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Björn Forsberg

Assistant Professor

Structural bioinformatics studies biology through data. We develop and use new tools to study cryo-EM reconstructions and data to understand molecular life.

About the research

In the lab, we use spatial filtering and metrics of local correlation to estimate the source of variation in ensemble data. We apply this directly to distinguish sources of variation in cryo-electron microscopy data, attribute it to causal mechanisms and describe molecular biology better than previously possible.

V-ATPase colored by heterogeneity.
Structural biology helps us understand how life works at the molecular level. It does this by showing us the three-dimensional form and function of small biological molecular machines such as proteins and DNA. This knowledge is crucial for understanding how our bodies work and for creating new medicines. One of the most important tools in structural biology is called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and uses powerful computers to create 3D models of molecules. Cryo-EM can now also see protein inside cells, study how cells function in much greater detail, and understand how proteins function and how cells react to viruses and bacteria. This can greatly improve our understanding of biology and help us develop better drugs. For cryo-EM to be able to carry out ever larger and more in-depth investigations, however, new calculation tools are needed that better understand the enormous amounts of data that are input and can carry out faster and more systematic investigations. By extension, this can create new diagnostic methods that can see how the body heals and regenerates after injuries or non-genetic diseases such as Alzheimer's, which is already studied with the help of cryo-EM by seeing how molecules get the wrong shape in tissue taken from patients.

Open positions

The lab is actively recruiting on both graduate and post-graduate levels

PhD students

We are always looking for motivated students who want to conduct and publish research with global relevance, and build their independence in computational research. If your background is in computational biology, computer science, mathematics, technology or similar, you are welcome to send an expression of interest. 

You are also welcome to get in touch with questions about doctoral studies in applied structural biology, depending on your background you may be of great interest to us or one of our collaborators.

Click here to contact us.

Postdoc positions

Cryo-EM is rapidly evolving to use machine learning and computer vision. We will contribute to a new and modern framework for cryo-EM processing and have an ongoing demand for researchers with a commitment to data-driven biological research, even if your background is not in structural biology. 

Click here to register your interest.




Masters students

Master students interested in biological applications of statistical models, machine learning, molecular structure, bioinformatics, or microscopy are encouraged to inquire about diploma projects directly. Please include brief CV and motivation. 

Convey your interest here. 

News

Björn Forsberg

Growing Life science research at LiU

Björn Forsberg is the latest addition to the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS). He is now setting up his own research at LiU, creating new methods for analyzing data from cryo-electron microscopes.

Supercomputer Berzelius to be upgraded to double capacity

The supercomputer Berzelius is used for research in fields such as life sciences, machine learning and artificial intelligence. This autumn, it will be upgraded thanks to a donation of SEK 125 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

KAW supports a Program for Academic Leaders in Life Science (PALS)

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has granted funding to the Program for Academic Leaders in Life Science (PALS). The aim of the program is to form a network for young group leaders in experimental, clinical, or computational life science.

Publications

Selected publications

Cover of publication ''
Björn O. Forsberg, Pranav N. M. Shah, Alister Burt (2023)
A robust normalized local filter to estimate compositional heterogeneity directly from cryo-EM maps

Nature Communications , Vol.14 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Jasenko Zivanov, Takanori Nakane, Björn O. Forsberg, Dari Kimanius, Wim JH Hagen, Erik Lindahl, Sjors HW Scheres (2018)
New tools for automated high-resolution cryo-EM structure determination in RELION-3

eLIFE , Vol.7 Continue to DOI

Cover of publication ''
Dari Kimanius, Björn O. Forsberg, Sjors HW Scheres, Erik Lindahl (2016)
Accelerated cryo-EM structure determination with parallelisation using GPUs in RELION-2

eLIFE , Vol.5 Continue to DOI

Latest publications

2023

Björn O. Forsberg, Pranav N. M. Shah, Alister Burt (2023) A robust normalized local filter to estimate compositional heterogeneity directly from cryo-EM maps Nature Communications, Vol. 14, Article 5802 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2022

Björn O. Forsberg (2022) The structure and evolutionary diversity of the fungal E3-binding protein bioRxiv (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2021

Urška Rovšnik, Yuxuan Zhuang, Björn O. Forsberg, Marta Carroni, Linnea Yvonnesdotter, Rebecca J Howard, Erik Lindahl (2021) Dynamic closed states of a ligand-gated ion channel captured by cryo-EM and simulations Life Science Alliance, Vol. 4 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2020

Björn O. Forsberg, S. Aibara, R. J. Howard, N. Mortezaei, E. Lindahl (2020) Arrangement and symmetry of the fungal E3BP-containing core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex Nature Communications, Vol. 11, Article 4667 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2018

Annemarie Perez Boerema, Shintaro Aibara, Bijoya Paul, Victor Tobiasson, Dari Kimanius, Björn O. Forsberg, Karin Wallden, Erik Lindahl, A. Amunts (2018) Structure of the chloroplast ribosome with chl-RRF and hibernation-promoting factor Nature Plants, Vol. 4, p. 212-217 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Organisation

National Supercomputer Centre (NSC)

The National Supercomputer Centre (NSC) at Linköping University in Sweden is a provider of leading edge national supercomputing resources.

SciLifeLab Linköping

SciLifeLab Linköping is both a local and a national research infrastructure, with unique technologies and expert competence accessible for academic and industrial researcher in the field of life sciences, health and data-driven life science.

Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Undergraduate teaching and research in the areas of biology, chemistry, materials and applied physics and theory and modelling are conducted at this department.

Coworkers

bjowa51

Björn Wallner

Professor, Head of Division

clami66

Claudio Mirabello

Principal Research Engineer, Docent

nicpe84

Nicholas Pearce

Assistant Professor

freli29

Fredrik Lindsten

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Division

baswa38

Bastian Wandt

Assistant Professor

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