplines, while also highlighting research achievements, awards, and new faculty members within the KBC community.</p><p><em>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t sure I would understand the different topics in the programme, but the speakers did a wonderful job communicating their science, and I found myself engaged in every talk throughout both days &mdash; it was all very interesting&rdquo;</em>, says Edoardo Piombo from Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre. He was one of the attendees at the KBC DAYS 2025 who enjoyed the event&rsquo;s strong multidisciplinary atmosphere.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>This year's main scientific theme was "Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos," serving as a central focus for discussions on different scales of scientific research and on analysing and applying research findings across various scales and dimensions. The choice of this theme was also influenced by the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). In this photo, Lars-Anders Carlson and Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, both members of the scientific organising committee, are opening the conference in the Carl Kempe lecture hall at KBC.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>The multidisciplinary programme highlights</strong></h3><p>Within the theme &ldquo;Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos&rdquo;, the invited keynote speakers showcased cutting-edge research spanning across the scales from quantum biology to remote sensing and machine learning in landscape analysis, and to comparative planetology.</p><p>At the far end of the spectrum, Clarice D. Aiello, a leading expert in quantum biology, reviewed experimental evidence for quantum phenomena in biological systems, discussed proposed biophysical mechanisms, and highlighted their potential implications for technology, therapeutics, and our understanding of life across scales.</p><p>Reflecting on her talk, Assistant Professor Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri, a member of the scientific organising committee, commented:</p><p><em>&ldquo;Clarice&rsquo;s research at the intersection of physics and biology aims to confirm or refute the &lsquo;Quantum Biology Hypothesis&rsquo;, which suggests quantum states last long enough inside cells to be biologically relevant. If proven true, this way of approaching biology and biological problems could revolutionise our way of seeing and understanding life as we know it.&rdquo;</em></p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Clarice D. Aiello, founder of the Quantum Biology Ecosystem and CSO of the Quantum Biology Institute, USA, is conversing with conference participants after her inspiring keynote lecture &ldquo;Quantum Biology: How nature might be optimized to harness quantum mechanics&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>At the other extreme of the presented scale, Stephanie Werner from the Centre for Planetary Habitability at the University of Oslo explored current methods for detecting exoplanets, their surprising diversity, and the challenges of defining and identifying Earth-like habitability across evolving planetary systems.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Professor Stephanie Werner, from the Department of Geosciences at the Centre for Planetary Habitability, University of Oslo, is delivering her keynote lecture titled "Exoplanets, near and far, small and rare, large and plenty?".</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>With a focus on young researchers</strong></h3><p>The KBC DAYS traditionally give PhD students a chance to present their projects through a short &ldquo;elevator talk&rdquo; and/or a poster to a broad, multidisciplinary scientific community, sharpening their science communication skills. The best talk, selected by the evaluation committee, was awarded a travel voucher sponsored by the Ume&aring;-based company Agrisera, while the best poster, as voted by the participants, received the prize from SciLifeLab Ume&aring;.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Hanna Jerndal, from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, receives the Agrisera award for her outstanding &ldquo;Elevator talk&rdquo; presentation at KBC DAYS 2025, titled &ldquo;Longitudinal Assessment of Tubular and Glomerular Kidney Function After COVID-19 &ndash; a prospective cohort study&rdquo;. In the photo, Hanna is with Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund from Agrisera and Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, scientific coordinator of KBC.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mingyu Liu from the Department of Plant Physiology, Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre (UPSC) receives the prize for the best poster titled &ldquo;Light-dependent modulation of sustained quenching during overwintering in Pinus koraiensis seedlings&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>On the second day of the conference, a panel discussion organised by the Ume&aring; Postdoc Society drew significant interest from doctoral students and postdocs. The session focused on navigating the career journey from postdoctoral researcher to principal investigator (PI). The panel, composed of six young PIs, discussed key aspects of transitioning from postdoc to PI, including strategies for obtaining early-career funding, crafting competitive grant proposals, leveraging mentorship and institutional support, balancing research with grant writing, and maintaining resilience in the face of setbacks.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Panel discussion &ldquo;From Postdoc to PI: Winning Grants and Finding Your Path&rdquo; organised by Ume&aring; Postdoc Society (UPS) and moderated by Madhusree Mitra and Keshi Chung. The panel consisted of (left to right) Max Renner (Department of Chemistry and UCMR), Ryo Morimoto (Department of Molecular Biology and MIMS), Verena Kohler (Department of Molecular Biology), Laura Bacete (Department of Plant Physiology, UPSC), Paulina Wanrooji (Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics), and Eric Capo (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p><em>&ldquo;I found the panel discussion very valuable, especially as a PhD student who hasn&rsquo;t yet secured a postdoctoral position but is already thinking about a future career as a principal investigator. Hearing from established PIs about the challenges they faced on their journey to becoming leaders in their fields was eye-opening&rdquo;</em>, says Dmytro Sokol, doctoral student from the Department of Chemistry.</p><p>Among many personal experiences shared and practical advice offered, the panel emphasised a message that resonated with many: don't get stuck after a grant proposal rejection, ask your peers for feedback, and keep trying! The panellists also discussed that it can be a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with the local research culture, creating hidden barriers to funding access. They agreed that one of the important steps in transitioning to an early career is learning how your local research funding and research support systems operate.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Overall, the discussion was inspiring and helped clarify my thoughts on whether I want to pursue the path to becoming a PI. It provided practical tips, a clearer understanding of what lies ahead, and strengthened my determination to face the challenges of my future academic career&rdquo;</em>, says Dmytro Sokol.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dmytro Sokol, a PhD student in biochemistry, is addressing the panel during the discussion &ldquo;From Postdoc to PI: Winning Grants and Finding Your Path&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>Journey across the scales with research infrastructures</strong></h3><p>The KBC DAYS also serves as a forum where research infrastructures at KBC and Campus Ume&aring; can showcase their advanced technologies, unique instruments, expert know-how, and services. These infrastructures can be used to explore different aspects of life- and material sciences, ranging from the atomic scale to entire ecosystems. For instance, mass spectrometry analyses performed by the Swedish Metabolomics Centre Ume&aring; (SMC) detect metabolites across a range from millimolar to femtomolar levels &mdash; over nine orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, the technical platforms at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF) accommodate experiments from millilitres to litres of water in laboratory incubations, extending to multi-cubic-metre mesocosms, as well as field sampling throughout the Bothnian Sea. The temporal scale of experiments at UMF ranges from rapid molecular analyses within hours to seasonal and multi-year monitoring programmes that track environmental trends.</p><p>The impressive array of local and national research infrastructures available at KBC, SciLifeLab and &ldquo;on the other side of the road&rdquo;, at the Translational Research Centre at the University Hospital of Ume&aring;, was overviewed by Linda Sandblad, Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy and SciLifeLab Ume&aring;, and Ola Billing, from the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Newcomers, as well as long-term KBC residents and other curious researchers, could meet infrastructure representatives at their posters to discuss potential projects, join guided tours of their facilities, or solve the infrastructure quiz. In the photo, Regina Kolzenburg and Mikael Peedu (in blue jumpers) talk to conference participants at their &ldquo;station&rdquo;, presenting the research facilities at the Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>Guinness World Records-worthy attempt to &ldquo;bridge scales&rdquo; from &Aring; to our solar system</strong></h3><p>One of the most memorable and exciting moments of the conference was the live experiment &ndash; creating the World&rsquo;s Smallest Solar System Model. During the Infrastructure session, participants could follow a live stream from the Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy (UCEM) lab, where staff scientist Nils Hauff created one of the model&rsquo;s elements, Saturn, inside FEI Scios, a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope. With a scale of 1 : 7 000 000 000 000, this model is so tiny that you would need a stereo microscope to find Saturn, which measures around 15 &mu;m or a pollen grain, and an electron microscope to see its moon Titan, which is about 700 nm in size. The entire solar system, including the Sun, planets, the most important moons, and dwarf planets such as Pluto, has been scaled down so much that 38 AU can fit onto a 75 cm-long metal rod.</p><p>Nils Hauff explained that the aim of this experiment was to demonstrate the instrument's capability to fabricate structures at the nanometer scale.</p><p><em>&ldquo;We also wanted to illustrate how extremely different length scales are involved in the research here at KBC and how challenging it is to comprehend those different length scales&rdquo;</em>, he says.</p><p>This academic stunt was inspired by the Sweden Solar System, the world's largest permanent scale model of the solar system, located throughout Sweden at a scale of 1:20 000 000, where the Sun is represented by Avicii Arena in Stockholm, and Ume&aring; holds the 13 cm-diameter model of dwarf planet Eris.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Now Sweden is home not only for the largest, but also for the smallest model of the solar system in the world!&rdquo;</em>, says Nils Hauff.</p><p>He already holds one record &ndash; earlier this year, he made the world&rsquo;s smallest Dala horse in collaboration with Erik Olof Wiklund, an artist and master&rsquo;s student at the Academy of Fine Arts. During the KBC DAYS, their photo &rdquo;The world's smallest Dalahorse&rdquo; won the KBC photo contest &ldquo;Bridging scales&rdquo; in a tough competition among nearly 30 other impressive artistic contributions.</p><h3><strong>Social element critical in bridging organisational boundaries</strong></h3><p>Throughout October, the KBC Ping-Pong tournament took place, attended by over 50 participants ranging from complete beginners to advanced players. Thanks to the energy and organisational skills of Irina Iakovleva, research coordinator at Bio4Energy, and several volunteers, the tournament became a much-appreciated event, providing a fantastic opportunity to enjoy sports and camaraderie with colleagues across KBC and beyond.</p><p>The tournament culminated with tense semi-finals and the final matches just before the conference dinner, adding excitement and an informal touch to the scientific gathering.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a5a47b1d-ba16-4b68-89eb-efa709d3db0d" data-contentname="KBC Employee of the Year 2025">{}</div><p>During the conference dinner, the KBC Employee of the Year was announced. The winner was chosen by the KBC group members from several nominees who &ldquo;made a meaningful contribution to improving the work environment at KBC, especially by strengthening collaboration and community spirit&rdquo;. This year&rsquo;s award recipient was Sonali Ranade from UPSC. Sonali was nominated for her initiative in launching a laughter club, where colleagues gather to practise laughing yoga and breathing exercises, Pranayama, that help improve well-being and reduce stress. Dinner participants could try a brief introduction to the laughter session. The laughter club will resume regular sessions in spring 2026, and everyone interested is welcome to join.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Just come with the smile!&rdquo;</em> says Sonali Ranade, smiling.</p><p>The success of KBC DAYS 2025 was made possible through the collective efforts of a vibrant research community and the generous support of sponsors.</p><p>What new challenges will 2026 bring, and which scientific themes should we explore together within the interdisciplinary KBC research community? Get ready for the KBC DAYS 2026 and share your ideas for themes and other suggestions with the KBC Communications Office.</p><p><strong>More information:</strong></p><p><a href="~/link/e578cbc1f0ab444bae8e84840cae2a86.aspx">KBC Days 2025 programme and abstracts</a></p><p><a href="https://umeapostdocs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Homepage of Ume&aring; Postdoc Society</a></p><p><a href="https://www.swedensolarsystem.se/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sweden Solar System</a></p><p>UMU news: <a href="~/link/73ba2d62b3ac475ca5b4d713fe151f86.aspx">Art meets nanotechnology &ndash; the world&rsquo;s smallest Dala horse created at Ume&aring; University</a></p><p>UPSC news: <a href="https://www.upsc.se/about-upsc/news/6621-sonali-ranade-awarded-kbc-employee-of-the-year-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sonali Ranade awarded KBC Employee of the Year 2025&nbsp;</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>KBC DAYS 2025 in Pictures</strong></h2>/en/news/kbc-days-2025-bridges-disciplines_12150919//en/news/harshit-malhotra-develops-new-tools-for-synthetic-biology_12149484/After earning his PhD in India, Harshit Malhotra has moved to Umeå, where he works as a 'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral researcher developing advanced chemo-optogenetic tools. His research aims to control bacterial cellular processes and reprogram them to produce valuable chemicals.Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:42:22 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Harshit Malhotra is 'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral fellow in professor Yaowen Wu lab at the Department of Chemistry and professor Anita Sellstedt lab at Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre, UPSC, at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">What is&nbsp;your academic background?</h2><p>"My doctoral work focussed on the metabolic engineering of the unique bacterium <em>Pseudomonas bharatica</em> CSV86T to degrade the toxic pesticide Carbaryl.&nbsp; The bacterium, isolated from petrol-contaminated soil, has a broad metabolic diversity and unique carbon utilization property, making it ideal for biodegradation and metabolic engineering applications."</p><p>"Through this work, I gained expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and metabolic engineering."</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">How did you end up at Ume&aring; University in North Sweden?</h2><p>"Professor Yaowen Wu's lab at Ume&aring; University has developed unique tools that find application in metabolic engineering and hold immense potential in revolutionising synthetic biology. This fact drew my attention."</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What is your research focusing on?</h2><p>"My research focusses on the development of chemo-optogenetic tools to control cellular processes in bacteria. These systems combine chemical molecules, optics, and genetically modified proteins to precisely control protein activities at specific locations in cells using light-sensitive small molecules."</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What is challenging and rewarding respectively with being a researcher?&nbsp;</h2><p>"The challenge of being a researcher lies in the persistent effort, patience, and resilience required to uncover the truths of nature. However, this pursuit is deeply fulfilling, as it contributes to the advancement of human knowledge and progress."</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">What are your first impressions of Ume&aring; and its university?&nbsp;</h2><p>"The city is very close to nature and serene. The work environment is conducive to the career development of researchers and provides wide range of scientific facilities for project implementation."</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">What is your driving force to do research in life science?</h2><p>"My driving force is contributing to society by harnessing the potential of synthetic biology."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Harshit Malhotra's driving force for research in life sciences is to contribute to society by harnessing the potential of synthetic biology.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/harshit-malhotra-develops-new-tools-for-synthetic-biology_12149484//en/news/learning-lab-hybrid-concluded-with-a-well-attended-digital-session_12149304/Nearly one hundred participants joined the digital kickout marking the conclusion of the Learning Lab Hybrid project. The session provided a summary of four years of work exploring and developing hybrid learning environments.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:00:27 +0100<p>After four years of exploratory work, the Learning Lab Hybrid project concluded with a digital kickout arranged within the network Rum f&ouml;r l&auml;rande. Under the theme <em>Hybrid teaching: hype, hope or everyday practice?</em> nearly one hundred participants gathered on Zoom to hear reflections and insights from the project.</p><p>Learning Lab Hybrid Ume&aring; is a collaboration between Ume&aring; University and Akademiska Hus aimed at building knowledge about how space, pedagogy and technology can be developed together to support future learning environments. Since its launch in autumn 2022, teachers have been able to test and refine new teaching approaches in the specially equipped room in the Natural Sciences Building, supported by both pedagogical and technical expertise. The project runs until 2026 and a final report is planned for release early next year.</p><p>The kickout was moderated by Eva Svedmark, Director and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Educational Development (UPL). The panel included Karin Fahlquist, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics, Thomas Mejtoft, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Christina Wink, Space Planner at the Property Management Office, and Rasmus Karlsson, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in Political Science at Halmstad University.</p><p>&Aring;se Tieva, Senior Lecturer at UPL, and Kajsa Winnes, Learning Environment Developer at Akademiska Hus, who have both played central roles in the project, opened the session with an overview of Learning Lab Hybrid&rsquo;s development from 2022 to today.</p><p>During the session, the panel and project team shared broad insights from the work, highlighting both challenges and successes as well as new lessons learned. The discussion illustrated how hybrid learning environments bring together pedagogy, technology and spatial design in ways that are both complex and full of potential.</p><p>&ndash; Hybrid teaching is no quick fix. It requires thoughtful planning where pedagogy, design and human interaction are key. Technology enables, but pedagogy decides, summarised &Aring;se Tieva.</p><p>With the kickout concluded, work continues on compiling the project&rsquo;s findings. The final report, to be published early next year, will provide a deeper overview of the results and the insights that can support the development of future learning environments.</p>/en/news/learning-lab-hybrid-concluded-with-a-well-attended-digital-session_12149304//en/news/faster-and-safer-development-of-car-t-cells-against-cancer_12149253/Johan Henriksson at Umeå University is developing genetically engineered immune cells, known as CAR T cells, that have the potential to cure cancer. He is one of twelve researchers in Sweden awarded SEK 10 million by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research to develop new instruments, technologies and methods.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:39:35 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johan Henriksson and his colleagues are building a large database that will help improve future cancer treatment.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Cancer cells are adept at hiding among normal cells, making them difficult for the immune system to detect and destroy. One treatment already used in healthcare is CAR T-cell therapy. In this approach, T cells are extracted from a patient&rsquo;s blood, reprogrammed to attack cancer cells, and then returned to the body.</p><p>To create better and more effective CAR T cells, researchers have so far conducted experiments in mice, but the results do not always translate to humans.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">"Needles in a haystack"</h2><p>Johan Henriksson&rsquo;s research group is working with a new technique called single-cell analysis. It involves identifying CAR T cells in which a gene has accidentally been knocked out during production. By studying these cells, the researchers can learn which genes can aid best in treating cancer. The method is a modernised version of an older screening technique that Johan Henriksson became interested in through a collaboration with Laura Carroll, who studies bacteria at the Department of Clinical Microbiology.</p><p>&ldquo;We are looking for needles in a haystack. But the technology we&rsquo;ve developed makes this project finally possible,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>To find these rare cells, Johan Henriksson and his colleagues will need to build the largest single-cell database ever created &ndash; twenty times larger than the well-known Human Cell Atlas, which was developed by nearly 1,000 laboratories together.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">More affordable cancer treatment</h2><p>&ldquo;The technology is extremely expensive, so this is really just a pilot project. Once we&rsquo;ve shown that the method delivers useful data, we hope that companies can take over and scale up the technology. Much of the research at Ume&aring; University is only possible thanks to generous contributions from the Kempestiftelserna foundations, which originate from MoDo and the paper industry. It would be fantastic if the data we generate could lead to new businesses in V&auml;sterbotten and give something back,&rdquo; says Johan Henriksson.</p><p>According to him, the project has great potential to accelerate the development of next-generation CAR T cells. The need for effective and, above all, more affordable cancer treatments is enormous. Today, CAR T-cell therapy for a single patient can cost up to SEK 5 million.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can improve efficiency and reduce side effects, this could make the treatment available to more patients. CAR T cells also have the potential to cure other diseases that are difficult to target with conventional drugs,&rdquo; says Johan Henriksson.</p>/en/news/faster-and-safer-development-of-car-t-cells-against-cancer_12149253//en/news/two-nobel-symposia-at-umea-university-in-2026_12148986/A hormone produced in the thyroid gland can play a key role in the development of prostate cancer. This is shown in a new study by an international research group led by Umeå University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. By blocking a receptor for the hormone, the growth of tumour cells in the prostate was inhibited. In the long term, the discovery may open up a new way of attacking certain types of aggressive prostate cancer.Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:01:38 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lukas Kenner, visiting professor at the Department of Molecular Biology.<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Medizinische Universit&auml;t Wien</span></p></div></div><p>"The results indicate that the receptor in question is a driving force in the growth of cancer. Substances that block it could thus be a target for future drugs against prostate cancer," says Lukas Kenner, visiting professor at Ume&aring; University and the one who has led the study that is published in Molecular Cancer.