Alumni of the Year: Improving children’s healthcare and the visibility of Afro-Swedish artists

The collaboration pushing back the boundaries of physics

Theoretician Florian Trybel has an irreplaceable role in creating new materials. Together with his experimental research colleague in Scotland he aims to expand the possibilities of materials in extreme conditions.

Discovery about pain signalling may contribute to better treatment

LiU researchers have pinpointed the exact location of a specific protein fine-tuning the strength of pain signals. The knowledge can be used to develop drugs for chronic pain that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

Associate professor Jonathan Josefsson against a grey sky.

Unequal conditions for young people at UN climate summits

Today, young people can participate in major UN climate conferences. But inequality and bureaucracy make this impossible for many. This is the conclusion of a study carried out at Linköping University.

Researchers in front of a tree in a forest

LiU researchers explore sustainable forest management in the Amazon

Can climate action go hand in hand with the needs of local Amazonian communities? A research team from Linköping University is investigating this question through interdisciplinary work with communities in the Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil.

Researcher at a archeological excavation site.

Ancient seeds give clues on climate change

Thousand-year-old seeds, and traces hidden in the soil for more than 5,000 years, provide clues to how people and their crops were affected by climate change. This knowledge may help us adapt to changes in our lifetime and in the future.

New director for Sweden’s supercomputer infrastructure

Professor Erik Lindahl will be the new director of the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS) – the most widely used research infrastructure in the country.

Amy Loutfi new programme director of WASP

Professor Amy Loutfi will take over as programme director for the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP). She succeeds Professor Anders Ynnerman from LiU, who will take on the role of chairman of the board for WASP.

LiU receives SEK 232 million from the Swedish Research Council

The Swedish Research Council has now decided on the allocation of research grants in four areas. At Linköping University, the area of natural and engineering sciences is to receive the most funding.

A researcher is working together with a test subject.

Our sense of touch consists of 16 unique types of nerve cells

No less than 16 different types of nerve cells have been identified by scientists in a new study on the human sense of touch. Comparisons between humans, mice and macaques show both similarities and significant differences.

Two men in white lab coats with a computer in a lab.

Improving Alphafold to predict very large proteins

The AI tool Alphafold has been improved so that it can now predict the shape of very large and complex protein structures. Linköping University researchers have also succeeded in integrating experimental data into the tool.

Rinata Kazak looking down at her jacket.

LiU researcher ahead of UN climate summit - "I’m optimistic"

Azerbaijan will host the International Climate Summit this year. Although the country is heavily dependent on its oil production, holding the meeting there could actually be an advantage, according to Rinata Kazak, who will represent LiU.

Working together for a less biased world

In what ways does modern technology risk giving us a distorted picture of the world? Seeking answers, researchers at Tema Genus are working with colleagues in computer science.

Student choirs add to festive mood in Linköping

Streets, squares and concert venues in Linköping will be filled with song as 42 student choirs from 5 different countries converge on the city.

Creating the flexible X-ray technology of the future

Professor Feng Gao has been granted SEK 31 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation over five years to develop a new type of X-ray technology. The goal is a flexible material that can improve X-ray detector image quality.

Person (Robert Forchheimer) with cellphone.

The hidden costs of free apps – more than personal data

Procrastination, sleep deprivation and reduced focus are part of the price we pay for free mobile apps. This is according to researchers at LiU and RISE, who have investigated the costs hidden behind the free apps.

Water in front of a bridge and a building. Blue skies and a tree in autumn colours.

LiU climbs in global ranking list

Linköping University rises to the 201–250 band when British Times Higher Education releases its annual ranking of world universities.

Podcast turned the history teacher into a popular educator

Daniel Hermansson is an upper secondary school teacher who has become a great educator. Whether in podcast, TV or book form, the Alum of the Year tells us about our history in a way that is as entertaining as it is well-informed.

Enjoyment and creativity – key words for Agnes Larsson

With over 100 million users each month, the Swedish game Minecraft is the world’s best-selling computer game. Agnes Larsson, Linköping University Alum of the Year, is the creative director of the ever popular and imaginative world-building game.

Alumni of the Year are experts in game development and history

Daniel Hermansson is a history expert and popular educator. Agnes Larsson is the creative director of the world’s best-selling computer game and a role model for young people in the gaming industry. They are Linköping University’s Alumni of the Year.

Body weight important in pregnancy – regardless of country of birth

Overweight is a major contributor to complications during pregnancy and childbirth – this applies to both women born in Sweden and women who have moved here, something that has not been well researched so far.

Two pipettes poring liquids on to a disk.