</p><p>The receptor in question is called thyroid hormone receptor Beta, TR&beta;. It binds the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine, T3. In laboratory experiments, the activation of T3 has led to a sharp increase in the number of prostate cancer cells. However, when the receptor TR&beta; was inhibited with the help of an active substance, NH-3, significantly reduced the growth of cancer cells. NH-3 is a substance that is only used in research to block TR&beta;.</p><p>The substance's effect on cancer was then confirmed in animal experiments in mice. Tumours treated with NH-3 remained smaller or progressed significantly more slowly. This was shown to be particularly effective in models of prostate cancer that are so-called castration resistant. This means that the tumour continues to grow despite treatment that reduces the amount of the male sex hormone testosterone, which usually drives cancer growth. This form is currently difficult to treat clinically.</p><p>Blocking TR&beta; using NH-3 worked by leading to the elimination of a particular signal, the androgen receptor signal, which is otherwise activated by testosterone and then plays a central role in the development of prostate cancer.</p><p>A review of data from cohorts of patients with prostate cancer supports these findings. In tissue samples, elevated levels of TR&beta; could be seen in tumours in the prostate compared to those in healthy tissue. In addition, genetic analyses show that mutations in many prostate cancer patients alter the signalling pathways for thyroid hormone. This suggests that blocking the thyroid hormone and its receptor may be a target for further research to find new treatments for prostate cancer.</p><p>"Of course, it is a balancing act not to change the hormonal balance in the thyroid gland more than necessary to fight cancer in another part of the body, and it will probably not be a solution for all types of prostate cancer. Further research will have to answer what a treatment could look like, possibly in combination with other treatments. Of course, this is an interesting track," says Lukas Kenner.</p><p>Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in Sweden and the second most common in the world. About one in ten Swedish men is affected by prostate cancer, about 2200 men a year die from the disease. When detected early, the disease is usually treated by reducing the amount of testosterone. However, many patients become resistant to this treatment, and as a result, the number of available treatments is limited.</p>/en/news/thyroid-gland-new-possible-target-for-prostate-cancer-treatment_12148877//en/news/safer-dairy-products-with-fewer-chemicals_12148827/Bacteria in the dairy industry can lead to disease and food waste. A new research project at Umeå University aims to find simpler ways to detect and remove the bacteria – without using a lot of chemicals.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:48:37 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, can contain disease-causing bacteria.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>Raw milk, milk products and entire processing lines in the dairy industry are often contaminated by <em>Bacillus</em> bacteria. These bacteria occur naturally in the environment but can cause serious disease if they enter food products. <em>Bacillus</em> bacteria are extremely difficult to remove due to their ability to form spores that survive both pasteurisation and common cleaning procedures.</p><p>Researchers want to learn more about Bacillus bacteria and find new ways to combat them. Dmitry Malyshev, staff scientist at the Department of Physics, has received SEK 6 million from the Swedish Research Council Formas for his project.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Preventing contamination</h2><p>One aim of the project is to understand how and where the bacteria stick &ndash; for example, in storage tanks, pipes or connections &ndash; and under what conditions this happens. This knowledge can help identify suitable materials and design equipment that reduces the risk of bacterial growth.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dmitry Malyshev, Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Nilsson</span></div></div><p>Another aim is to develop a super-sensitive and reliable detection method that can detect when a system or product is contaminated.</p><p>&ldquo;Contamination prevention requires frequent and chemical-intensive cleaning procedures in the industry, while entire batches of contaminated food products have to be thrown away to prevent the risk of disease. This is both costly and wasteful from an environmental perspective,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><p>Therefore, the researchers also aim to develop an industry-suitable method that requires as little chemicals as possible to remove or disinfect the bacteria and their highly resistant spores.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Formas provides long-term support</h2><p>&ldquo;This grant from Formas allows me to work long-term on the project, acquire the equipment we need, and collaborate with experts in other research fields,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><p>The most exciting aspect of the project, according to him, is the direct transfer of knowledge from academia to real-world applications.</p><p>&ldquo;Research in academia can be difficult and time-consuming to turn into practical products. In this project, there are multiple industrial collaborations and I hope to see the results come into practical use more quickly,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="56b76ce7-d18c-4bbb-90ba-eb55eb9a0fc4" data-contentname="About Dmitry">{}</div>/en/news/safer-dairy-products-with-fewer-chemicals_12148827//en/news/adato-can-now-be-used-again--many-measures-have-been-taken_12148636/A risk and vulnerability analysis has been carried out, procedures for data deletion and archiving have been reviewed, and the supplier has implemented several measures to increase security. Adato will be reopened for use on 12 November. "Both the supplier and our own departments have worked hard to secure the university's personal data management," says Per Ragnarsson, Assistant University Director and Chair of the University's Crisis Management Council. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:19:51 +0100<p>The Adato system support, used in the employee rehabilitation process, has been shut down at Ume&aring; University since the cyberattack against the supplier Milj&ouml;data on 23 August.&nbsp;</p><p>"We did not want to open up the system before analyses had been carried out and measures taken to ensure that the system is secure. But it is clear that we need system support for the rehabilitation process. It feels good to be able to reopen the system again, as this has been requested by our users," says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The university's agreement with Milj&ouml;data sets high standards for security and the handling of personal data. In the wake of the cyber attack, Milj&ouml;data has reviewed these standards and taken further measures to secure the system against attacks. The IT Office (ITS) at Ume&aring; University has reviewed the measures and given them its approval.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>"Milj&ouml;data has implemented new work routines and monitoring systems, among other things, and taken a number of technical measures to increase security. We believe they have done a thorough job following the cyber attack," says Emilio Perez Iznaga, IT manager at ITS.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Measures taken by the University</h2><p>Furthermore, the Human Resources Office has conducted a risk and vulnerability analysis of the system. The University has also taken its own measures regarding personal data management.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;In light of the cyberattack, we have recognised the need to review our procedures for archiving and deleting personal data and other documentation in Adato. We have now done so,&rdquo; says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;</p><p>All personal data relating to former employees where there are no rehabilitation cases will be deleted from Adato. A procedure is being introduced whereby personal data relating to employees who have left their employment at the university will be removed from the system, provided that there is no ongoing rehabilitation case. According to the university's document management plan, all documentation relating to a rehabilitation case must be retained. This documentation is currently stored in Adato.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We are now investigating the possibility of archiving these cases internally,&rdquo;&nbsp;says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>All these measures combined mean that the university now considers it safe enough to start using the system again. It will be available again on 12 November.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Minimise the number of tasks</h2><p>ITS is also investigating what personal data must be stored in Adato. One request is to only transfer the information needed for managers and HR to be able to carry out preventive and remedial rehabilitation work.</p><p>&ldquo;Our goal is to minimise the amount of personal data in the system in order to increase the safety and security of our employees,&rdquo; says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Employees or former employees with questions regarding Adato or the university's handling of the matter can contact the Human Resources Office by emailing: <a href="mailto:ah.adm@ͯ����Ƶ">ah.adm@ͯ����Ƶ</a>.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/adato-can-now-be-used-again--many-measures-have-been-taken_12148636//en/news/swedens-first-doctoral-student-in-police-science_12148608/The Unit of Police Work welcomes Anna Elmquist as the very first doctoral student in the new PhD program in Police Science at Umeå University. Her research will focus on police investigative work and what enables high-quality and effective investigations.Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:57:59 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anna Elmquist is the first doctoral student at the PhD program in Police Science</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Annika Engstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">From Field Service to Doctoral Studies</h2><p>Anna Elmquist is a police officer and behavioral scientist with a broad background in both law enforcement and academia. She has worked in field service, as an investigator, preliminary investigation leader, and manager within the Police Authority and the Swedish Economic Crime Authority before joining S&ouml;dert&ouml;rn University in 2015. Anna teaches criminal law, interrogation, and psychology and works within SMOB (Sweden Against Organized Crime).</p><p>Since October, Anna has been enrolled as a doctoral student in the Police Science program, becoming the first in Sweden to do so. Her research is connected to the Unit of Police Work at S&ouml;dert&ouml;rn University, but during her doctoral studies, she will regularly visit Ume&aring; University.</p><p>&ndash; I&rsquo;ve long been interested in research, especially in how we develop and strengthen police education going forward. Pursuing research in police science feels like a natural next step, she says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Aiming to Improve Criminal Investigations</h2><p>Anna&rsquo;s research project stems from her deep interest in investigative work. Her research will examine individual and organizational factors that affect the police&rsquo;s ability to investigate economic crimes, such as fraud.</p><p>&ndash;I&rsquo;m passionate about investigative work. It&rsquo;s important for citizens that the police can conduct investigations that are both high-quality and efficient,&rdquo; she says.</p><p>She emphasizes the importance of understanding police work from multiple perspectives. How do crime victims view the police&rsquo;s ability, capacity, and methods to conduct legally sound investigations? And what do investigators themselves think?</p><p>&ndash; Legal security for victims of crime is essential. It shouldn&rsquo;t be a lottery which cases are investigated, there should be equal treatment across the country, says Anna.</p><p>For Anna, the doctoral journey is about both personal development and contributing to the future of police work. She feels proud to be the first doctoral student in the new Police Science program.</p><p>&ndash; It feels fantastic, finally! Of course, a brand-new program comes with both advantages and challenges, but I feel very grateful and optimistic about this opportunity, she says.</p>/en/news/swedens-first-doctoral-student-in-police-science_12148608//en/news/och-de-nominerade-spin-off-foretagen-pa-umeagalan-ar_12148709/Three research-based companies with roots in Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) have been nominated for the University Spin-off of the Year award at the Umeå Gala 2025. What they have in common is that they are good examples of how academic innovation can contribute to a more sustainable and humane future.Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:05:11 +0100<p>Nil Medical was founded by Martin Hanberger while he was studying at the Ume&aring; Insitute of Design at Ume&aring; University. Martin has since continued to develop a patented vest that gives patients greater freedom of movement during infusion treatment. Children who need treatment no longer have to walk around with a large stand, but instead carry everything in a vest on their back. The product is already in clinical use, and Nil Medical shows how design and innovation from Ume&aring; University can make a big difference for young patients.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Martin Hanberger, CEO, and Malin Walfridsson, deputy managing director, at Nil Medcial. Photo: Tomas Ruuth</p></div></div><p>"It all started with my degree project at the Ume&aring; Institute of Design. The programme has a very practical focus. We students were trained in a way of thinking and a process aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of users' needs and perceived problems. This has therefore been a central starting point in all development from idea to production adaptation of the Vestpack vest.", says Martin Hanberger, CEO at Nil Medical.</p><p>"When I met children and parents in such a difficult situation and realised that this could potentially make things easier, it was what drove me to continue. There is also fantastic support available within the innovation system in and around Ume&aring; University," concludes Martin Hanberger.</p><h3>Next-generation fertiliser system</h3><p>Cropcision is a spin-off company from Ume&aring; University that is developing the next generation of fertiliser systems for agriculture, forestry and horticulture. With patented technology that has shown strong results in field trials, the company offers a solution that is both effective and plastic-free &ndash; something that benefits both the environment and human health. The founders, led by Jonathan Love, Co-Founder and CEO, say that they have benefited greatly from Ume&aring; University on their journey to a finished product.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cropcision's Co-Founder, Michael Holmboe, Associate professor at Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, and Jonathan Love, Co-Founder and CEO. Photo: Cropcision</p></div></div><p>"Certainly! My Co-Founder, Michael Holmboe, Associate professor at Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, has been a key in the development of the technology underlying our product. He is also a co-inventor and have enabled access to several University resources, such as X-ray diffraction and other techniques, generating supporting data crucial for the patents."</p><p>"Our ongoing collaboration continues to be productive and brings credibility when communication with external stakeholders and customers."</p><h3>Digitalisation of forestry from SLU</h3><p>Ecotype is a fast-growing spin-off from SLU in Ume&aring; that has quickly become a key player in the digitalisation of forestry. With various digital services, they make forest data available to both the business community and the general public. By combining technology, sustainability and user-friendliness, Ecotype contributes to more transparent and efficient forestry.</p><p>The winner of the University Spin-off of the Year award will be announced at the Umegalan gala on 20 November 2025, and Jonathan Love from Cropcision has the last word with a tip for both students and academics:</p><p>"While I do believe in the serendipity of science, I suggest an entrepreneurial academic start with identifying a large problem and try to find the simplest solution possible rather than trying to fit a solution to a problem. Make sure you understand who your customer is and how your research could potentially help them in concrete ways."</p>/en/news/och-de-nominerade-spin-off-foretagen-pa-umeagalan-ar_12148709//en/news/umea-university-examines-the-role-of-tasers-in-the-norwegian-police_12064302/How does the use of tasers affect police methods and legal security in Norway? Researchers at Umeå University are now conducting a comprehensive analysis to answer these questions. Through a scientific follow-up study, they will examine how and when tasers are used, as well as their consequences for police practices and safety.Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:16:36 +0100<p id="info0" class="quote-left quote-center" data-magellan-target="info0">It is important that police use of force is monitored.</p><p>The Unit of Police Work at Ume&aring; University has been commissioned to review the Norwegian police&rsquo;s use of tasers. The assignment, initiated by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet), aims to provide a deeper understanding of how and when tasers are deployed. The one-year project will also evaluate the effects of tasers on police work and legal security.</p><p>The Norwegian police have been using tasers for two years. Researchers from Ume&aring; University will now investigate how this has influenced officers&rsquo; experiences and perceptions of threats, violence, and the use of force. The analysis will also shed light on how police handle their duties and the role that tasers have played in operational situations.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Ensuring Responsible Development</h2><p>Associate Professors Jonas Hansson and Miguel Inzunza, who have previously evaluated pilot projects involving tasers in both the Swedish and Norwegian police forces, are leading the research.</p><p>&ndash; It is important that police use of force is followed up systematically and scientifically. Through research, we can help strengthen both the police profession and the field of police science, says Jonas Hansson.</p><p>Hansson also emphasizes the importance of policymakers recognizing the value of building police practices on research-based knowledge.</p><p>&ndash; It is positive that the Police Directorate sees the benefit of a scientific follow-up. It shows a commitment to ensuring a responsible and evidence-based development of police tools and methods, he says.</p><p>The study at Ume&aring; University will analyze data from Norwegian police operations and provide a foundation for future decisions regarding the role of tasers in the use of force.</p>/en/news/umea-university-examines-the-role-of-tasers-in-the-norwegian-police_12064302//en/news/environmental-science-students-ideas-for-a-sustainable-campus_12148191/A smart app for booking group study rooms – connected to sensors that control ventilation, heating and lighting only when the rooms are in use. This is one of the ideas for a more sustainable campus that students in the Master’s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability came up with during a project assignment.Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:43:59 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Letting nature take care of itself when green spaces are not used is one way of promoting biodiversity on campus, Nadine Peels and Jenny Ojala suggests.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We think the university could involve, for example, engineering students to develop such an app,&rdquo; says student Tuva Elingstam. &ldquo;Just as we have looked at sustainability on campus, more programmes could be engaged in that work. It feels meaningful when you get the chance to make a real impact.&rdquo;</p><p>As part of a course in the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability, students work in groups to explore different aspects of campus sustainability. They presented their projects during a poster session, attended by among others the university&rsquo;s environmental coordinator.</p><p>One group investigated how biodiversity on campus could be improved.</p><p><em>Many would probably say that Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s campus is green, but how can biodiversity be increased?</em></p><p>&ldquo;I thought the same when we started the project &ndash; that campus is very green,&rdquo; says Nadine Peels. &ldquo;But several of the green areas are large fields near the forest that are hardly used; they&rsquo;re just open grass.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>In the Master's programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability students have worked in a project with different aspects of sustainability on campus. From left Selma Skoglund asking questions during the presentation, to her right Ilse Olsson, student, Heidi Burdett, programme director, and Lisa Redin, environmental coordinator at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p class="quote-left">It&rsquo;s also important that students and researchers can use nature as part of learning</p><h3>Let nature take care of itself</h3><p>The students suggest letting these fields grow freely into flowering meadows and only mowing them when needed for sports or student events. Their proposal is largely about doing less &ndash; allowing nature to take care of itself in selected areas. It doesn&rsquo;t have to be neat flowerbeds and lawns everywhere. By for example leaving some leaves and branches on the ground and placing logs here and there, more plants and insects can thrive.</p><p>&ldquo;One of the challenges is getting all stakeholders to pull in the same direction,&rdquo; says Nadine Peels. &ldquo;Akademiska Hus wants to keep campus tidy, while it&rsquo;s also important that students and researchers can use nature as part of learning. Campus shouldn&rsquo;t look like a wilderness, so the question is how we can still use all areas to promote biodiversity.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>"When students are asked about study space they think large tables, whiteboards and space to have lunch in are important" says Ilse Olsson. To her left Jasmin Mannelqvist.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>Many students complain about the lack of group rooms where they can study together. They are often fully booked, but it&rsquo;s also common that rooms go unused because those who booked them don&rsquo;t show up.</p><p>Tuva Elingstam, Jum Krolikowski and Selma Skoglund analysed booking statistics &ndash; and were surprised to find that group rooms on campus are only used about 50 per cent of the time. Demand is high in the middle of the day, but mornings, late afternoons and evenings see many rooms empty.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done a lot of research and talked to both students and university staff who manage the booking system and our buildings,&rdquo; says Tuva.</p><h3>Smart app and sensors in rooms</h3><p>A survey revealed that many students want more variety in room sizes, more comfortable furniture, rooms closer to where they have classes, better ventilation and, above all, a smoother booking system. The latter could be solved with an Internet of Things solution, the group suggests.</p><p>Sensors in the rooms could detect when people are present and adjust ventilation and heating accordingly, as well as lighting based on outdoor brightness. Linked to booking via an app, where you can quickly find available rooms on a map, this would make room use more efficient. A system that somehow rewards students for booking at less popular times could also help spread usage more evenly throughout the day, they reason.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>"Investing in smart systems for study group rooms can also solve other problems in the buildings like ventilation" says Selma Skoglund. To her left Tuva Elingstam.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>A third group focused on campus buildings. If Ume&aring; University is to become climate neutral by 2045, carbon emissions from buildings must decrease much faster than they have so far, they conclude.</p><h3>&rdquo;Many consious decisions have been made&rdquo;</h3><p>Renovating existing buildings is preferable from an emissions perspective compared to building new ones. However, the campus&rsquo;s latest addition, Aurora &ndash; which houses exam halls among other things &ndash; can serve as a model, the group believes. Choices of materials, ventilation and energy solutions have earned the building the highest environmental certification, Milj&ouml;byggnad Gold.</p><p>&ldquo;Many conscious decisions have been made to increase sustainability in both the short and long term, from social and environmental perspectives,&rdquo; says student Ilse Olsson.