Research for a sustainable future in ten new projects

Photosynthetic materials, two-dimensional noble metals and sustainable semiconductors are some of the projects at LiU that have been granted funding from the research programme Wallenberg initiative materials science for sustainability – WISE.

Cheerleaders tell of psychological abuse

Of current and former cheerleading athletes, 29 per cent reported being subjected to psychological abuse in the sport, according to a new study from Linköping University.

LiU gains reputation

Linköping University is the institution that, together with Malmö University, has increased its reputation the most compared with last year. This is shown by Verian's annual reputation index for Swedish higher education institutions.

A part of the supercomputer that glows red.

AI may boost society's cybersecurity

The race between hackers trying to crack systems vital to the functioning of society and cybersecurity experts is constantly ongoing. LiU-researchers will now develop AI that can detect hacker attacks and take action before any damage is done.

An AI look into the future

Humming supercomputers, robot dogs on rescue missions and plenty of future opportunities with AI and the research programmes WASP and WISE. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson got many impressions from his visit to Linköping University.

Neferti X. M. Tadiar infront of a photo of Moa Martinson inside Norrköpings Stadsmuseum.

Moa Martinson visiting professor will get new perspectives of the world

Neferti X. M. Tadiar has one foot in New York and the other in Manila. As the visiting professor in the name of Moa Martinson, she will do research on colonialism, migration, capitalism, and environmental change from a new corner of the world.

Two men and a woman talk in front of a screen

Machine learning can give the climate a chance

Machine learning can help us discover new patterns and better tackle the climate crisis. Researchers from all over the world meet at Linköping University with the goal of finding and deepening collaborations in this area.

Sofia Nyström och Henrik Nordvall in front of a window that reflects the blue sky.

New course takes the UFO issue seriously

UFO – from tin foil hat to research topic. This is the name of a single-subject course that starts in the spring 2025 at LiU. It will approach the UFO issue in a serious way while looking at the question of what constitutes knowledge and truth.

Four female medical students enjoying the sun, study location Jönköping.

The medical programme at LiU wins award for student engagement

The medical programme at Linköping University (LiU) has won an international accreditation for student engagement and participation in shaping the programme.

Poet to become visiting professor in Tage Danielsson’s name

She devotes herself to the power of words and sees poetry as a tool of knowledge. Athena Farrokhzad steps into academia with the ambition to shake up the templates with the help of rhymes and humour.

A group of people sitting around a conference table

AI and interdisciplinarity go hand in hand

LiU has gained a strong position in artificial intelligence. In August, the government’s AI Commission visited Campus Valla to listen to researchers and acquaint themselves with supercomputers.

Conflicting signals from influencers who talk about mental ill-health

Female influencers who talk about mental ill-health walk a tightrope between different ideals for women. This is shown by two new studies from Linköping University.

She is podcasting about the best features of democracy

Alongside her doctoral studies, political scientist Helena Iacobaeus runs the podcast Aspects of Democracy. She invites various LiU researchers to discuss the benefits of democracy.

Robots are common in the care of older adults

More than half of Sweden’s municipalities have purchased companion robots in the form of dogs or cats for their dementia care homes. This is the conclusion of a doctoral thesis from Linköping University.

Close-up illustrating that the gold nanowires combined with soft silicon rubber are stretchable.

Soft gold enables connections between nerves and electronics

Gold does not readily lend itself to being turned into long, thin threads. But researchers at LiU have now managed to create gold nanowires and develop soft, stretchable electrodes that can be connected to the nervous system.

Opening doors that should already be open

There are people in Sweden who have relevant skills but who are still an untapped resource in the labour market. Alumnus Farzad Golchin, CEO of recruitment company Novare Potential, wants to change this by opening doors that should already be open.

Person (Peter Larsson) infront of a microscope.

Existing drug can repair ion channel linked to epilepsy

Mutated variants of a particular ion channel cause difficult-to-treat epilepsy. A study published in the journal Nature now shows that a commonly used anaesthetic drug, propofol, can restore the function of this ion channel.

Aseel Berglund researches movement at work.

Game at work – for your health

Humans are hunters and gatherers. But in today’s modern society, we are sitting more than ever, which is bad for our Stone Age body. Researchers Aseel and Erik Berglund want to change this with the help of computer games at work.

Woody surfaces of trees remove methane from the atmosphere

It is well-known that trees help the climate by taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. But it is now clear that trees have another important role to play.

LiU alumni help the industry save energy – and money

He left a high-paid job in the gas and oil industry in India for a master’s programme at LiU. Sajid Athikkay does not regret his U-turn. He now runs a company in Linköping that helps industries track and save energy.

A man in a suit holds a green plant in his hand.

LiU involved in a megastudy on climate behaviour

What is the best way to make people behave in a more climate-friendly way? Researchers at Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet have contributed to a worldwide study on this topic.

Nerve damage from cancer treatment can be predicted

Many women treated for breast cancer using taxanes, a type of cytostatic drug, often experience side effects in the nervous system. Researchers at LiU have developed a tool that can predict the risk level for each individual.

Her mission is difficult – but fun and achievable

We are in the midst of a tough transition towards more sustainable development. This requires innovation and knowledge, says Marie Trogstam, a LiU alumna who is now head of sustainability and infrastructure at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

Closeup of small pieces of liver in a petri dish.

A liver biopsy may predict spread of pancreatic cancer

Microscopic changes in the liver can be used to predict spread of pancreatic cancer. The discovery may provide new ways of predicting the course of the disease and preventing pancreatic cancer from spreading to other organs.

She wants to make robots behave better

Researcher Hannah Pelikan believes that we will see increased conflicts between humans and robots in the future. In her research, she films everyday encounters between humans and machines to see what happens.

International collaboration lays the foundation for AI for materials

AI is accelerating the development of new materials. Large-scale use and exchange of data on materials is facilitated by a broad international standard. A major international collaboration now presents an extended version of the OPTIMADE standard.

Female PhD student lectures to master's students in the lab.

From sketches to a robot with artificial intelligence

How do you develop a product with as little human involvement as possible? LiU students built a robot using generative artificial intelligence.

More effective cancer treatment with iontronic pump

When low doses of cancer drugs are administered continuously near malignant brain tumours using so-called iontronic technology, cancer cell growth drastically decreases. This is demonstrated in experiments with bird embryos.

Electronic medicine – at the intersection of technology and medicine

Swedish researchers have developed a gel that can form a soft electrode capable of conducting electricity. In the long term, they aim to connect electronics to biological tissue, such as the brain.

Green lights on the backside of a supercomputer.

Agreement signed – supercomputer Arrhenius to Linköping

The hosting agreement between NAISS at LiU and EuroHPC JU has been signed. This means that LiU is now officially hosting the European supercomputer Arrhenius, which will become one of the world’s fastest computers.

Cancer survivors are at increased risk of disease throughout life

A study, led by researchers at LiU and Region Östergötland, shows that cancer survivors are at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases, other cancers and other diagnoses later in life.

Pathway to a renewable and more democratic energy system

The EU requires member states to facilitate local renewable energy production through so-called energy communities. But in Sweden, the system is structured in a way that counteracts such solutions, conclude researchers from LiU.

Simple methods made teachers better at teaching

All teachers improved their teaching considerably after receiving visits and feedback from experts on their performance during lessons. This is shown in a report from Linköping University that compiled observations from 30 compulsory schools.

Cell culture flask under a microscope in a lab.

They grow nose tissue in the lab

LiU researchers are among the first in the world to have grown human nasal tissue from stem cells. It is used to study how different viruses infect the airways.

WASP extended with a new initiative: AI for Science

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation grants SEK 70 million to WASP for a new initiative that promotes the uptake of AI based methodologies in academic research in Sweden.

Researcher holds a piece of cloth infront of face.

Your clothes will soon be extra muscles

Textile muscles is a young research field. In the long run, the technology can be built into clothes that can give an extra boost during heavy lifting, give hugs at a distance and help the visually impaired navigate the urban environment.

“The Swedish academic world is very unique”

Keti Chukhrov has appreciated her year at LiU as the Tage Danielson visiting professor. She is impressed by the democratic organisation and the true spirit of assistance and collaboration at IKOS, LiU.

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.

Making remanufacturing profitable

Returning end-of-life products to as-new condition is called remanufacturing. For more industrial companies to take an interest in it, remanufacturing needs to be economically viable. Johan Vogt Duberg has investigated how this can be accomplished.

Barnafrid supports war-torn Ukraine

Those working to help traumatised children in Ukraine are themselves in great need of support. Barnafrid at LiU, has been commissioned by the government to assist with working procedures and methods.

Two researchers study a computer screeen and a magnetic resonance tomograph is seen through a window pane.

Disturbed blood flow can damage the aorta

Abnormal blood flow in the aorta is linked to inflammation and breakdown of the vessel wall in conditions where the aorta is dilated. These findings by LiU researchers can contribute to better diagnosis.