</p><p>Understanding the climate footprint of different campus buildings and identifying emission sources has been the biggest challenge in the project, she says. Many buildings will need renovation in the coming years. This means major costs, but also an opportunity to find more efficient heating and ventilation solutions that will help the university reach its climate goals faster.</p><p>The project groups also identified that students generally need more knowledge about sustainability and what the university is doing to promote biodiversity and sustainability.</p><p>&ldquo;When we conducted our survey, many said they would like to learn more through signs and information boards,&rdquo; says Ilse Olsson. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s important to learn about the building you&rsquo;re in and connect it to something bigger &ndash; a global sustainability goal or the university&rsquo;s own targets.&rdquo;</p><p><a title="Read more about the Master's programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability" href="/en/education/programmes/masters-programme-in-environmental-science-and-sustainability">Read more about the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability</a></p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jum Krolokowski och Jurgi Irurieta has dug deep into how buildings on campus can become more sustainable, for example regarding energy efficiency.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div>/en/news/environmental-science-students-ideas-for-a-sustainable-campus_12148191//en/news/birch-leaves-and-peanuts-turned-into-advanced-laser-technology_12147932/Physicists at Umeå University, in collaboration with researchers in China, have developed a laser made entirely from biomaterials – birch leaves and peanut kernels. The environmentally friendly laser could become an inexpensive and accessible tool for medical diagnostics and imaging.Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:19:50 +0100<p>The results have been published in the scientific journal <em>Nanophotonics</em> and show how a so-called random laser can be made entirely from biological materials.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jia Wang, Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our study shows that it is possible to create advanced optical technology in a simple way using only local, renewable materials,&rdquo; says Jia Wang, Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, Ume&aring; University, and one of the authors of the study.</p><p>A random laser is a type of laser in which light scatters many times inside a disordered material before emerging as a focused beam. It holds great promise for applications such as medical imaging and early disease detection, and has therefore attracted significant research attention. However, conventional random laser materials are often toxic, or expensive and complex to produce.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Carbon dots from birch leaves</h2><p>Jia Wang and her collaborators created their laser using two common natural materials: birch leaves and peanut kernels. They made nanometre-scale carbon dots from the birch leaves to serve as the gain medium and cut peanut kernels into small cubes whose rough and irregular surfaces help trap and scatter light.</p><p class="quote-center">Instead of relying on complex technology, the natural microstructure of the peanut kernel does the job on its own</p><p>The laser itself is still powered by an external light source, but the functional parts that scatter and amplify the light are made entirely from biomaterials.</p><p>&ldquo;The synthesis of the carbon dots is simple and straightforward, essentially a one-step pressure-cooking process,&rdquo; explains Jia Wang. &ldquo;Instead of relying on complex technology, the natural microstructure of the peanut kernel does the job on its own," says Jia Wang.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Could be developed into an optical tag</h2><p>The researchers tested how much energy was required to make the laser emit light, and the results showed that it performs just as well as artificially engineered lasers.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Upper: The biomaterial-based random laser when activated.<br>Lower: The same laser seen in daylight.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Zhihao Huang</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;The potential of this biomaterial-based random laser extends beyond bioimaging and diagnostics. Given its low cost, renewability, and safety, it could also be developed into an optical tag for authenticating high-value documents, luxury goods, and electronic devices,&rdquo; says Jia Wang.</p><p>Jia Wang&rsquo;s research group has long been working on harnessing local, renewable resources for new technologies. Two years ago, they published a study demonstrating how birch leaves collected on Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s campus can be used to produce organic semiconductors &ndash; materials found in thin TV and mobile phone displays.</p>/en/news/birch-leaves-and-peanuts-turned-into-advanced-laser-technology_12147932//en/news/prestigious-award-to-informatics-researcher_12147908/Work environment representatives play a key role in creating a safe and sustainable workplace. At the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Mikaela Lagerqvist, Carin Wibom and Ylva Hedberg Fransson must deal with everything from everyday challenges to complex situations – and they see that their work makes a difference.Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:48:34 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ylva Hedberg Fransson, Mikaela Lagerqvist and Carin Wibom are work environment representatives at the Deaprtment of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Work environment efforts need to be highlighted as a central and strategic part of the organization</p><p>&ldquo;Work environment efforts need to be highlighted as a central and strategic part of the organization &ndash; not something that happens alongside daily operations,&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist, laboratory assistant at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In their roles as work environment representatives, Mikaela Lagerqvist, Carin Wibom, and Ylva Hedberg Fransson handle issues such as ergonomics, workplace calm, and environmental disruptions. Another common task is supporting employees in submitting reports via the IA system &ndash; a web-based tool for reporting work environment deviations. Their work often involves following up on these reports, for example by proposing corrective actions. All with the aim of preventing accidents and incidents.</p><p>&ldquo;For instance, we once received a report about broken hinges on four -80 &deg;C freezers, which posed a safety risk. This led to all the hinges being replaced before any accident occurred,&rdquo; says Ylva Hedberg, Associate professor&nbsp;at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>She continues:</p><p>&ldquo;We usually say we deal with &lsquo;Oops!&rsquo; and &lsquo;Ouch!&rsquo; &lsquo;Oops&rsquo; means it could have been dangerous but turned out fine, while &lsquo;Ouch&rsquo; is when an actual accident has happened. We learn from our mistakes &ndash; work environment efforts help us take action to prevent them from happening again.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lessons learned from work environment work lead to change.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Positive changes</h2><p>When Ylva Hedberg Fransson first became a work environment representative about ten years ago, the role was relatively limited. Back then, the main activity was conducting an annual work environment inspection at the department.</p><p>Since Mikaela Lagerqvist and Carin Wibom joined as representatives in the spring of 2023, several positive changes have taken place. The trio has actively worked to highlight the importance of a healthy work environment, including through regular discussions and presentations at the department&rsquo;s workplace meetings. These meetings are now held in person instead of digitally via Teams, which has contributed to a better dialogue and increased engagement.</p><p>&ldquo;Since last year, we have been collaborating with HR and representatives for equal opportunities in a joint working group &ndash; the so called ALV group. Together, we address issues related to the work environment, equality, and discrimination, which has strengthened our efforts,&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Support &ndash; both physical and mental</h2><p>For Mikaela Lagerqvist, a good work environment means having the right conditions to do your job and feeling safe &ndash; both physically and mentally. She emphasizes the importance of a workplace climate that is open, inclusive, and tolerant, where even difficult topics can be addressed.</p><p>&ldquo;It should feel safe to come to work, especially in a lab environment where we handle chemicals and technical equipment. It is important that we follow the laws and regulations in place to protect both health and safety,&rdquo; says Carin Wibom, research engineer at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University. She also highlights ergonomics as a key factor, noting that repetitive tasks and poor working postures can place significant strain on the body.</p><p>Since the pandemic, systematic work environment efforts have fallen behind &ndash; a natural consequence of a period dominated by crisis management. Now, Carin Wibom wants to see change.</p><p>&ldquo;My motivation is to establish routines for how we systematically work with both lab safety and office ergonomics. But just as important is the psychosocial work environment &ndash; how we treat each other and build a culture where everyone feels included and seen,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">More structure and routines</h2><p>Despite good intentions and growing attention to work environment issues, major challenges remain &ndash; especially when it comes to turning ambitions into concrete and sustainable routines in everyday work.</p><p>Mikaela Lagerqvist hopes for more systematic approaches to work environment efforts, with clearer structures and increased support from the department&rsquo;s leadership.</p><p>&ldquo;Of course, we would like to see work environment issues prioritized higher on the agenda. We are working toward closer collaboration with leadership, and we feel that we have a good dialogue that will hopefully move things forward,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">A time consuming role</h2><p>Currently, there is no set time allocation for how much work a work environment representative is allowed to dedicate to the role.</p><p>&ldquo;In theory, we are entitled to the time needed, but in practice it is often difficult to balance work environment responsibilities with our regular duties, such as lab work or teaching,&rdquo; says Carin Wibom.</p><p>The department is growing rapidly, and once the staff size reaches a certain level, the role of work environment representative could potentially become a dedicated position &ndash; without drawing from research funding. This would allow sufficient time to be allocated for the important work carried out by the representatives.</p><p><em>How can people reach you for help?</em></p><p>&ldquo;You are always welcome to stop by the office, send an email, or contact us via Teams. We will get back to you as soon as we can!&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Carin Wibom, Mikaela Lagerqvist and Ylva Hedberg Fransson welcome employees to get in touch.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/the-representatives-fighting-for-a-better-work-environment_12147721//en/news/thousands-of-young-people-welcomed-to-this-years-open-house_12147793/On 5 November, Umeå University will be filled with around 4,000 young people who want to know everything about what it is like to study at a university. It is time for the annual Öppet hus (Open House) event, when buses carrying upper secondary school students and others interested in studying, as well as teachers and study and career counsellors, roll in from Ljusdal to Kalix. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:34:03 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tomadj Karimi, Communications officer at Ume&aring; University and responsible for the event. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>"The main point is, of course, to showcase all the different programmes available at Ume&aring; University, but there are also a number of other popular activities and things to do, such as guided tours of the Ume&aring; Arts Campus, the Iksu training facility and the neighbouring Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The public housing company Bostaden will be there to talk about how to solve housing issues, and study and career counsellors and other staff will also receive their own professional development training," says Tomadj Karimi, Communications officer at Ume&aring; University and responsible for the event.</p><p>In the days leading up to the event, the organisers begin setting up at venues such as Universum and Lindelhallen to make room for stands, signs and other equipment, and on Wednesday, 5 November, visitors begin arriving.</p><p>Visitors from Ume&aring; start the day with a session in Aula Nordica at 9:30 a.m., while those arriving by bus receive information on the bus and go to an information session as soon as they arrive at Campus Ume&aring;. A total of 140 information sessions will be held on everything from the Master of Science in Pharmacy to the Theology Programme and everything in between, until everyone returns home after the last session, which starts at 2.30 p.m.</p><p>All visitors now have the smart digital map Mazemap to help them. The schedule on the website ͯ����Ƶ has links to Mazemap, which shows where the various information sessions and stands are located, but there is also other information, such as the nearest caf&eacute;, toilet or lift.</p><p><a href="~/link/70b706c7c665418ba2aa32cdee8d0d69.aspx">You can read more about Open House 2025 here (only in Swedish)</a>.</p>/en/news/thousands-of-young-people-welcomed-to-this-years-open-house_12147793//en/news/new-book-on-sami-education-and-missionary-history_12147645/Björn Norlin, researcher at the Department of Education at Umeå University, has released a new open access book on early educational initiatives aimed at Sweden’s Sámi population.Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:05:01 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Bj&ouml;rn Norlin has released a new open access book on early educational initiatives aimed at Sweden&rsquo;s S&aacute;mi population.</p></div></div><p>The book examines a key player in the educational field: the Swedish Missionary Society (SMS). Founded in Stockholm in 1835 with the help of British Methodists, SMS established mission schools and orphanages in the county of J&auml;mtland and the inland areas of the counties of V&auml;sterbotten and Norrbotten from the late 1830s. The operations continued until around 1920, when the schools were either closed or transformed into public primary schools or nomadic schools. Unlike several other forms of S&aacute;mi-directed education, SMS&rsquo;s educational efforts have not been thoroughly studied.</p><p>The book shows how the school activities emerged as a branch of the pietistic, evangelical missionary movement and its global ambition to spread Christianity among what were portrayed as heathen peoples. This occurred both domestically and in external colonial areas. Specific examples involving SMS include missions in India and Africa, and in the Swedish colony of Saint Barth&eacute;lemy in the West Indies. The S&aacute;mi and the so-called Lappmark were early identified as an internal mission field, and stationary boarding schools became a prime concern for the Society.</p><p>Initially the education in the schools was shaped by the pietistic worldview and ideological principles, centering on individual conversion and the concept of original sin. This conversion-oriented pedagogy gradually gave way to more national, rational, and utilitarian educational ideals. This shift was partly due to changes in the Society&rsquo;s internal ideological foundation and partly due to new demands on mass schooling that accompanied the establishment of the public primary school system. The book analyzes this transformation process and the ecclesiastical and political currents that contributed to the schools&rsquo; closure. It focuses especially on school practices and on the accounts of teachers, missionaries, and school inspectors. It is primarily a cultural-historical study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Bj&ouml;rn Norlin answers some questions.</p></div></div><p>The study also highlights the central role of education during a period when various forms of institutionalized mass schooling were being established in Sweden, and when the encounter between such church- and state-administered power structures and the S&aacute;mi population intensified. It is also a story of educational activities taking place in a pre-democratic society and within a distinctly socially segmented educational landscape.</p><p><em>The book is part of a research project funded by the Swedish Research Council and the School of Education at Ume&aring; University.</em></p>/en/news/new-book-on-sami-education-and-missionary-history_12147645//en/news/2025-mims-clinical-research-fellowship-awarded_12147750/The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) has announced the winner of its national Clinical Research Fellowship (CRF) program for 2025.Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:29:49 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alicia Lind at University Hospital of Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University is the winner of the national Clinical Research Fellowship (CRF) program for 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>An international panel of clinical and basic researchers has awarded the fellowship to <strong>Alicia Lind</strong> at Norrland University Hospital, Ume&aring; to conduct research on improving diagnostics and outcomes of post-covid condition.</p><p>Alicia is a specialist physician in anesthesiology and intensive care at Norrland University Hospital, and a researcher at the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Ume&aring; University. Her research focuses on the interaction between metabolism and the immune system in severe infections such as sepsis and COVID-19. She holds a medical degree and a PhD in clinical microbiology from Ume&aring; University. She has been actively working in the field of precision diagnostics at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In her MIMS CRF project, she aims to investigate the nature, dynamics, and mechanisms of long-term health effects following COVID-19. More specifically, she wants to identify sub-phenotypes of post-COVID condition (PCC) to guide personalized rehabilitation and treatment and develop predictive algorithms using high-resolution immunometabolic profiling to enhance diagnostics, pathophysiological understanding, and prognostication of PCC.</p><p>Alicia says, <em>"Why some individuals develop long-term complications after COVID-19, while others recover quickly, remains a pressing question. So far, the lack of high-quality clinical cohorts and biobanks has hampered progress in this critical area of research. Our clinical cohort study, CoVUm, may change that. With its large size, wide spectrum of disease severity, and exceptionally low drop-out rate, it is one of the few studies worldwide capable of providing long-term insights into post-COVID1 of 4condition (PCC). This creates a rare opportunity for us to connect metabolic and immunological changes with long-term clinical outcomes. Through broad, interdisciplinary collaborations, we are conducting in-depth studies of immunometabolic signatures alongside conventional biomarkers of immune response and organ dysfunction. Our group includes expertise in clinical medicine, analytical chemistry, and data-driven science &ndash; with the potential to develop new methods and knowledge relevant not only to COVID-19 but also to other post-infectious conditions. I chose Prof Martin Rosvall as a collaborator, since he and his group specialize in multivariate data analysis with machine learning methods in biological systems, expertise that is required in this project with complex and large datasets on multiple levels."</em></p><p>In her MIMS CRF project, Alicia is collaborating with Martin Rosvall, a professor at Icelab in the Department of Physics at Ume&aring; University, where she will have access to machine learning methods designed to identify patterns in complex biological data.</p><p>Martin says <em>"Alicia's work on post-COVID condition tackles a challenge that illustrates why interdisciplinary collaboration matters. The CoVUm cohort generates massive, multilayered datasets that no single approach can fully illuminate. My group brings machine learning methods designed to find patterns in complex biological data, but these methods only reveal meaningful insights when guided by deep clinical and biochemical understanding. The MIMS Clinical Research Fellowship provides exactly the protected research time and resources Alicia needs to develop the project. With these resources, we can move beyond simply describing post-COVID symptoms to identifying the immunometabolic signatures that distinguish different patient subgroups&mdash;signatures that could reveal why some people develop long-term complications while others recover completely."</em></p><p>MIMS Clinical Research Fellowships provide guaranteed research time and fund the fellow&rsquo;s research up to a total value of 3.2 mio SEK.</p><p>Oliver Billker, Director of MIMS, says: <em>"We are delighted to welcome Alicia to the MIMS community. Her project is a great example of the type of interdisciplinary and collaborative work we want to foster. It provides an opportunity for international collaboration in molecular medicine, which is at the core of our partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its Nordic Partnership."</em></p><p>MIMS receives funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Kempe Foundations and Ume&aring; University to foster the next generation of outstanding researchers in infection medicine. It is the Swedish node in the EMBL network, to which it is connected through the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine.</p>/en/news/2025-mims-clinical-research-fellowship-awarded_12147750//en/news/eu-invests-in-umea-research--16-projects-tackle-major-societal-challenges_12146879/How do environmental toxins affect the brain? Can AI support teachers in the classroom? And how might autonomous machines contribute to a greener industry? Researchers at Umeå University have been awarded over €10 million in EU funding to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:25:54 +0200<p>Ume&aring; University is participating in 16 new research projects that have collectively received more than &euro;10.2 million &ndash; approximately SEK 112 million &ndash; through the EU&rsquo;s 2024 funding calls.</p><p>&ldquo;This funding strengthens the university&rsquo;s international research collaborations and highlights how knowledge developed here helps push the boundaries of science,&rdquo; says Agneta H&aring;nell Plamboeck, head of the Research Support Office at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Support from programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ enables researchers at the university to collaborate with colleagues, companies, and organisations across Europe. Together, they are developing new knowledge &ndash; ranging from the tiniest building blocks of life to large-scale innovations that advance health, sustainability, and technology.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/dcf1ee7fe611465fbac5264a581bf01e/marta-bally-5538-250325-mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>One of the researchers awarded EU funding is Marta Bally at the Department of Clinical Microbiology (to the right, here with postdoc Malgorzata Graul). She investigates the invisible and largely unknown protective layer of our cells, which, when disrupted, may contribute to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Curious about what the researchers are working on?</h2><p>Click the expandable headings below to explore the projects and discover how Ume&aring; researchers contribute to scientific progress and societal development.<br><br></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">HORIZON EUROPE</h2><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Pillar I: Scientific excellence<br><br></h2><h3>European Research Council &ndash; Starting Grant</h3><p class="foldable">ARIMETH &ndash; tracing methane emissions from Arctic rivers</p><p><strong>Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases &ndash; many times stronger than carbon dioxide. Arctic rivers may be a hidden source, but researchers still know little about how these emissions arise and vary. The ARIMETH project aims to fill that gap.</strong></p><p>The team combines field experiments, high-resolution measurements with advanced sensors, isotope analyses, and modelling to understand the processes driving methane&rsquo;s journey from land to river and into the atmosphere. By linking local studies with pan-Arctic comparisons, the project will develop new models to better predict both present and future emissions.</p><p>The results could offer groundbreaking insights into the Arctic carbon cycle &ndash; and reveal whether current climate models have underestimated the role of rivers in global warming.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/f7439a65265c41869a7b464e080e2d3b.aspx">Gerard Rocher-Ros</a>, Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;1,902,360</p><p class="foldable">MicroIMMUNE &ndash; mapping tiny proteins with a big impact</p><p><strong>Our immune system protects us every day &ndash; but many of the smallest proteins that regulate its functions remain a mystery. MicroIMMUNE aims to change that.</strong></p><p>Within our DNA are genes that give rise to very small proteins &ndash; known as microproteins &ndash; which have so far escaped scientific attention. Researchers in MicroIMMUNE are developing new methods to identify these proteins, map where they are found in immune cells, and uncover how they influence immune responses under different conditions.</p><p>By systematically building an atlas of microproteins and their interactions, the project seeks to reveal what has long been hidden. These discoveries could provide entirely new insights into how the immune system works &ndash; and pave the way for future treatments, such as antibiotics that mimic microproteins to strengthen the body&rsquo;s defences against infection.<br><br><strong>Researcher:&nbsp;</strong><a href="~/link/71e2c62213f84c0ba36f9991a428fefc.aspx">Iker Valle Aramburu</a>, Department of Molecular Biology<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;1,500,000</p><h3>European Research Council &ndash; Synergy Grant</h3><p class="foldable">RESYDE &ndash; re-engineering life&rsquo;s building blocks</p><p><strong>How does a flower know what shape to take? And why do living organisms develop the forms and patterns we see in nature? RESYDE explores the biological processes that break symmetry in cells and tissues &ndash; one of life&rsquo;s great mysteries.</strong></p><p>The research team uses the plant&nbsp;<em>Arabidopsis</em> as a model. By combining gene analyses, advanced microscopy, experiments that alter protein function, and computational modelling, they study how molecules, signals and mechanical forces guide cell development. Using a virtual &ldquo;4D cell template&rdquo;, they can simulate these processes and test hypotheses about how forms arise and change.</p><p>The goal is to achieve a predictive understanding of how organisms develop their shapes. In the long run, this knowledge could be highly valuable for both medicine and agriculture &ndash; for example by guiding how tissues are built or how plants grow.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/7fa34837022c4fdeb6932a274829a3b0.aspx">Stephan Wenkel</a>, Department of Plant Physiology<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;2,413,756&nbsp;</p><h3>Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions &ndash; Doctoral Networks</h3><p class="foldable">ENGAGE &ndash; paving the way for future green and AI-controlled work machines</p><p><strong>Excavators, forestry machines and port cranes are essential to society &ndash; but they need to become safer, smarter and more environmentally friendly. ENGAGE trains the next generation of researchers to develop AI-powered mobile work machines for the demands of tomorrow.</strong></p><p>The project brings together European industrial leaders such as Volvo, Bosch and Liebherr with researchers in AI, robotics and physics from universities in Sweden, Finland, Germany and Austria, as well as tech companies like Algoryx. Within this collaborative framework, thirteen doctoral students are being trained in simulation and AI to develop machines that can operate more autonomously, with a lower carbon footprint and improved safety.</p><p>The initiative combines scientific and engineering expertise with practical knowledge of mobile work machines used in construction, agriculture and forestry. In this way, ENGAGE aims to strengthen European industry and make every day working machines a key part of the green transition.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/e4bf4710029341f895bd7364fe9c0802.aspx">Martin Servin</a>, Department of Physics<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;108,210</p><p class="foldable">GLYCOCALYX &ndash; uncovering the invisible shield of our cells</p><p><strong>Every cell in your body wears a protective "sugar coat" &ndash; the glycocalyx. It shields the cell and helps it communicate, yet despite its crucial role in immunity, brain function, and tissue repair, much about it remains unknown.</strong></p><p>The European doctoral network GLYCOCALYX brings together 15 early-career researchers to find out how this delicate layer is built, how it functions, and what happens when it fails. When the system is disrupted, it can contribute to diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegeneration. Excessive degradation can also lead to severe infections, sometimes with fatal consequences.</p><p>By combining chemistry, physics, and biology, the researchers are mapping the glycocalyx and developing new tools to make the invisible visible. Their work could pave the way for innovative diagnostic methods and treatments &ndash; and provide a deeper understanding of our cells and their invisible shield.</p><p><strong>Researchers:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/1c0a359d7b484a57887181ad3ee98fab.aspx">Marta Bally</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="~/link/b57dd5a6ea894941a99e05b60515339a.aspx">Anne-Marie Fors Connolly</a>, Department of Clinical Microbiology<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;649,260&nbsp;</p><p class="foldable">MIPrecise &ndash; making cancer diagnostics faster and fairer</p><p><strong>Where you live should not determine how quickly you get a cancer diagnosis. MIPrecise aims to develop simple, robust, and eco-friendly tests that can detect cancer earlier &ndash; even in smaller clinics &ndash; making care more equitable.</strong></p><p>Instead of fragile biological reagents, the researchers use smart plastic molecules, called imprinted polymers. These act as artificial antibodies and can be tailored to recognise biomarkers &ndash; molecules in the body that signal cancer. The technology is used to develop tests that are both robust and accurate, and can be applied to liquid biopsies, home testing, and guide to more precise, personalised cancer therapies.</p><p>Within the European doctoral network MIPrecise, early-career researchers receive interdisciplinary training combining materials science, cell analyses, and clinical testing. The goal is to create new diagnostic platforms and contribute to more sustainable cancer diagnostics &ndash; benefiting patients, healthcare, and the environment.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/ff3d0a52d56a45d8b10cb1301ab338cf.aspx">Jenny Persson</a>, Department of Molecular Biology<br><strong>Funding awarded:&nbsp;</strong>&euro;324,630</p><h3>Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions &ndash; Postdoctoral Fellowships</h3><p class="foldable">CORALS &ndash; building ultra-fast data technology with light</p><p><strong>Today&rsquo;s digital technology is both energy-hungry and approaching its speed limits. CORALS explores whether light can replace electricity &ndash; potentially paving the way for faster, more energy-efficient computers.</strong></p><p>The project focuses on so-called polaritons, hybrid particles where light and matter interact. These particles can oscillate between light and matter states at extremely high speeds, a phenomenon known as Rabi oscillation. So far, such oscillations have been too short-lived for practical use, but CORALS aims to investigate whether more stable signals can be achieved.</p><p>If successful, the research could lead to optical switches that make computers both much faster and possibly more energy-efficient than today&rsquo;s devices &ndash; and eventually open doors to entirely new forms of quantum and light-based information technology.</p><p><strong>Researchers:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/873f450f972b440383861538726a54e6.aspx">Ben Johns</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="~/link/5ea5c52cb8224f18944630d14e7e799a.aspx">Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri</a>, Department of Physics<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;252,180</p><p class="foldable">Cryo-GraPoTSS &ndash; revealing how bacteria spread antibiotic resistance</p><p><strong>Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose an increasing threat to public health. One key reason is that bacteria can transfer resistance genes between each other using tiny protein machines &ndash; known as conjugative type 4 secretion systems (T4SS).</strong></p><p>These systems function like microscopic tunnels, passing genes from one bacterium to another. In the Cryo-GraPoTSS project, researchers will for the first time map what these systems look like in Gram-positive bacteria &ndash; a group that frequently causes serious hospital-acquired infections. Using cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, they aim to produce high-resolution images of T4SS in Enterococcus faecalis, directly in its natural environment.</p><p>By uncovering how these molecular machines are built and how they work, the researchers hope to identify new targets for antibiotics &ndash; a crucial piece of the puzzle in the fight against antibiotic resistance.</p><p><strong>Researchers:&nbsp;</strong><a href="~/link/74c44e57660641bba0b41ffe53be4bd4.aspx">Kieran Deane-Alder</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="~/link/a88ab036b4fa4de7877561480f0ae3ba.aspx">Ronnie Berntsson</a>, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;236,340</p><h3>Research infrastructures<br><br></h3><p class="foldable">SoGreen &ndash; illuminating the social dimension of the green transition</p><p><strong>The green transition is not only about technology &ndash; it also affects how we live, work and build our communities.&nbsp;SoGreen develops methods to study how the social aspects of the transition can help make it fairer and more inclusive.</strong></p><p>By gathering knowledge about people&rsquo;s living conditions and attitudes, researchers can offer important insights into how the transition impacts different groups in society, depending on factors such as age, income, and other social circumstances. SoGreen is developing a new questionnaire and geospatial data, laying the groundwork for better analysis and decision-making.</p><p>The project aims to give policymakers tools to better understand the social challenges &ndash; and to support inclusive policies for a green transition that takes people&rsquo;s diverse experiences into account.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong> <a href="~/link/a748b03f92c348c282f54b65937c4027.aspx">Gunnar Malmberg</a>, Department of Geography<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;29,625</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Pillar II: Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness</h2><h3><br>Cluster 1: Health</h3><p class="foldable">EXPOSIGNALZ &ndash; investigating the link between pollutants and Alzheimer&rsquo;s</p><p><strong>Could air pollution and other environmental chemicals contribute to dementia, including Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease? EXPOSIGNALZ investigates how everyday chemical exposures affect the brain.</strong></p><p>Using laboratory experiments, advanced brain models, and studies in different population groups, the researchers aim to identify which substances are harmful, how they impact the brain over time, and whether they may contribute to disease development.</p><p>The project seeks to develop new biomarkers for early diagnosis and provide policymakers with knowledge and tools to reduce exposure and prevent disease.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/32112574837542c9acbb60aedeca3c95.aspx">Anna Oudin</a>, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;475,090</p><h3>Cluster 4: Digital, industry and space</h3><p class="foldable">XSCAVE &ndash; developing smart machines for construction and forestry</p><p><strong>Self-driving machines that can understand and adapt to their surroundings &ndash; that is the vision of XSCAVE. The project develops AI-solutions designed to make heavy-duty vehicles smarter, more environmentally friendly, and better able to support industries facing labour shortages.</strong></p><p>The researchers combine deep learning with physics-based models and data from machines in operation to create autonomous control systems that are fast and reliable. These systems will be able to adjust movements and navigation to suit both task and terrain &ndash; driving, excavating, and loading in loose soil, rocky ground, uneven forest terrain and snow.</p><p>In collaboration with industrial partners such as Algoryx, Komatsu, Novatron, and Toshiba, the technology will be tested in real-world environments. The goal is to create machines that can operate efficiently, safely, and with lower fuel consumption &ndash; even without a driver.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong> <a href="~/link/e4bf4710029341f895bd7364fe9c0802.aspx">Martin Servin</a>, Department of Physics<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;714,625&nbsp;</p><h3>Cluster 6: Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment</h3><p class="foldable">ArcticKnows &ndash; shaping the future of the Arctic with local knowledge</p><p><strong>How can Arctic communities and Indigenous peoples take an active role in shaping the development of their regions? ArcticKnows brings together researchers, businesses, and local stakeholders to amplify local voices in the transition towards more sustainable and equitable economies.</strong></p><p>The project bridges research, traditional knowledge, and practical work. In close collaboration with local communities, pilot initiatives are being developed in nature-based tourism, small-scale agriculture, and fisheries across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Greenland. Emphasis is placed on including women and youth, as well as ensuring Indigenous perspectives are represented in decision-making.</p><p>The aim is to pave the way for new approaches where people in the Arctic can shape their own future, and where their knowledge becomes a valuable resource for the global transition.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong> <a href="~/link/6f100d6a98684f2da25d15c6c807c513.aspx">Linda Lundmark</a>, Department of Geography<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;363,075</p><p class="foldable">CoCo &ndash; aiding coexistence between agriculture and wildlife</p><p><strong>How can farmers and wild animals live alongside each other without constant conflict? CoCo addresses the growing challenges that come with the recovery of large carnivores and other wildlife in Europe.</strong></p><p>The project brings together thousands of farmers, hunters, and landowners across 12 countries. Researchers use collaborative methods &ndash; including policy analysis, interviews, field visits, focus groups, and modelling &ndash;&nbsp;to explore how people and wildlife can share the landscape, and how different stakeholders&rsquo; experiences and values influence decision-making.</p><p>The goal is to develop a &ldquo;Roadmap for Coexistence&rdquo; with practical recommendations that reduce conflicts, promote cooperation among stakeholders, and support sustainable, multi-functional landscapes &ndash; for both humans and wildlife.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="~/link/b912ff988f754c4eb82ebec2eb23e87d.aspx">Camilla Sandstr&ouml;m</a>, Department of Political Science<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong> &euro;246,380</p><p class="foldable">FlavourFerm &ndash; making plant-based food tastier and more nutritious</p><p><strong>Why don&rsquo;t more people choose plant-based food? Taste and texture are often the stumbling blocks. The FlavourFerm project aims to change that &ndash; by developing fermentation techniques that make green alternatives both tastier and more nutritious.</strong></p><p>The researchers combine traditional methods with modern precision fermentation, programming yeast to produce specific proteins &ndash; such as milk proteins without any animal origin. They also use legumes to cultivate fungal mycelium with meat-like properties.</p><p>These new ingredients will be tested in plant-based cheese, meat and milk &ndash; and scaled up to pilot and pre-commercial levels in collaboration with food companies across Europe. The goal is to create plant-based food that matches animal-based products in flavour and nutritional value &ndash; but is more sustainable for both people and the planet.</p><p><strong>Researchers:</strong> <a href="~/link/0034b495c740417e93862321442afc71.aspx">Armando Perez-Cueto</a>, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, and <a href="~/link/4fc80be3f056492eb675ee2202eedb33.aspx">Danielle Wilde</a>, Ume&aring; Institute of Design<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;393,392</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">OTHER PROGRAMMES</h2><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">Erasmus+</h2><p class="foldable">AI2PI &ndash; preparing teachers for AI in the classroom</p><p><strong>How can schools and teacher education together respond to societal change brought about by AI tools such as ChatGPT? The AI2PI Teacher Academy develops courses, networks, and practical models to help teachers understand and use AI responsibly.</strong></p><p>Digitalisation is reshaping both how education unfolds, and the skills students will need in the future. Beyond technical know-how, competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy are becoming increasingly important &ndash;&nbsp;especially as AI technologies enter the classroom.</p><p>To support teachers in navigating this shift, seven universities, schools, and teacher-training organisations across Europe are joining forces. Together, they are developing short course modules (micro-credentials), a shared framework for AI literacy in schools, and communities of practice where educators can exchange experiences.</p><p>The goal is safe, research-informed teaching and learning with a focus on AI &ndash;&nbsp;helping young people act responsibly as citizens in a digital society.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong> <a href="~/link/7ff58d2ae47a41de84e38f7cff128387.aspx">Maria R&ouml;nnlund</a>, Department of Applied Educational Science<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;152,319</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">Reseach Fund for Coal and Steel (RCFS)</h2><p class="foldable">AUSNANITE &ndash; baking stronger and more climate-smart steel</p><p><strong>Steel is one of our most important construction materials, but producing it requires a lot of energy and generates large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Now, researchers are testing a new way to make stronger, more climate-friendly steel &ndash; by <em>baking</em>&nbsp;it.</strong></p><p>In the AUSNANITE project, the team explores whether the well-established hardening method known as <em>austempering</em> can be combined with a controlled &ldquo;baking&rdquo; process to form a new type of ausferritic structure. This structure offers a unique combination of high strength and toughness &ndash; properties that make the steel particularly resistant to impact and wear, for example in construction and mining equipment.</p><p>The approach also promises a far more energy-efficient production of bar steel and forgings. Unlike conventional methods, it eliminates the need to reheat the steel a second time, substantially reducing both costs and CO₂ emissions.</p><p>If successful on an industrial scale, even a partial adoption of the process may reduce emissions by hundreds of thousands of tonnes each year. The result could be steel that lasts longer, costs less to produce, and supports Europe&rsquo;s transition towards a more sustainable and competitive industry.</p><p><strong>Researcher:</strong> <a href="~/link/8dc84e451ed7496e8cfd907388115792.aspx">Richard Larker</a>, Department of Applied Physics and Electronics<br><strong>Funding awarded:</strong>&nbsp;&euro;254,171</p>/en/news/eu-invests-in-umea-research--16-projects-tackle-major-societal-challenges_12146879//en/news/high-levels-of-hif2-may-impair-high-risk-paediatric-neuroblastoma_12147086/High levels of a specific protein can reduce the growth of tumour cells in neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that affects the sympathetic nervous system in young children. This is shown in a new study by researchers at Umeå University and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. The protein in question also seems to cause the cancer cells to change into less aggressive cells.Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:10:44 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/644b116b36404a479d202e4ad67127ad/johan_holmbergs_forskargrupp.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The Ume&aring; University researchers behind the study: Eirini Antoniou, Subhamita Maitra, Johan Holmberg and Caroline Lindehell</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Olof Jansson </span></div></div><p>"The findings increase our understanding of how neuroblastoma develops and can hopefully contribute to new treatments in the long term," says Johan Holmberg, professor of molecular tumour biology at Ume&aring; University and one of the researchers behind the study.</p><p>Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that affects the sympathetic nervous system in young children and is often difficult to treat, especially when the tumour cells have many copies of a gene called <em>MYCN</em>. In the new study, the researchers have focused on a protein called <em>HIF2&alpha;</em>.</p><p>When the researchers induced high levels of HIF2&alpha; in neuroblastoma cells with many copies of the MYCN gene, they could see a sharp decrease in the protein expressed by the MYCN gene. At the same time, the expression of genes typical of cells that produce noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla increased. This suggests that the tumour cells began to resemble more mature cells in the sympathetic nervous system. The cells also stopped dividing as quickly and they developed long protrusions; a sign that they are maturing.</p><p>In experiments in a mouse model of neuroblastoma, the growth of the tumours was significantly reduced when high levels of HIF2&alpha; were induced. When analysing patient samples from children with neuroblastoma, the researchers found that high levels of the gene, <em>EPAS1</em>, which codes for the protein HIF2&alpha; were associated with low levels of MYCN and with genes that are typical of more mature cells. In addition, patients with high levels of EPAS1 generally had a better prognosis.</p><p>The study thus challenges a previous view that HIF2&alpha; would act as a driver of cancer in neuroblastoma. Instead, the results suggest that the protein may in some cases have a slowing function and promote maturation into less aggressive cells.</p><p>"The discovery may prove significant, but there is a long way to go before new treatments based on this can be considered," says Johan Holmberg.</p><p>Neuroblastoma accounts for about six percent of cancer cases among children. There are several different degrees of severity of the disease that affect the prognosis. Treatments have improved in recent decades so that three out of four children affected survive the disease. However, survival is unfortunately worse for patients with many copies of the MYCN gene.</p><p>The study, which is supported by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Swedish Cancer Society, the Kempe Foundation and the Faculty of Medicine's Strategic Research Resource at Ume&aring; University, is published in the scientific journal PNAS.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/high-levels-of-hif2-may-impair-high-risk-paediatric-neuroblastoma_12147086//en/news/from-journal-stress-to-ai-solution_12147261/Medical student Edvin Tidevall worked as a medical assistant during the summer and was amazed at how much time was spent on documentation. He soon discovered that one of the biggest time thieves was record keeping. The solution was an AI service, which in turn became the company Leapscribe, which was quickly bought by the Nordic region's largest e-health providers. And on his business journey, Edvin Tidevall received valuable help from the innovation system at Umeå University.Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:31:44 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d67ad76cf49d433c9c2c2889a87fd8d3/leapscribe_20253.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>All co-founders of Leapscribe gathered together: Arvid &Ouml;stlund, Samir Jamehdar, Edvin Tidevall and Adrian Bagger Tor&auml;ng. Photo: Fanny Berglund (Studioformbar).</p></div></div><p>"When Leapscribe was still in its very early stages, I pitched the idea to the incubator Uminova Innovation, but because I had a connection to the university, I was put in touch with the Innovation Office at Ume&aring; University instead, and business developer Christopher Frisk," says Edvin Tidevall, who now works at Cambio, the company that bought his business.</p><h3>The business coach became an important sounding board</h3><p>"When we entered the Innovation Office, there was no finished product &ndash; Leapscribe was still in its infancy. The support was largely about general issues relating to business and entrepreneurship, but also about regulatory issues, which was crucial for us before we could start working with customers. Our business coach became an important sounding board and helped us deal with the many challenges that arise when you are new to entrepreneurship. That support was very valuable."</p><p>The idea, which Edvin Tidevall received help to turn into a company, is an AI assistant that automatically generates medical records during patient consultations. This frees up a lot of time and simplifies things for healthcare staff without compromising patient safety and integrity. The idea and the company were so successful that it was sold to Cambio last summer, where Edvin Tidevall is now working on developing and implementing the system.</p><h3>What message would you like to convey to other students or colleagues at Ume&aring; University who have an idea?</h3><p>"Dare to try. Starting a business is a challenge, but it is also a fantastic education in itself. You learn an incredible amount along the way. There is good support available through the Innovation Office &ndash; both for validating your idea and for finding the right team. So don't hesitate, take your idea to the Innovation Office and give it a try!"</p>/en/news/from-journal-stress-to-ai-solution_12147261//en/news/how-are-parents-affected-by-their-adult-childrens-working-lives_12147238/A new research project will investigate how parents’ health is influenced by their adult children’s position in the labor market—and how this relationship varies across European countries.Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:23:54 +0200<p class="quote-center">By placing parents&rsquo; information at the center of our analysis, we examine the connection between children&rsquo;s labor market status and parents&rsquo; mental health</p><p>The European labor market is undergoing significant change, with one clear trend being the increasing diversification of working life. Continuous full-time employment is no longer as common or guaranteed. For individuals, labor market attachment can impact financial stability, independence, and health. But how are parents affected by their adult children&rsquo;s connection to the labor market? That&rsquo;s the central question of a new research initiative.</p><h3>International comparison to understand variation</h3><p>The project, titled A<em>dult children&rsquo;s labor market attachment and parental health in international comparative perspective</em>, will compare different European countries to explore how various welfare systems influence the link between children&rsquo;s employment and their parents&rsquo; health.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a12f6971-a4d4-46ae-81d0-b3f6f59181e3" data-contentname="Bild Jordi">{}</div><p>&ldquo;Labor market structures, welfare system designs, and the role of the family vary significantly across Europe. These factors may shape how parents experience their children&rsquo;s unemployment,&rdquo; says Jordi Gum&agrave;-Lao.</p><h3>What role does the welfare state play?</h3><p>Previous studies have shown that children&rsquo;s unemployment can negatively affect parents&rsquo; mental health. However, less is known about the extent to which welfare state protections for the unemployed may buffer this effect across different European welfare regimes.<br><br>&ldquo;In principle, living in a country where the welfare state guarantees basic financial security and offers re-employment support could mitigate the negative impact. Conversely, unemployment in a context of low national unemployment may intensify feelings of stigma for both the unemployed individual and their family members,&rdquo; says Anna Baranowska-Rataj.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2223db73-512a-41f7-87f8-ae77839550b2" data-contentname="Bild Anna">{}</div><h3>European interview data enables intergenerational analysis</h3><p>To explore these relationships, the researchers are using data from the large-scale European study&nbsp;Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe&nbsp;(SHARE). SHARE examines how health, social, economic, and environmental factors affect people over 50 throughout their lives. The dataset also includes information about respondents&rsquo; children, making it possible to study how individuals are affected by events in the lives of close family members.<br><br>&ldquo;By placing parents&rsquo; information at the center of our analysis, we examine the connection between children&rsquo;s labor market status and parents&rsquo; mental health,&rdquo; says Jordi Gum&agrave;-Lao.</p><h3>A case study &ndash; the project&rsquo;s second phase</h3><p>The second phase of the project focuses on Spain&mdash;a country where the family often plays a complementary role to the welfare state.<br><br>&ldquo;Spain is particularly interesting in our research. The country has experienced high unemployment for a long time, and families play a major role in providing both financial and emotional support. By comparing Spain with other European countries, we can better understand how such structures influence the relationship between children&rsquo;s working lives and their parents&rsquo; health.&rdquo; says Jordi Gum&agrave;-Lao.</p><p class="quote-center">I am very happy that this collaboration is so fruitful, and continues to bring results in the form of great publications as well as new research projects</p><h3>Continued collaboration between CEDAR and CED</h3><p>The project has been developed by Jordi Gum&agrave;-Lao together with Anna Baranowska-Rataj during his guest research stay at CEDAR. This joint work contributed to setting up a broader collaboration between two excellent research centres: CED ( Centre d'Estudis Demogr&agrave;fics&nbsp;) in Barcelona, where Jordi is currently based, and CEDAR (Centre for demography and ageing research) at Umea University. Researchers from both institutions organise regular visits and exchanges, with mutual benefits.</p><p>&ldquo;I am very happy that this collaboration is so fruitful, and continues to bring results in the form of great publications as well as new research projects&rdquo; says Anna Baranowska-Rataj.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><a href="~/link/1066b4d6b24d46188d9cf7d5cabbaef6.aspx">Read more about this project here</a></h2>/en/news/how-are-parents-affected-by-their-adult-childrens-working-lives_12147238//en/news/early-career-researchers-build-bridges-across-disciplinary-boundaries_12147041/When three early-career researchers from different disciplines met through the Umeå Transformation Research Initiative (UTRI), their shared interest in sustainability transformation proved stronger than their disciplinary differences. Their collaboration has since led to a study visit, new research connections, and a forthcoming academic article, which will be presented in poster format at UTRI’s annual conference on 27 November.Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:53:12 +0200<p>With backgrounds in energy engineering, environmental policy, and political science, Natxo Garc&iacute;a L&oacute;pez, Pamela Bachmann-Vargas, and Irina Mancheva first connected through their involvement in UTRI&rsquo;s network for early-career researchers.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="fe38d5d6-a487-45f3-98cf-78e13077be3e" data-contentname="utri logo">{}</div><p>&ldquo;When we first met, we thought that our different academic backgrounds would make collaboration difficult. But over time, our shared interest in sustainability transformation became the foundation for our work together. It&rsquo;s incredibly important, especially as an early-career researcher, to find spaces and people who share your interests.&rdquo;, says Natxo Garc&iacute;a L&oacute;pez.</p><h3>UTRI as an Enabler</h3><p>UTRI&rsquo;s network for young researchers places particular emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, career development, and peer exchange &ndash; a form of cooperation increasingly prioritised in research funding calls.</p><p>Since UTRI&rsquo;s launch in 2020, Natxo, Pamela, and Irina have been actively involved in developing the young researchers&rsquo; network, which eventually led to their own research project.</p><p>&ldquo;After organising several events and encouraging other young researchers to come up with project ideas and proposals, we developed our own project proposal entitled: Capacity building for transformative research.&rdquo;, says Natxo Garc&iacute;a L&oacute;pez</p><p>In 2024, they applied for financial and practical support from UTRI to carry out a study visit to the Netherlands as part of their project.</p><h3>From study visit to article</h3><p>Over six days, Natxo and Pamela travelled by train from Ume&aring; to the Netherlands, visiting several universities and research initiatives working with sustainability and transformation in various ways. The aim of the trip was to gather insights and tools related to current issues in transformative research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Pamela Bachmann-Vargas and Natxo Garc&iacute;a L&oacute;pez chose to travel sustainably from Ume&aring; to the Netherlands.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span></span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Visiting so many different universities and initiatives in such a short time, within a relatively small geographical area, was incredibly inspiring. It was an immersive experience onto transformative research. We travelled and worked long days and discussed many aspects of the research both before and after the visits.&rdquo;, explains Pamela Bachmann-Vargas.</p><p>She continues to describe that study visits during the early stages of a research career as highly valuable.</p><p>&ldquo;Study visits are very important for building national and international networks and gaining inspiration for new research and collaborations.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d849a3fd-1367-4246-a57c-69bd86d1bcf1" data-contentname="Study visit PBV NGL">{}</div><p>The study visits not only led to new insights and experiences but also became the starting point for a scientific collaboration. Together with Maria Kauffmann from Radboud University &ndash; whom they met during the trip &ndash; they are now working on a comparative article. Irina, who was unable to join the visit, is also a co-author. The article analyses two university-based initiatives for sustainability transformation: UTRI at Ume&aring; University and <a href="https://transact-ru-fm.hub.arcgis.com/">TransAct</a> at Radboud University in the Netherlands.</p><p>&ldquo;It is interesting to see that there are important commonalities between the goals from both initiatives. But despite that, there are substantial differences in the contexts where both initiatives act, on the organisation, and on the outcomes. The article also aims to critically discuss the role of these initiatives and contribute to the debate on how university efforts should be oriented towards a more sustainable future.&rdquo;, says both Pamela and Natxo.</p><p>The authors hope the article will inspire researchers at other institutions to engage with transformation-related issues and encourage more universities to support the establishment of similar initiatives.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/60e9221bddce475fb8cca83aa68d1a23/studieresa_utri4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>During the study trip, several educational institutions were visited where transformative research was discussed.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Natxo Garc&iacute;a L&oacute;pez</span></div></div><h3>A strong encouragement</h3><p>They all agree that UTRI&rsquo;s support has been crucial.</p><p>&ldquo;Without the financial support from UTRI, the study visit would not have been possible. We also received support when we invited our colleague from the Netherlands to last year&rsquo;s UTRI conference, which gave us the opportunity to continue working on our analysis and article.&rdquo;, says Natxo.</p><p>Pamela adds &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve also always received strong moral support from UTRI. Our ideas have been met with interest and encouragement, and we&rsquo;ve had the opportunity to develop them further.&rdquo;</p><p>The article is currently being finalised and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed academic journal. Natxo and Pamela have completed their respective doctoral and postdoctoral positions, but together with Irina &ndash; now an Assistant professor at Ume&aring; University &ndash; they will present the article in poster format at the UTRI conference on 27 November.</p>/en/news/early-career-researchers-build-bridges-across-disciplinary-boundaries_12147041//en/news/satellite-event-showcased-infrastructures-in-digital-humanities_12146994/Researchers in the social sciences, arts, and humanities are increasingly making use of research infrastructures. This was the focus of a satellite event held during the Swedish e-Science Academy 2025 in Umeå, hosted by InfraVis, the Environmental Archaeology Lab (MAL), and Humlab.Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:33:56 +0200<div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="79e16e80-c00b-4712-8dea-44d5362265db" data-contentname="Image slideshow">{}</div><p>In Sweden, the relationship between the humanities and digital tools, methods, sources, and workflows has been explored for over two decades within the field of Digital Humanities. This satellite program offered a space for researchers to meet, discuss shared challenges, and showcase digital research infrastructures that support work in the social sciences, arts, and humanities.</p><p>During the half-day event, three national infrastructures were presented:</p><p><strong>InfraVis</strong> &ndash; Sweden's national infrastructure for advanced visualization of research data across all scientific disciplines. The InfraVis team at Ume&aring; University is based at Humlab and builds on more than 20 years of experience in Digital Humanities.</p><p><strong>SweDigArch</strong> &ndash; A national infrastructure for digital archaeology, aimed at promoting a new generation of data-driven research on the interaction between humans and the environment. SweDigArch is based at the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory (MAL).</p><p><strong>Huminfra</strong> &ndash; A national infrastructure supporting digital and experimental research in the humanities.</p><p>Participants were invited to explore the infrastructures through interactive screen-based showcases, which were highly appreciated.</p><p>The day concluded with a keynote by Associate Professor <a href="~/link/86d5b4a7e3e64c2e9b6ceaa771027a80.aspx">Per Axelsson</a>, who spoke about the CARE principles and how they can help navigate towards a more responsible and equitable data ecosystem, contribute to the long-term development of science and eventually improve access to high-quality data sources.</p>/en/news/satellite-event-showcased-infrastructures-in-digital-humanities_12146994//en/news/network-to-strengthen-collaboration-in-cancer-research_12146945/A new network brings together researchers at the university and in the region to strengthen collaboration and lay the foundation for continued development in the field of cancer.Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:07:24 +0200<p>Cancer research in Ume&aring; is strong in terms of both depth and breadth. Researchers here have different backgrounds, expertise and perspectives, which creates good conditions for interdisciplinary collaboration. However, despite the geographical proximity between preclinical and clinical research environments at the university and within the region, there has often been a lack of natural meeting places for researchers.</p><p>"There has been a desire to build relationships, share experiences and find new ways forward together, which is why a research network in the field of cancer has been created," says Lotta Edvinsson, project manager for the Ume&aring; Comprehensive Cancer Centre.</p><p>The first meeting was held last week and served as a kick-off for researchers in fields ranging from nursing to molecular biology. Research leaders, future research leaders and representatives of support functions gathered to listen to inspirational lectures and short presentations on infrastructure, followed by a mingle.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14143.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tufve Nyholm, Head of Department of Diagnostics and Intervention</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anja Hansen Knutsson</span></div></div><p>"Collaboration, cooperation and interdisciplinary thinking provide opportunities to further strengthen existing projects and create new approaches and opportunities for research in the field of cancer. A prerequisite for finding synergies is that researchers get to know each other, talk and explore opportunities," says Tufve Nyholm, Head of the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention.</p><h3>Common needs and requirements</h3><p>In addition to the researchers' own wishes, there are formal requirements. To become a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC), increased collaboration between preclinical and clinical research is required.</p><p>"We have a lot to gain from bringing our resources and expertise together. It is a matter of both meeting our own needs for closer collaboration and fulfilling external requirements," says Tufve Nyholm.</p><h3>Good examples can inspire others</h3><p>Daniel &Ouml;hlund and Erik Chorell are good examples of successful cross-border collaboration.</p><p>"Research in life sciences is so complex today that no one can have all the expertise needed in a single laboratory. To ensure impact and quality in projects, extra help is often required. Infrastructures offer this support and are therefore important to use," says Erik Chorell, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry and responsible for the Umu node of the national infrastructure Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS).</p><p>Daniel &Ouml;hlund, associate professor at the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention and oncologist at the Cancer Centre, approached CBCS with a specific question, but believes that a broader network of contacts can help to forge new collaborations as early as the planning stage.</p><p>"Breakthroughs in cancer research require collaboration between different disciplines. More collaborations can be facilitated through networks such as this one, and Ume&aring; CCC has an important role to play in this regard," Daniel says.</p><p>The goal is to establish a viable research network in the field of cancer in Ume&aring;. Work is now continuing to develop the format and create more opportunities for exchange and collaboration.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1197e4b9004e4f72ad007e760f8787be/img_14023.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Erik Chorell and Daniel &Ouml;hlund.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anja Hansen Knutsson</span></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/network-to-strengthen-collaboration-in-cancer-research_12146945//en/news/tropical-rivers-emit-less-greenhouse-gases-than-previously-thought_12146952/Tropical inland waters don’t produce as many greenhouse gas emissions as previously estimated, according to the results of an international study, led by Charles Darwin University and involving researchers from Umeå University.Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:06:18 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/58083124892e48afa02f5e92a80ce24e/picture13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lowland tropical rivers emit large quantities of greenhouse gases, with rates influenced by seasonal flooding.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Jenny Davis</span></div></div><p>The study, published in Nature Water, aimed to better understand greenhouse gas emissions in tropical rivers, lakes and reservoirs by collating the growing amount of observations from across the world&rsquo;s tropics &ndash; including many systems that were previously less represented in global datasets.</p><p>Researchers from Ume&aring; University played a key role in the work, estimating the surface area of rivers and contributing to the data analysis that underpins the study&rsquo;s findings.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Up to 79 per cent less emissions</h2><p>The results found that while these waters still produce significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, it is 29 to 79 per cent less than previously thought. Tropical flowing waters (streams and rivers) contributed to an estimated 46 per cent of emissions from global inland waters, and tropical standing waters (lakes, reservoirs, ponds) an estimated 8 per cent.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="c379b0c0-b4b6-451d-9467-a2bed0382424" data-contentname="Facts greenhouse gases">{}</div><p>Lead author and Senior Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University in Australia, Cl&eacute;ment Duvert, says by expanding the dataset, greater accuracy in emissions could be gleaned and thus inform approaches to management and conservation.</p><p>&ldquo;We found the tropics cannot really be considered as one big emissions hotspot because of its complexity and the mosaic of different ecosystems, landscapes, morphologies and levels of human activity,&rdquo; says Cl&eacute;ment Duvert.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">New insights into tropical river systems</h2><p>Assistant Professor Gerard Rocher-Ros from Ume&aring; University, one of the paper&rsquo;s co-authors, highlights the new insights the study provides into tropical rivers systems.</p><p>&ldquo;The large contribution of rivers in the tropics to greenhouse gas emissions stands in contrast with what we know about their drivers. This study really opens the door on next challenges to better predict carbon cycling in rivers,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Cl&eacute;ment Duvert says the next frontier of this research could be to better quantify what portions of these emissions are natural and what are due to human activities:</p><p>&ldquo;We found in this paper that human activities are a strong driver of greenhouse gas emissions. Where you have more activities such as agriculture, you will have higher inputs of organic matter and nutrients into streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, then a higher release of greenhouse gases. Understanding when and how human activities impact these emissions is important to inform management.&rdquo;</p><p><em>The study was conducted by researchers in Australia, Sweden, Brazil, Singapore, China, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Canada, France, United States and the Netherlands.</em></p><p><em>Text: Sara-Lena Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Ume&aring; University, and Charles Darwin University</em></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="16a9638b-da7c-4f19-b34d-01c91f1d692a" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/tropical-rivers-emit-less-greenhouse-gases-than-previously-thought_12146952//en/news/space-weather-in-focus-as-experts-gather-in-umea_12146892/The European Space Weather Week 2025 will bring together scientists, engineers, policymakers and industry professionals from around the world in Umeå from 27 to 31 October. The conference focuses on the latest developments in space weather research and its applications in forecasting, modelling and defense.Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:50:08 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/befa2ac153cc4ad38b09385bf8c200f7/ima2098124.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ume&aring; hosts the European Space Weather Week 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB, Jonas Gunnarsson</span></div></div><p>This year&rsquo;s European Space Weather Week (ESWW) marks the first time the event is held in Sweden, highlighting Sweden&rsquo;s growing role in space science and innovation. The conference is hosted by Ume&aring; University in collaboration with the Belgian Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF).</p><p>The theme for ESWW2025 is &ldquo;Technological Expansion of the Arctic: The New Frontiers of Space Weather&rdquo;. It highlights the importance of collaboration across disciplines to better understand and mitigate the effects of solar storms and geomagnetic disturbances &ndash; phenomena that can disrupt satellites, aviation, power grids and communication systems.</p><p>&ldquo;Hosting the conference in northern Sweden allows us to highlight the Arctic as a key region for understanding how space weather interacts with both the natural environment and technological systems,&rdquo; says Audrey Schillings, chair of the organising committee.</p><p>The programme includes lectures, scientific sessions, panel discussions, and a medal ceremony. Topics range from solar physics and geomagnetic storms to satellite operations, aviation safety and societal preparedness.</p><p>In addition to the scientific programme, ESWW2025 offers several activities open to the public, aiming to spark curiosity about space science among people of all ages:</p><ul><li>School talk: A presentation for upper secondary and ninth-grade students about space and space weather associated with sonification of space data.</li><li>Space weather activities at Curiosum: Open throughout the week 27-31 October. Including the newly installed planeterella (3D aurora simulator).</li><li>A public talk: Evening presentation about space weather and its associated sounds.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Space weather training Kiruna 23-25 October</h2><p>Training for students and early-career professionals in space weather, forecasting and applications. Takes place in Kiruna at the Swedish Institute for Space Physics and Kiruna Library. Includes a public event and a northern lights photo contest award on Saturday 11.00-14.00 at Kiruna Library. &nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">School talk Friday 24 October 13.30-14.30</h2><p>Presentation and activity for upper secondary and ninth-grade students in Rotundan, Ume&aring; University. Presented by Sara Nesbit-&Ouml;stman (Ume&aring; University) and Klaus Nielsen (DTU Space, Denmark).</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Opening Ceremony Monday 27 October 9.45-10.45</h2><p>Held at Folkets Hus in Ume&aring;, with contributions from V&auml;sterbotten&rsquo;s governor and representatives of Ume&aring; University, Rymdstyrelsen, MSB and Swedish Institute for Space Physics.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Panel Discussions</h2><p>Three panel discussions around the theme space weather:<br>Monday 27 October 10.45-12.15: Space weather challenges in the Arctic.<br>Wednesday 29 October 11.30-12.15: The future of space weather in Europe.<br>Friday 31 October 10.45-12.15: Space Weather at Moon, Mars and beyond.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Public Lecture Wednesday 29 October 19.45-21.00</h2><p>Public talk at Idun, Folkets hus (from age 12) in Swedish and Scandinavian about space weather and space sounds. Speakers are Alice Wallner (IRF) and Klaus Nielsen (DTU Space, Denmark) and the event is moderated by Gabriella Stenberg Wieser (IRF &ndash; Fr&aring;ga Lund).</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">Curiosum Week 27-31 October</h2><p>Curiosum offers several activities around space and space weather, including a planeterella show and one evening &ndash; Tuesday - with experts during the conference week. All ages welcome.</p><p><a href="https://esww.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more on the European Space Weather Week website</a></p>/en/news/space-weather-in-focus-as-experts-gather-in-umea_12146892//en/news/laser-method-can-detect-chemical-weapons-and-bacteria-in-seconds_12146658/Researchers at Umeå University and the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, have developed new laser methods that can quickly detect chemical weapons and harmful bacteria directly on site – without the need to send samples to a laboratory.Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:00:06 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Laser light interacting with chemicals emits a 'fingerprint' &ndash; a signal that can be used to detect and identify the chemical in question.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Nilsson</span></div></div><p>Hazardous chemicals can appear in many forms. They can be pollutants in waterways, pesticides in our food, or synthetic substances designed to cause harm &ndash; such as narcotics or chemical weapons. To reduce the risk of these substances entering our bodies, it is crucial to be able to detect them quickly and reliably.</p><p>A new doctoral thesis from Ume&aring; University shows how laser light can be used to do just that.</p><p>&ldquo;All hazardous chemicals consist of molecules with specific structures and properties that make them dangerous. When these chemicals interact with light, for example from a laser, they emit a 'fingerprint' &ndash; a light signal that is unique to that particular chemical,&rdquo; says Rasmus &Ouml;berg, doctoral student at the Department of Physics and the Industrial Doctoral School at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Early indication of danger</h2><p>Using these fingerprints, Rasmus &Ouml;berg has developed measurement methods capable of detecting very small amounts of chemicals. The methods can be applied, for example, in conflict zones or environmental monitoring to provide an early indication of danger, which can later be confirmed through more in-depth and time-consuming laboratory analyses.</p><p>&ldquo;Traditional methods for detecting hazardous chemicals have often been quite impractical to use outside the lab. With portable instruments and surfaces that amplify the light signals from the chemicals, we can take these methods into real-world environments. The collaboration with FOI, which has extensive experience in handling dangerous substances, has been invaluable in this work,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Detects bacterial spores</h2><p>The thesis also shows that similar methods can be used to detect harmful bacteria and bacterial spores. This is particularly valuable in areas such as the food industry, and hospitals where multi-resistant bacteria are a major problem.</p><p>&ldquo;Biological substances are often more complex to detect, but by isolating characteristic chemicals from these bacteria and bacterial spores, we can identify even relatively small quantities. This is an exciting complement to established biological detection methods such as bacterial culture and PCR," says Rasmus &Ouml;berg.</p><p>The researchers now hope that the technology can be further developed and applied in more contexts where quick and reliable analysis is crucial. In the long term, the methods could help strengthen preparedness and safety in areas such as environment protection, defence and public health.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Small amounts of hazardous chemicals can cause significant harm to both nature and the human body. With the help of sensitive and efficient detection methods, it is possible to detect these chemicals before they cause harm.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Nilsson</span></div></div><p><em>Rasmus &Ouml;berg was born and raised in Ume&aring;. He has previously studied the Master of Science Programme in Engineering Physics, including an exchange semester in Hong Kong. For the past five years, he has conducted doctoral studies in experimental physics through the Industrial Doctoral School at Ume&aring; University and FOI.</em></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="cc2dd5b4-e6d1-4a82-8f79-2907c8b7041a" data-contentname="">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="74b92039-6a80-4930-ba4f-6ad48cdf6752" data-contentname="Fakta Företagsforskarskolan (standard)">{}</div>/en/news/laser-method-can-detect-chemical-weapons-and-bacteria-in-seconds_12146658//en/news/building-with-ice_12144231/Can ice become a sustainable building material for the future? Researchers at Umeå School of Architecture are exploring exactly that. By combining advanced digital design tools with simple, reusable materials, they are developing new ways of shaping ice into strong, temporary structures – with potential use both in Arctic architecture and in emergency situations.Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:35:02 +0200<p class="quote-center">Our approach combines parametric design with simple construction methods, showing that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Sustainable formwork for Arctic conditions</h2><p>For centuries, people living in cold climates have used ice and snow to create shelters and temporary constructions. Inspired by this tradition, the Ume&aring; team set out to investigate how such methods could be reimagined for today&rsquo;s needs. Their work, supported by UmArts&rsquo; Small Visionary Projects program, focuses on a modular formwork system built from wood and textile. Instead of pouring concrete, the moulds are filled with fibre-reinforced ice, known as Pykrete, which is both strong and surprisingly versatile.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Testing ideas in practice</h2><p>In January 2025, the researchers built and assembled their prototypes just outside Ume&aring; School of Architecture. Wooden frames, reinforced with custom textile membranes, became the flexible moulds that shaped the ice. The process proved that the system can be built with simple tools and adapted to different designs. But nature was not entirely cooperative: mild winter weather made large-scale experiments difficult.</p><p>&ldquo;The weather in Ume&aring; gave us challenges, but also valuable insights into how this technique can be further developed for Arctic settings,&rdquo; says Julio Diarte, assistant professor and project coordinator.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="565e2fbc-2e27-40ee-aa8c-6521ece3bef8" data-contentname="BILD JULIO">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Innovation through simplicity</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="42f43baf-0743-4ff9-b50a-b76ee8a96028" data-contentname="BILD illustration">{}</div><p>Behind the apparent simplicity lies a layer of digital innovation. Using computational design and structural simulations, the team tested how fabrics stretch, how curves can be shaped, and how the ice material behaves once frozen. This combination of high-tech planning and low-tech building methods highlights how sustainable design doesn&rsquo;t always require advanced machinery &ndash; sometimes the most innovative solutions are those that can be realised with minimal resources.</p><p>&ldquo;Our approach combines parametric design with simple construction methods, showing that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand,&rdquo; says Elena Vazquez, associate professor responsible for digital design and structural simulations.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Looking ahead</h2><p>The project has already shown that ice can be much more than a temporary spectacle in winter festivals. With further research, it could become part of the toolkit for creating emergency shelters or temporary structures in regions where conventional building materials are scarce. Next winter, the team will continue their experiments, refining the formwork and testing its potential on a larger scale. The two researchers behind the project have also presented their findings at the 43rd Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference in Ankara, Turkey, where they shared their results with an international audience.</p>/en/news/building-with-ice_12144231//en/news/rethinking-arctic-security-in-a-time-of-tension-and-thaw_12145019/On 18 September, researchers, policymakers, and experts gathered in Oslo for the Arctic Security Conference 2025 to address one central question: how to manage polarisation and fragmentation in the Arctic. The programme spanned climate change, geopolitical tensions, indigenous knowledge, and hybrid threats, underlining the urgent need for cooperation and research to inform decisions at every level of society.Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:44:36 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Young researchers set the tone</h2><p>The day before the main conference, early-career researchers organised and led a series of workshops that set the stage for the discussions to follow. Although these sessions were officially separate, they felt very much like a first day of the conference &ndash; full of energy, exchange, and engagement &ndash; attracting a large and attentive audience. Their sessions covered a broad range of topics, demonstrating how the next generation of Arctic experts is already shaping the debate and paving the way for the more senior voices who took the floor the following day. One urgent issue was the rise of hybrid threats, with participants emphasising that only strong democratic institutions, social cohesion, and trust can prevent such dangers from undermining societies.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4ac5d820-031b-4e81-a9a1-3b520cd042eb" data-contentname="BILD Paul">{}</div><p>&ldquo;It was inspiring to see how early-career researchers were not only participating but actively driving the conversation forward. Their initiative gave the event an energy that carried into the entire conference,&rdquo; says Paul Schmidt, doctoral student at the Department of Political Science and part of the Arctic Graduate School at Ume&aring; University. His reflections highlight the value of international arenas like this for connecting researchers across borders and disciplines.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Politics in focus</h2><p>The official conference day opened to a packed hall, underscoring the high stakes and widespread interest in Arctic security. Norway&rsquo;s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Saami Council representative Gunn-Britt Retter, Norwegian MP Ine Eriksen S&oslash;reide, and Michael Sfraga, former U.S. Arctic Ambassador-at-Large, all brought perspectives on the state of affairs in the region. The panel painted a nuanced picture of both cooperation and conflict. Particularly notable was Sfraga&rsquo;s clear statement that the United States would never attempt to purchase or annex Greenland but would respect borders and the rule of law &ndash; a message that drew attention as much for its clarity as for its symbolism.</p><p class="quote-center">Security and the environment are interconnected, and both demand stronger research and cooperation.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Democracy and defence</h2><p>Later in the day, Norway&rsquo;s Chief of Defence, General Erik Kristoffersen, offered a keynote that resonated strongly with the audience. He underlined that while nations must be vigilant, it is neither possible nor desirable to defend against every conceivable threat. Above all, he stressed that democracy must remain central: &ldquo;No one wants to live in a country where the chief of defence and the chief of police run everyday life. We want to live in a democracy.&rdquo; His remarks echoed the earlier call for resilience rooted in strong institutions and civic trust, reminding participants that security in the Arctic is ultimately about the kind of society people want to preserve.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Climate challenges overlooked</h2><p>While much of the discussion centred on geopolitics and defence, several speakers warned about the decline in Arctic climate research. With fewer opportunities for cross-border cooperation, nearly half of the Arctic has become a &ldquo;scientific blind spot.&rdquo; This lack of data undermines the accuracy of models and makes it harder for communities and policymakers to prepare for long-term environmental change. When participants stepped outside into 20-degree September warmth in Oslo, the reality was impossible to ignore: climate change has not paused simply because international attention has shifted.</p><p>&ldquo;We must not lose sight of the climate dimension. Security and the environment are interconnected, and both demand stronger research and cooperation,&rdquo; Paul reflects. His words underline the role that universities such as Ume&aring; can play in bridging science and society, ensuring that Arctic research continues to inform decisions in a rapidly changing world.</p>/en/news/rethinking-arctic-security-in-a-time-of-tension-and-thaw_12145019//en/news/umea-university-and-mirai-at-world-expo-2025-in-japan_12145968/Cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) is an important technique for biomedical researchers to study the structure and function of macromolecular complexes in isolation and inside cells. CryoNET is a Nordic network that aims to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across national borders. A main goal is to help establish state-of-the-art cryoEM as a pillar of Nordic life science research. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:44:01 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Group photo of the participants of the cryoNET Symposium 2025</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ainhoa Querejeta</span></div></div><p>The symposium, which took place on the 1st to the 2nd of October at Ume&aring; University, brought together 140 at all career stages - from master&rsquo;s students to professors. Over these two days, invited speakers, selected talks by participants, poster and networking sessions highlighted the latest discoveries in the field.</p><p>What stood out most was the atmosphere: a shared enthusiasm for meeting in person and strengthening the community. As Rooshanie Ejaz, a student supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, noted:</p><p class="quote-center">Since lab work can often be quite independent, events like these are a great opportunity to build connections and feel part of a vibrant community</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sunanda Chhetri, Irina Gutche, Laura Belot and Lorene Gonnin enjoing the poster session at the cryoNET Symposium.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sara Sandin</span></div></div><p>Bernt Eric Uhlin, professor at Ume&aring; University who has been involved with cryoNET since its inception, gave a thoughtful reflection:</p><p class="quote-center">I am now retired, but why should I give up my passion?</p><p>His remarks captured the core spirit of the event, driven by genuine passion for research and collaboration. Whether during the talks or informal coffee breaks, that enthusiasm was clear.</p><p>The hall was filled with thoughtful discussions and meaningful exchanges between peers, mentors, and collaborators. A key highlight was the poster session, where PhD students and Postdocs presented their work. While all contributions were impressive, the organisation team is pleased to congratulate our award winners:</p><ul><li><strong>Adriana Chrenkov&aacute;</strong> &ndash; Understanding sucrose transport in plants</li><li><strong>Bianca Korse</strong> &ndash; Structural basis of GRAF1-mediated membrane tubulation</li><li><strong>Liya Mukhamedova</strong> &ndash; Initial stages of enteroviral infections</li></ul><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d0851952-2fd1-4c40-ae85-86107fd7179e" data-contentname="cryoNET2025_1">{}</div><p>As with any event, the symposium concluded, leaving a strong sense of progress and optimism for what lies ahead. In 2026, the cryoNET symposium will take place in Copenhagen. The cryoNet committee in Ume&aring; extends our sincere thanks to Aarhus University, the University of Copenhagen, Stockholm University, and Ume&aring; University, as well as to our generous sponsors: the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, Thermo Fisher, UCMR, and MIMS.</p>/en/news/the-nordic-cryonet-symposium_12145845//en/news/climate-change-may-increase-the-spread-of-neurotoxin-in-the-oceans_12145837/Climate-driven oxygen loss in the Black Sea thousands of years ago triggered the expansion of microorganisms capable of producing the potent neurotoxin methylmercury. That is shown in a new study published in Nature Water, led by Eric Capo at Umeå University, which suggests that similar processes could occur in today’s warming oceans.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The researchers&rsquo; findings raise concerns about how climate change may affect the levels of methylmercury in fish and shellfish.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>Methylmercury is a highly toxic compound that accumulates in fish and seafood, posing severe health risks to humans. It is formed when certain microbes convert inorganic mercury under low-oxygen conditions.</p><p>Today, climate change is causing such oxygen-depleted areas to expand in coastal marine environments, including parts of the Baltic Sea. Warmer and more stagnant waters mix less efficiently, and increased algal blooms contribute to oxygen loss in deeper layers, creating ideal conditions for these microbes.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Traces of ancient microbes</h2><p>By analysing DNA from Black Sea sediments spanning the past 13,500 years, researchers detected genes (<em>hgcA</em>) associated with microorganisms that produce methylmercury. The highest abundance occurred during the warm and humid period around 9,000&ndash;5,500 years ago, when oxygen levels in the water decreased significantly &ndash; a situation similar to ongoing trends observed in modern seas and coastal areas.</p><p>&ldquo;Our findings show that climate warming and oxygen loss alone &ndash; without industrial mercury pollution &ndash; can create hotspots for methylmercury production,&rdquo; says Eric Capo, Assistant Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University and lead author of the study.</p><p>&ldquo;This raises serious concerns for the future, as expanding oxygen-deficient zones may increase human exposure to this neurotoxin through seafood consumption,&rdquo; says Meifang Zhong, first author of the study and doctoral student in Eric Capo&rsquo;s research group.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Oxygen loss and mercury pollution</h2><p>In the study, the researchers compared the microbial signal from ancient sediments with the one from the present-day water column, and found both similarities and striking differences. While modern mercury-methylating microbes in the Black Sea are influenced by industrial mercury pollution and eutrophication, those living thousands of years ago were primarily fueled by climate-driven oxygen loss and the accumulation of organic matter.</p><p>The results highlight the importance of considering both past and present microbial responses to environmental change. By studying ancient microbial DNA, the researchers show how climate-driven deoxygenation has shaped &ndash; and will continue to shape &ndash; the risks of methylmercury contamination in marine ecosystems.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="fc725325-eafd-4f85-a9f5-9db2ab68944c" data-contentname="">{}</div>/en/news/climate-change-may-increase-the-spread-of-neurotoxin-in-the-oceans_12145837//en/news/molecular-bodyguard-helps-infections-persist_12145023/Researchers at Umeå University have identified a key molecular player that helps bacteria survive the hostile environment inside the body. Their study reveals how the protein RfaH acts as a protective shield for bacterial genes — and points to new strategies for fighting persistent infections. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:14:25 +0200<p>&ldquo;The human body is a very stressful place for bacteria,&rdquo; says Kemal Avican research group leader at Department of Molecular Biology and Icelab at Ume&aring; University and leader of the study. &ldquo;During infection, the immune system attacks, nutrients are scarce, and microbes are exposed to bile salts, acids and heat. We looked at how RfaH helps bacteria deal with that stress by turning on the right survival genes at the right time.&rdquo;</p><p>Persistent bacterial infections pose a major challenge in medicine: bacteria can linger in the body long after acute symptoms fade, evading immune defenses and surviving antibiotic treatment. In diseases like tuberculosis, this leads to relapse and makes treatment difficult.</p><h3>Keeps critical genes switched on</h3><p>Using <em>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</em> as a model bacterium that infects the gut, Kemal Avican and his team showed that RfaH is essential for bacterial persistence.</p><p>RfaH acts like a molecular bodyguard, ensuring transcription&mdash;the step where DNA is copied into a messenger molecule that guides protein production&mdash;runs to completion.</p><p>&ldquo;The protein hops onto the transcription machinery and helps it stay on track so the full set of genes is read to the end. This makes RfaH an anti-terminator &ndash; it prevents the termination of transcription&rdquo;, explains Kemal Avican.</p><p>&ldquo;When we removed RfaH, the bacteria's ability to establish long-term infection dropped dramatically!&rdquo; he adds.</p><h3>Surviving the stress of a hostile environment</h3><p>The researchers found that RfaH production ramps up precisely when bacteria need it most&mdash;in late growth stages and when conditions turn hostile.</p><p>In mouse experiments, the difference was stark: nearly all animals became infected with normal bacteria, but only about one in five became infected when bacteria lacked RfaH. This translated to much higher survival rates among the mice.</p><p>Many bacterial genes are arranged in long stretches called operons. Without RfaH, the cellular machinery that reads these genes can stall or stop prematurely. RfaH prevents this, ensuring bacteria can produce surface structures, secrete toxins, and resist stress from the body's defenses.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Atomic force microscopy images of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cells that lack the RfaH protein growing under high salt condition. As a result of not having RfaH, the bacteria have faulty surfaces which cause them to clump together in a stressful, high-salt environment.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Kemal Avican</span></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Insights for future antimicrobial therapies</h3><p>The research revealed that RfaH controls the production of a key component of the surface of bacteria - the O-antigen. Without RfaH, this outer coat becomes defective. But RfaH's influence extends further, activating many &ldquo;downstream&rdquo; genes involved in attachment, movement, and nutrient transport.</p><p>RfaH itself is present in many bacteria, including harmless members of the microbiota. That is why genes influenced by RfAH through activation or signaling - downstream genes - could provide promising new selective targets to stop persistent infections, the researchers say. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;This antimicrobial approach could disarm pathogenic bacteria without disturbing the beneficial ones&rdquo;, says Joram Kiriga Waititu, postdoctoral fellow at Department of Molecular Biology, and first author of the study.</p><p>While <em>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</em> usually causes an infection in humans that can heal on its own, it serves as a valuable model for gut bacteria that can cause long-term or recurrent disease, such as <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Helicobacter</em>. In this way, the findings could pave the way for new strategies to tackle hard-to-treat gut infections.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="e5e74599-5e42-43a1-8e3d-5a0dec6acbf5" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/molecular-bodyguard-helps-infections-persist_12145023//en/news/new-discovery--bacterial-bubbles-hitchhike-to-reach-the-cell-surface_12145601/Researchers at Umeå University have discovered that the microscopic “bubbles” released by bacteria in our body do not just drift around randomly. Instead, they use the thin protrusions of cells as a transport route to quickly and efficiently reach their target with their contents.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:41:18 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anna Arnqvist is professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">increases the understanding of how bacteria and cells interact</p><p>&ldquo;This is a mechanism that increases the understanding of how bacteria and cells interact and, by extension, how we understand and fight infections,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist, professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University, who led the study.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Drones with delivery</h2><p>All living cells can release nano-sized fluid-filled structures that resemble &ldquo;bubbles&rdquo;, so-called vesicles. Bacteria also release such vesicles, and despite their small size, they can carry everything from toxins to proteins and DNA that affects how the receiving host cell reacts.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Zia Ur Rehman, a postdoctoral fellow in Anna Arnqvist's group when the study was conducted. He is now a researcher at Kohat University in Pakistan</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>private</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;The vesicles act as messengers between each other and to cells, much like tiny drones that deliver their content,&rdquo; explains Zia Ur Rehman, first author. He was postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Medichal Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University when the study was carried out.</p><p>While previous research has focused on a better understanding of how cells take up vesicles and what effects they cause, the question of how the vesicles reach the surface of the cell body where the uptake occurs has remained unanswered.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Not moving randomly</h2><p>The new study shows that vesicles near host cells do not just drift around randomly. Instead, they hitchhike on thin, hair-like protrusions on the cell surface, called filopodia. Filopodia are rich in actin proteins and play important roles in cell movement, contraction and sensing of the environment. Anna Arnqvist and her colleagues discovered that vesicles utilize filopodia either by "surfing" along them, much like sliding down a railing, or by being actively pulled inward when the filopodia contract.</p><p>This mode of transport efficiently captures vesicles from the surrounding environment and moves them from the outer edge of the cell to the cell body, where they can internalize and thereby deliver their contents to the host cell.</p><p>Using advanced high-resolution microscopy techniques, the team was able to observe vesicles interacting with filopodia in real time and even measure their speed as they surfed forward or were pulled inward.</p><p>&ldquo;The speed when they surfed forward was an average of 1 nanometer per second. When they were pulled inward, it was faster, an average of 30 nanometers per second, which means it moved about its own length in one to two seconds,&rdquo; says Zia Ur Rehman.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Universal strategy in bacteria</h2><p>&ldquo;Importantly, we saw that the vesicles use the same transport mechanism regardless of which bacterium the vesicles came from, or which tissue the recipient cells belonged to. This suggests that this is a universal strategy that bacteria use,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist.</p><p>Because vesicles mimic the surface of their parent bacteria and carry a wide range of molecules, they can affect host cells in many ways. In addition to delivering harmful substances, the vesicles can act as "decoys" to protect bacteria from attack by the immune system.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Preventing and treating infections</h2><p>Since bacterial vesicles already play a key role in infection biology medicine, for example as delivery systems for drugs or vaccines, this study provides important new knowledge about the very first contact with the host cell.</p><p>&ldquo;Our long-term goal with the research is to understand how bacterial vesicles hijack host cells and translate this knowledge into new methods that can prevent or treat infections,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist.</p><p>The study has been published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. It has been funded by the Swedish Cancer Society. The analyses were carried out at the Biochemical Imaging Centre Ume&aring; (BICU) and Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microcopy (UCEM) at Ume&aring; University.</p>/en/news/new-discovery--bacterial-bubbles-hitchhike-to-reach-the-cell-surface_12145601//en/news/abisko-stay-strengthens-research-on-digital-statehood_12143605/For Dr. Michel Rouleau-Dick, three days in Abisko meant more than access to scientific resources—it was also his first encounter with the Arctic landscape, which will shape his research and his life in the North.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:58:59 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Advancing research on digital statehood</h2><p>From 22 to 25 September, Dr. Michel Rouleau-Dick, postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Transdisciplinary AI and newly appointed Arctic Six Fellow, spent three days at the Abisko Scientific Research Station to develop his research on digital statehood and multi-layered sovereignty. During the visit, he took advantage of the station&rsquo;s extensive library resources, which provided unique materials to enhance and refine his project.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Connecting with the Arctic environment</h2><p>This stay above the Arctic Circle also allowed Dr. Rouleau-Dick with the chance to familiarise himself with the region, as he only recently moved to the North earlier this year. Besides the scientific work, the Arctic landscape itself became a source of inspiration. An enthusiastic amateur photographer, he explored the area and captured the dramatic seasonal change&mdash;from vibrant birch forests in yellow and orange to the snow-covered peaks that surround the station.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a3226d7c-8c15-4377-9234-a633bb90aeb0" data-contentname="BILD TOP">{}</div><p class="quote-center">Spending time in Abisko has provided me with not only access to exceptional scientific resources but also a deeper connection to the Arctic environment.</p><p>Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Rouleau-Dick noted:</p><p>"Spending time in Abisko has provided me with not only access to exceptional scientific resources but also a deeper connection to the Arctic environment. Experiencing the landscape firsthand adds a new dimension to my research and reinforces my commitment to exploring the complexities of sovereignty in this region."</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="087ddb4c-72d6-4b34-bea9-57b2c2b2d2ec" data-contentname="BILD Abisko">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Engaging with ongoing research</h2><p>During his visit, Dr. Rouleau-Dick also attended a lecture by Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre, who shared insights from his long-term research on permafrost thaw. This project, which involves collaborations with high school students in collecting soil samples, demonstrates how Arctic research combines advanced science with local participation.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Looking ahead</h2><p>Returning from Abisko, Dr. Rouleau-Dick brings not only valuable academic insights but also a personal connection to the Arctic environment that will influence his future work. His time at the research station marks a significant step in anchoring his project in the region's realities, blending scholarly investigation with the firsthand experience of the North.</p>/en/news/abisko-stay-strengthens-research-on-digital-statehood_12143605//en/news/continued-support-for-important-infrastructures_12145076/The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) has recently awarded grants to the two research infrastructures SwedPop and ArchLab, for which Umeå University is the fund administrator. SwedPop makes historical Swedish population data available for research, while ArchLab is an infrastructure for archaeological research. Both are considered by the Swedish Research Council to be research infrastructures of national interest.  Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:26:33 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of research at Ume&aring; University. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>&ndash; Infrastructure such as this at our university can be seen as part of the &ldquo;blood circulation&rdquo; that is essential for many of our researchers, as well as researchers throughout the country, to continue conducting excellent research. It is therefore very gratifying that the funding we applied for has now been secured for several years to come, says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of research at Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;</p><p>Other research infrastructures linked to Ume&aring; University that were also awarded funding from this call for proposals from the Swedish Research Council were InfraVis, SwePrint, Protein Production Sweden (PPS) 2.0, SWERVE 2.0, SwedNMR and the Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), in which the university is participating as a co-applicant. In total, the Swedish Research Council granted approximately SEK 743 million for the years 2026-2030 to 20 infrastructures at eleven universities and institutions.</p><h3>More high-quality applications</h3><p>&ndash; This time, we received full funding for our applications to the Swedish Research Council. This success really shows that we are competitive and that it pays to write applications, so let's be inspired by the fact that we received full funding in this allocation and increase the number of applications going forward!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><em>Read more about "Grant for research infrastructure of national interest" at <a href="https://www.vr.se/english/applying-for-funding/decisions/2025-07-02-grant-for-research-infrastructure-of-national-interest.html">Swedish Research Council's website</a>.</em></p>/en/news/continued-support-for-important-infrastructures_12145076//en/news/researchers-card-game-teaches-children-about-microorganisms_12144957/Two researchers at Umeå University have developed a card game about microorganisms. With the help of playful game cards, they hope to spark curiosity in children and adults about life beneath the water’s surface – and to show that most microorganisms are actually helpful allies in our ecosystems.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:35:20 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Eric Capo plays the game MicroMates with visitors during ForskarFredag at Curiosum.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>Eric Capo and Meifang Zhong study microorganisms in fjords and lakes, and how they respond to environmental changes. Together, they came up with an original way to share their knowledge: a card game.</p><p>The idea was born during a seminar, when Eric Capo and his colleagues found it difficult at times to keep up with a talk on microorganism &ndash; despite it being their own research topic.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s when we came up with the idea of creating a card game, partly for ourselves but also to make it easier for people without a research background to understand the lives of microorganisms in the water,&rdquo; says Eric Capo, who has always had a strong interest in science communication.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Works with an artist</h2><p>The game consists of cards representing different microorganisms, vividly illustrated by the French artist Thomas Cerigny.</p><p>In the game, microorganisms are called "mates", and the aim is to help them survive environmental changes while also fighting other microorganisms and threats from their surroundings. The game is highly collaborative and players can exchange attacks and support cards between each other.</p><p>&ldquo;Our main target group is children from the age of six. At this very beginning, we expect mainly to reach science enthusiasts &ndash; and hopefully their children,&rdquo; says Meifang Zhong.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Each playing card represents a microorganism.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p><strong>What is the purpose of the game?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;We want children to learn that microorganisms are naturally present in the environment, that not all of them are bad (most are actually good), and that they live in ecosystems that are affected by environmental changes, such as lack of oxygen in the water.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Positive feedback</h2><p>At present, the game consists of 30 mate cards. It is still in a development phase, and the team is receiving business support from the innovation support at Ume&aring; University. The aim is&nbsp;a full launch in the coming years with a collection of 100 mate cards, around 40 help cards, and game rules in Swedish.</p><p>The game was showcased for the first time during Researchers' Night (ForskarFredag) at Curiosum on 26 September 2025.</p><p>&ldquo;Overall, we received positive feedback. Many children came by to try the game. There is still a lot of work ahead for us to improve the gameplay and make it simpler for kids, as our main goal is for them to play and learn important knowledge without even realising it,&rdquo; says Eric Capo.</p><p>Read more about the game at <a href="http://micromates.se" target="_blank" rel="noopener">micromates.se</a>.</p>/en/news/researchers-card-game-teaches-children-about-microorganisms_12144957//en/news/high-expectations-for-a-polar-research-school-at-umea-university_12144900/On 30 September, Associate Professor Linda Lundmark and Professor Paul Zieger submitted a project application to the Swedish Research Council to establish an interdisciplinary research school in polar research at Umeå University and Stockholm University between 2026 and 2029. They have applied for a total of almost 40 million SEK for the project.Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:43:39 +0200<p>On 27 August, the Swedish Research Council announced a call titled &ldquo;Research School within Polar Research&rdquo;, an initiative based on a government mandate with the purpose of ensuring the growth of excellent researchers and strengthening Sweden&rsquo;s international impact in polar research. Associate Professor Linda Lundmark at Ume&aring; University was quick to respond and began drafting an application to establish a polar research school at Ume&aring; University, together with collaborating researcher Paul Zieger, Professor at Stockholm University. Linda Lundmark is currently the director of the Arctic Graduate School at Ume&aring; University and believes that a polar research school is a perfect development for the university:</p><p>&ldquo;It would mean that we expand the geographical scope of our current research school to also include Antarctica. It would also mean that we strengthen our collaboration between Stockholm and Ume&aring;, allowing us to pool our resources when it comes to polar research. Polar research is important for how we as a society will be able to face a future increasingly characterized by uncertainty, not least regarding the climate. We do this by promoting interdisciplinary research that integrates different research fields while also meeting society&rsquo;s expectations that results should lead to change.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The SPIRS project aims to prepare the polar research experts of the future</h2><p>In their project application, funding is requested to establish a Swedish Polar Interdisciplinary Research School (SPIRS) that will begin in January 2026 and run for four years, and finance up to 75% of the participants&rsquo; salaries.</p><p>The purpose of the project is to safeguard Sweden&rsquo;s long-term expertise, coordination, and logistical knowledge in the polar regions. These regions are greatly affected by the rapid and large-scale global changes in the cryosphere, ecosystems, and local communities due to climate change and human activity. Because of this, the next generation of polar researchers needs to be experts capable of working effectively across disciplinary boundaries, contributing to evidence-based solutions, and bridging the gap between research and policy.</p><p>To achieve this, a polar research school will be established to prepare Doctoral students of today to become polar research experts of the future.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Short timeframe to announce doctoral projects for the research school</h2><p>If the project application is approved, the research school will be established as early as January 2026, which means that the timeframe for announcing doctoral projects for the school will be short. The project will therefore begin the call for applications immediately upon approval, covering projects at both Ume&aring; University and Stockholm University.</p><p>&ldquo;We will receive a decision in December at the latest, and the project starts in January. By then, we need to have the doctoral projects ready so that we can start recruiting Doctoral students. We will therefore announce doctoral projects within all research fields, spread across all faculties at the university. We encourage our colleagues to already start considering whether they want to apply,&rdquo; says Linda.</p>/en/news/high-expectations-for-a-polar-research-school-at-umea-university_12144900//en/news/klas-markstrom-appointed-to-the-swedish-research-councils-new-committee_12144835/The Swedish Research Council has established a new Committee for Engineering Sciences. One of the appointed members is Klas Markström, Professor at Umeå University.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:49:38 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Klas Markstr&ouml;m, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Earlier this year, the Swedish Research Council decided to establish a dedicated committee for engineering sciences. The background is the Government&rsquo;s Research and Innovation Bill 2024, which highlights the rapid technological development and the need for major investments in the field.</p><p>The Swedish Research Council will therefore divide the current Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences into two separate councils. Since the new Council for Engineering Sciences cannot be established immediately, a committee has been appointed to serve during the transition period until 2028.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Researchers with strong expertise</h2><p>&ldquo;During that time, the committee will, among other tasks, manage several initiatives on excellence clusters in engineering sciences and, together with the current Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences, prepare for the new council,&rdquo; says Klas Markstr&ouml;m, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>The Committee for Engineering Sciences will consist of eleven members. At present, nine researchers with strong expertise in engineering and natural sciences have been appointed, while two representatives of research outside academia will be appointed at a later stage.</p>/en/news/klas-markstrom-appointed-to-the-swedish-research-councils-new-committee_12144835//en/news/when-listeria-bacteria-go-to-fine-dining_12144793/Jörgen Johansson, professor of molecular biology at Umeå University, has studied the Listeria bacteria for 25 years. He is following the outbreak at a top restaurant in Stockholm this week with great interest. We ask him five curious questions:Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:01:18 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Listeria can grow on agar plates at incredibly low temperatures.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Eva-Maria Diehl</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">For a healthy individual, it takes an incredible number of bacteria &ndash; several billion! &ndash; to get really sick</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How serious is the current outbreak in Stockholm, and what are you following particularly closely in its development?</h2><p>&ldquo;The outbreak is serious because it has affected so many healthy people in a short period of time. Normally, people who have some form of weakened immune system are affected, such as pregnant women, the elderly and cancer patients. It is also remarkable that it has happened so quickly, from some of those involved, getting the infection to becoming seriously ill."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>J&ouml;rgen Johansson is professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>privat</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">You have been researching the listeria bacteria for over two decades &ndash; what makes it so fascinating from a scientific perspective?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is a bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as it can live in the soil and multiply without any problems. Sometimes, however, it can enter the food chain, usually through dairy production or in fishery products, and then become an extremely aggressive and "successful" pathogen that can have a mortality rate of up to 30 percent.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What do we know today about how Listeria manages to enter the human body and cause disease?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is probably one of the bacteria that we know best about how it causes disease and how it interacts with the human cell. The bacterium enters the body by eating food contaminated with Listeria and enters the intestinal epithelial layer.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;For a healthy individual, it takes an incredible number of bacteria &ndash; several billion! &ndash; to get really sick. In those cases, the bacteria make their way from the epithelial cells into the bloodstream where they usually spread to the liver and spleen and multiply. In a healthy individual, the immune system takes care of the bacteria, but if you have a weakened immune system, the bacteria can spread into the blood and cause sepsis or get into the brain and cause meningitis. In pregnant women, the bacteria can enter through the amniotic sac to the fetus. The later stages of the infection have a mortality rate of up to 30 percent.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Is there something about Listeria in particular that makes it extra difficult to control in food handling?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria can grow at incredibly low temperatures. In my lab, for example, we have grown the bacteria on agar plates that we have placed on ice. Even if you buy a food with few Listeria bacteria, its ability to grow at low temperatures means that after a week or so you can have enormous amounts of bacteria in the food. In addition, it can withstand very high salt concentrations. I usually use Paris as an example where I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Pasteur Institute. Just a few hundred meters away, on certain days you can buy cheese at a food market that is made from unpasteurized cheese. Even if there are few bacteria when you buy it, there can be an incredible number of bacteria if you take it home and eat it after a few weeks.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">What about Listeria and antibiotic resistance?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is still (mostly) susceptible to antibiotics. However, it can be good to be prepared for the fact that it will at some point become antibiotic resistant, which is true for all pathogenic bacteria.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/when-listeria-bacteria-go-to-fine-dining_12144793//en/news/natural-barriers-disrupt-the-ecosystems-in-northern-swedens-rivers_12144622/Rivers in northern Sweden do not always become wider or richer in species further downstream. Natural barriers shape the flow and stop plants from spreading, new research from Umeå University shows.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The terrain in northern Sweden was shaped by the last Ice Age.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our results suggest that many foundational assumptions in river science may not apply here,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The rivers in northern Sweden flow through terrain shaped by the last Ice Age. The landscape is dotted with lakes and covered in sediment brought by the ice: sand, gravel and plenty of boulders. A news study from Ume&aring; University shows that this creates natural barriers that disrupt the flow of water. It also hinders the transport of sediment and the dispersal of plant seeds. All of this affects both the shape of the streams and the mix of plant types found along the shores.</p><p>&ldquo;We found that these landscapes are naturally fragmented, and that local conditions &ndash; such as sediment type and proximity to lakes &ndash; play a much larger role than previously thought,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The streams do not become wider</h2><p>Together with researcher Lovisa Lind, she studied two catchments in northern Sweden, Bjurb&auml;cken and Hjuks&aring;n, located above and below the highest coastline after the last glaciation. Using maps and field studies, they analysed the shape of the streams and the plant life along tens of kilometers of the shores.</p><p>Their findings challenge widely accepted theories that streams become wider and more biologically diverse downstream. The researchers found no clear relationships between the drainage area and channel width, and no consistent increase in plant species diversity downstream within these medium-sized catchments.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="caa67b86-4359-46bf-90a5-0794d772f623" data-contentname="">{}</div><p>&ldquo;In the catchment below the former highest coastline, we did see slightly stronger patterns, likely due to finer sediments from the sea. But overall, the presence of lakes and coarse glacial deposits breaks up the expected downstream trends,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><p>The study shows that lakes stop the transport of plant seeds by water. This leads to differences in the composition of plant life between nearby parts of the rivers. The researchers also saw an unexpected pattern: that species density (the number of species in a given area) was constant &ndash; or even decreased &ndash; downstream.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Important for river restoration</h2><p>These results are important for river restoration in areas shaped by the Ice Age. In these fragmented systems, passive recovery &ndash; where plants recolonise naturally &ndash; will probably not succeed. Instead, active interventions such as planting and physically reshaping the stream channels might be necessary.</p><p>&ldquo;Restoration strategies need to be adapted to these local realities,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5b0a16dc-6974-4612-a2b0-0f1beda1f8d0" data-contentname="">{}</div>/en/news/natural-barriers-disrupt-the-ecosystems-in-northern-swedens-rivers_12144622//en/news/ai-and-cultural-memory-in-focus-for-new-research-cluster_12144188/Teaching Awardee Panels , exhibition, lectures and the ceremony with the promotion of honorary doctors and the installation of new professors, this year also including the awarding of medals of merit. The annual celebration week is just around the corner. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:46:17 +0200<p>The Annual Celebration is one of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s most significant academic traditions, with ceremonial elements that trace their origins back to the founding of European universities in the 13th century.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Peter Sk&ouml;ld, master of ceremonies for the academic celebrations at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Of course, things have evolved over time, but there is something deeply meaningful about feeling the presence of history in a fast-paced world. It&rsquo;s something we truly value,&rdquo; says Peter Sk&ouml;ld, Master of Ceremonies at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p>The celebration also serves as an opportunity to honour individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the university.</p><p>&ldquo;Above all, it&rsquo;s wonderful to have a dedicated occasion to recognise our researchers, educators and others who continue to contribute to education and research for a more sustainable future,&rdquo; says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Important discussions about learning and pedagogy</h2><p>The annual celebration week includes a variety of events. On the morning of Thursday, 16 October, there will be a Teaching Awardee Panels, where pedagogical award winners and appointed excellent teachers from Ume&aring; University who will explore current and important topics related to learning and student support.</p><p>The discussions will be held in the Teacher Education Building and are open to anyone interested. During the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg will present the award winners with their diplomas. The discussions can also be viewed afterwards.</p><p><a href="~/link/261a5e0ea26c4efb8219e899b7b16b9d.aspx">Read more about who will be participating in the discussions, as well as the time and place.&nbsp; </a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Opening of the Annual Celebration</h2><p>Inauguration of the Annual Celebration Ceremony will take place on Friday, 17 October. Ume&aring; University Library will host an exhibition about new professors, honorary doctors and scientific award winners. The exhibition consists of photographs and publications.</p><p>During the opening ceremony, there will be live music, light refreshments and a short lecture by Marie Lundstr&ouml;m, who is known from, among other things, Swedish Radio's literary weekly magazine &lsquo;Lundstr&ouml;m's Book Radio&rsquo;. She is one of those who will be awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy by the Faculty of Humanities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Due to ongoing renovations at the University Library, this year&rsquo;s opening will take place in Vardagsrummet in the Humanities Building. The exhibition will be shorter than in previous years, so visitors are encouraged to attend on Friday.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/db907987c6d94cf9a5be6c9b279611c9.aspx">See the calendar event for the exact time.&nbsp; </a></p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Almost 40 lectures</h2><p>On Saturday morning, all newly appointed professors, honorary doctors and scientific award recipients will deliver short popular science lectures, open to the public. <br>Topics this year include:</p><ul><li>"Exercise in pill form &ndash; the next generation of drugs for obesity and diabetes"</li><li>"Crisis, humour and resistance &ndash; what memes can teach us about digital culture"</li><li>"Milking lions &ndash; performance-based conservation compensation in practice"</li></ul><p>"I really recommend everyone who has the opportunity to come and take part in this smorgasbord of knowledge," says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp;</p><p>A total of 38 lectures will be held, each lasting 20 minutes, in lecture halls across Campus Ume&aring;. Scientific award recipients will be honoured immediately following their presentations.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/50656af0ec4e4e328d4bf998ff34895f.aspx">See the programme for the day. </a></p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">The highlight of the Annual Celebration Week</h2><p>In the evening, the highlight of the Annual Celebration Week takes place &ndash; the ceremonial celebration. In a festive setting, the university's new professors are installed and new honorary doctors are conferred. This year, Ume&aring; University's medals of merit will also be awarded. This is done every three years and is given to people who have made particularly significant contributions to the university. This year, Inge-Bert T&auml;ljedal and Ellinor &Auml;delroth will receive them.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>"It is a great pleasure to invite our new professors, honorary doctors and medal recipients to an evening of splendour. They deserve it," says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Live music will be performed during the ceremony, including by the Ume&aring; Student Choir.</p><p>The ceremony is open to the public, but can also be followed digitally via ͯ����Ƶ.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/live/">Link to the broadcast.&nbsp;</a></p><p>The ceremony will be followed by a festive banquet for invited guests at Universum.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/time-for-the-annual-celebration-week--a-smorgasbord-of-knowledge_12144630//en/news/highlighting-arctic-sustainability-at-conference-for-young-researchers_12144366/How can society respond to a growing terrorist threat without undermining democracy? This question is at the heart of Susanna Bellander's doctoral thesis at Umeå University. "We must stop viewing security and freedom as a zero-sum game. In times of unrest, we need to protect both, simultaneously," says Susanna Bellander, doctoral student at Unit for Police Work. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:51:36 +0200<p>Susanna Bellander has been a police officer for 15 years and has worked as an investigator of serious crimes and intelligence operations, as well as with terrorism and counter-terrorism, both operationally and strategically. In her research, she has combined document analysis, interviews with police employees in 2022 and 2025, and a national survey study following the terrorist attack in Stockholm in 2017.</p><p>The results show that security measures are often prioritised at the expense of preventive efforts and democracy-building work. According to Susanna Bellander, there is a clear imbalance, with reactive measures being given better conditions for implementation than democracy-building efforts.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Susanna Bellander, affiliated as doctoral student at Unit of Police Work. Photo: Sophia Nilsson S&ouml;dert&ouml;rns h&ouml;gskola.</p></div></div><p>"As a police officer, I have seen the need for strong measures in critical situations. As a researcher, I have learned that long-term security requires something more &ndash; a constant awareness of what we risk losing if democracy is compromised in the name of protection," says Susanna Bellander.</p><h3>Vulnerable members of society are hit harder</h3><p>Research also shows that people with a low quality of life, or a weak sense of belonging to Swedish society, are hit harder by fear and reduced trust in the wake of terrorist attacks. This points to the need for inclusive strategies that strengthen the resilience of society as a whole &ndash; not just protect against threats. The thesis argues that effective counter-terrorism must be proportionate, responsible and integrated &ndash; with a focus on both protection and rights.</p><p>Susanna Bellander has defended her thesis at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, which she believes is obvious:</p><p>"Terrorism has a profound impact on people's health &ndash; from direct victims to emergency services personnel, witnesses and society as a whole. Counterterrorism also has extensive health aspects that are important to study."</p>/en/news/we-must-protect-both-security-and-freedom_12144314//en/news/after-the-cyberattack--umea-university-analyses-the-system_12143938/The cyberattack against Miljödata at the end of August affects many people. Umeå University is conducting a risk and vulnerability analysis before the system becomes available again. At the same time, all employees and students are encouraged to learn more about cybersecurity. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:47:01 +0200<p>&ldquo;We sincerely regret that the cyberattack is affecting employees and understand that it may cause concern that personal data in the systems used by the university is not secure. We have a good systematic approach aimed at preventing cyberattacks, but this work needs to be constantly developed,&rdquo; says Lars Nordlander, HR manager at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The cyberattack targeted Milj&ouml;data, the supplier of Adato, the system support used by Ume&aring; University in the rehabilitation process for employees. More than 100 organisations in Sweden were affected and personal data was leaked from Adato. The attacker then spread it on the internet, including on the Darknet.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><a href="~/link/3301b3e780d6442d968db31adca4894c.aspx">Read previous news at ͯ����Ƶ.</a><br><br>Ume&aring; University immediately shut down Adato when the attack was discovered, and the system is not yet in use at the university. Before it is reopened, the university will conduct a risk and vulnerability analysis.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>"In the university's current agreement with Milj&ouml;data, we have set high standards for security and the handling of personal data, but the attackers got past that in this case. We want to get as clear a picture as possible of the measures Milj&ouml;data has taken after the attack before we start using the system again. We have been in close contact with Milj&ouml;data since the attack and know that they have worked intensively and thoroughly to create greater resistance to attacks," says Per Ragnarsson, Deputy University Director and Chair of the University's Crisis Management Group. &nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How to be safe in the future</h2><p>October is Cybersecurity Month in Sweden and Europe. During this month, Ume&aring; University will highlight information pages and internal training courses that employees and students can access to learn more and become better equipped to deal with cyber attacks.</p><p>"Knowledge is the strongest weapon. I hope that many employees and students will take this opportunity to learn more about cyber security and find out how to better protect themselves against attacks, as well as how to act if they are affected or suspect any irregularities," says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/after-the-cyberattack--umea-university-analyses-the-system_12143938//en/news/a-shopping-trip-to-chem-store--the-store-that-supports-research-at-a-daily-basis_12129057/The autumn semester is in full swing. Just as students stock up on notebooks and literature, many researchers are restocking their labs. Located in the KBC building, Chem Store is perhaps the university’s most well-stocked store – but it’s no ordinary store. Here, researchers can quickly and easily get hold of pipettes, petri dishes, chemicals, and much more. Come along for a shopping trip in June, just before the summer break, and get inspired for your future shopping. Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jeanette Blomberg, researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, gets help from Boris Jonsson to find everything she needs from the Chem Store.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>Jeanette Blomberg, researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, visits the Chem Store before the staff go on summer holiday.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to stock up on all the essentials that might be needed,&rdquo; Jeanette explains, showing a small shopping list scribbled on a post-it note.</p><p>With the help of Boris Jonsson, who works at Chem Store, she fills her shopping cart with pipette tips, petri dishes, microtiter plates, and a yellow barrel for hazardous waste. Having lab equipment, chemicals, and solvents close at hand makes daily lab work much smoother. While only a few litres of solvents, such as ethanol or acetone, can be stored in the lab environment, the Chem Store keeps a steady large supply.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5505b12b-76a1-4a96-969b-0966f9c80259" data-contentname="Photo chemicals">{}</div><p>&ldquo;I usually come here often &ndash; several times a month &ndash; and I always get great help from the staff in finding what I need,&rdquo; says Jeanette.</p><p>Boris has worked at the Chem Store for 15 years and has a broad background in customer service and sales &ndash; from electronics to being a spare parts manager for Scania, VW, and Audi. But the Chem Store, he notes, is one of the most meaningful jobs he&rsquo;s had, and he appreciates being able to help and contribute to the exciting and varied research taking place in KBC and across the university every day.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="dbdb30e2-ac00-4449-a301-b222a5dd59c8" data-contentname="Photo Boris">{}</div><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s fun to work in such an international environment. Every day, we help postdocs and visiting professors from all over the world navigate the store or order special products,&rdquo; says Boris.<br>&nbsp;<br>The strangest order request Boris has ever received came from a researcher looking for needles small enough, and angled just right, to draw blood from white-tailed sea eagles.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;That really made me raise my eyebrows and scratch my head for a while, but I knew of a supplier so that we could have the needles custom-made,&rdquo; Boris recalls.&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">We&rsquo;re here for the whole university, taking care of the things researchers shouldn&rsquo;t have to spend time on</p><p>Jeanette is nearly done with her shopping &ndash; everything on her list has been checked off and loaded onto the lab cart.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;Do you have enough gloves in the lab?&rdquo; Boris asks.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;You can never have too many lab gloves,&rdquo; Jeanette replies, picking up a few boxes in different sizes.&nbsp;</p><p>Gloves are one of many staple items at the Chem Store, used by everyone &ndash; from chemists, biologists, and physicists to students and researchers at the Ume&aring; Academy of Fine Arts.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Boris Jonsson and Jeanette Blomberg in the Chem Store.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>Jeanette barely has time to wave goodbye with her full lab cart before the next researcher peeks into the store. On a typical day, around 25&ndash;30 researchers and students stop by, and Boris and his colleagues assist them all as smoothly as possible.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re here for the whole university, taking care of the things researchers shouldn&rsquo;t have to spend time on &ndash; finding suppliers, handling administration, managing procurement and contracts, updating the purchaser on delivery status, receiving packages, ensuring sensitive products are stored correctly &ndash; in short, everything from purchase to delivery,&rdquo; Boris says proudly.</p>/en/news/a-shopping-trip-to-chem-store--the-store-that-supports-research-at-a-daily-basis_12129057//en/news/cell-death-in-microalgae-resembles-that-in-humans_12143823/For the first time, researchers at Umeå University have observed the same type of programmed cell death in microalgae as in humans. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, shows that this central biological process is older than previously thought.Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:55:15 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Under the microscope, it is possible to see for the first time how microalgae undergo the same type of programmed cell death as animal cells. (Microalgae in purple and apoptotic bodies as small dots.)</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Luisa Fernanda Corredor Arias</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;This is the first photosynthetic organism, and the first single-cell organism, shown to produce so called apoptotic bodies during cell death. This proves that apoptosis, a pathway of programmed cell death which was thought to be unique to animals, is more ancient and widespread than previously believed,&rdquo; says Christiane Funk, Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Cells can die naturally from age or disease, but organisms can also actively trigger the death of certain cells when needed. This is known as programmed cell death (PCD), a central biological system that allows the development of organs in our bodies and provides advantage during an organism&rsquo;s life cycle. One example is the differentiation of fingers in a developing human embryo, others are the control of cell numbers or the elimination of non-functional cells.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Challenges previous understanding</h2><p>There are several pathways leading to PCD, the best studied being apoptosis. The clearest sign of apoptosis is the formation and release of membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles called apoptotic bodies. Although other pathways have been described in plants, yeast, protozoa and phytoplankton, the production of apoptotic bodies has been thought to be limited to multicellular animals.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Christiane Funk, Professor at the Department of Chemistry.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>For the first time the group of Christiane Funk at Ume&aring; University has now been able to observe the formation of apoptotic bodies in microalgae.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results demonstrate that the microalga Guillardia theta experiences apoptotic cell death in physiological conditions, similar to animal cells. Since these algae already existed prior to the origin of multicellularity, our discovery questions the evolutionary origin of PCD,&rdquo; says Christiane Funk.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Can have multiple uses</h2><p>The new findings may also have long-term implications beyond basic research. If scientists could one day induce or prevent programmed cell death in microorganisms, it might be possible to both manage harmful algal blooms and improve the harvesting of algal products in biotechnology.</p><p>&ldquo;But this is still far ahead of our current study,&rdquo; emphasises Christiane Funk.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f4450458-4856-4d1b-a587-3895fd0611a6" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/cell-death-in-microalgae-resembles-that-in-humans_12143823//en/news/nobel-prize-winner-returns-to-umea_12143903/"The most important thing about the Nobel Prize is not the person behind the prize, but rather that it shines a light on research and science, especially now in a world where science is increasingly being questioned," said Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry and former employee at Umeå University, when she answered questions from high school students in a packed Aula Nordica on Friday. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:40:53 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier (centre) was joined on stage at Aula Nordica by (from left) Margalida Esteva Socias, Doctoral student at Department of Molecular Biology, Iryna Yakovenko, Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Ronnie Berntsson, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, all at Ume&aring; University. Conference host Annakarin Nyberg, Associate professor at Department of Informatics at Ume&aring; University, listens at the lectern on the right. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>"It is clear that both Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University have played a very important role in my research, so it is really nice to be back and receive this welcome," said Emmanuelle Charpentier.</p><p>The conversation in Aula Nordica was opened by Marie-Louise R&ouml;nnmark, Mayor of Ume&aring;, and Patrik Danielson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. The moderator was Annakarin Nyberg, Associate professor at Department of Informatics at Ume&aring; University. She had received a series of questions from upper secondary school students in advance. Among other things, Emmanuelle Charpentier was asked whether the high level of trust among the citizens of Ume&aring; and at the university played a role in her research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier is today director at Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>"Yes, here in Ume&aring; I found a warm community among researchers, a community based on curiosity, where your scientific status and where you have published your articles are less important. Of course, these things are important for your career as a researcher, but they are not everything. Many people focus solely on publications, but we also need to have a story. And a love for the story of the research you do. You need colleagues who help you shape it, who believe in it, who believe in you, and I found that here," Emmanuelle Charpentier told high school students, interested residents of Ume&aring; and students and staff at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Emmanuelle Charpentier was also awarded the title of honorary citizen of Ume&aring; at a ceremony at the Norrlandsoperan, where she said that the crunchy sound of walking in the snow in Ume&aring; sounded like the name of the gene scissors, CRISPR-Cas9. But she also said that she loves salad, and the first salad she saw when she went shopping in Ume&aring; was a <em>crisp salad</em>, which she thought was a sign that she should continue working with gene editing. But what really convinced her to move from Vienna to Ume&aring; in 2008 was all the friendly and pleasant colleagues she met when she was here for her job interview and how warmly everyone welcomed her to Ume&aring; and the university.</p><p>The Nobel Prize laureate concluded her visit to the university by visiting her former colleagues at MIMS (The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden), where she worked as a group leader when she made the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 in 2012, which has been called the sharpest tool in genetic engineering and has revolutionised molecular biology and cell biology research. In 2020, she and Jennifer A. Doudna, at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier stands in front of a large information board describing her research. The information board is located on R&aring;dhusesplanden in central Ume&aring; and is one of several posters put up by the municipality of Ume&aring; to mark the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of Ume&aring; University. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div>/en/news/nobel-prize-winner-returns-to-umea_12143903/