He heals skin and shares his knowledge

Ahmed Elserafy spends his days researching skin and stem cells and how they can be used in the treatment of burns and wounds that do not heal properly. Over the last few years, he has also written a popular science book – in Arabic.

Aerial view of the campus showing the Swedish flag and the LiU flag hoisted outside buildings.

Major AI investment - LiU contributes to competence programme

Microsoft is investing heavily in AI in Sweden, and Linköping University is contributing to the work of improving skills in the field.

From the Campus of LiU to the ice fjords of Greenland

An adventurous exchange programme to icy Greenland might not be for everyone. But LiU student Filip Puljiz saw the opportunity of a lifetime. A scholarship through the Erasmus+ programme made it possible.

CO2 written in cloud letters on a blue sky.

Risky path to meeting climate targets for Stockholm

Stockholm aims to capture more carbon dioxide than is emitted by 2030. Therefore, the city is investing in new technology. But it is a strategy that has been adopted without sufficient discussion of the risks, says researchers at LiU.

The world's first ISO standards for a circular economy have arrived

Several researchers from the Linköping University have participated in the work to develop the world’s first ISO standards for a circular economy. The goal is a more sustainable society.

Orchestra standing outside holding their instruments over the head

Academic Celebration with space journey and Harry Potter

This year’s Academic Celebration at Linköping University will take place on 31 May and 1 June. The Celebration will feature lectures by honorary doctors, including astronaut Marcus Wandt, and an Academic Gala Concert with a children’s world theme.

From poverty to independence and self-sufficiency

On behalf of the government and in collaboration with Sida, MAI and Linköping University create life-changing transformations for both individuals and the world. Jennifer is one who has created change for both herself and the future.

Next-generation sustainable electronics are doped with air

Researchers at LiU have developed a new method where organic semiconductors can become more conductive with the help of air as a dopant. The study is a significant step towards future sustainable organic semiconductors.

Healthcare interpreters important for heart attack aftercare

After a heart attack, foreign-born people are less likely to attend a relapse-preventing Heart School than native-born patients. But with access to a professional interpreter, participation increases, according to a new study.

Eco-friendly and affordable battery for low-income countries

A battery made from zinc and lignin that can be used over 8000 times. This has been developed by researchers at LiU with a vision to provide a cheap and sustainable battery solution for countries where access to electricity is limited.

Large donation equals five new professors at LiU

A donation of SEK 125 million enables the establishment of five new professorships in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Linköping University. The donation is directed to the subjects of economics, political science, and history.

The reaction explaining large carbon sinks

A mystery has finally been solved. Researchers from LiU and Helmholtz Munich have discovered that a certain type of chemical reaction can explain why organic matter found in rivers and lakes is so resistant to degradation.

Flags are waving outside at Campus Valla.

Experienced and driven manager and leader – LiU’s new University Director

Anna Thörn is to be the new University Director at LiU. She is currently regional administrative director of Region Dalarna and has previously held several management positions in Östergötland, including as municipal director in Norrköping.

Walpurgis tradition turns 50

The Walpurgis celebration will, as is customary, include songs and speeches to spring and donning of caps with the Linköping University Male Voice Choir in Borggården outside Linköping Castle. This year, the tradition celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Man framing an illustration of a heart with his hands.

“I want to learn as much as possible about how the body works.”

Tino Ebbers receives the 2024 Onkel Adam Prize for his outstanding research at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at LiU. His research is at the intersection of medicine and technology and focuses on diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Two champions for children become honorary doctors

Indian principal Seetha Murty has worked with children’s and young people’s learning throughout her professional life. American professor Cindy W. Christian has devoted her career to developing the care of abused children.

A single atom layer of gold – LiU researchers create goldene

For the first time, scientists have managed to create sheets of gold only a single atom layer thick. According to the researchers from LiU this has given the gold new properties that can make it suitable for use in various applications.

Researcher (Xenofon Strakosas) by a microscope.

Ten million donation for research position in electronic medicine

The Stig Wadström Foundation is donating around SEK ten million to LiU, to fund a research position in electronic medicine. The researcher chosen for this position is Xenophon Strakosas at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics in Norrköping.

Head shot of a smiling man wearing glasses and a blue shirt

Developing artificial intelligence that benefits society

How can artificial intelligence improve, for example, health care and local and national public transport? A research group at LiU is working to develop AI for the benefit of society.

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson new president of ECIU

Linköping University’s Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson has been appointed new president of the European network for innovative universities in Europe, ECIU.

Breakthrough for next-generation digital displays

Researchers at LiU have developed a digital display screen where the LEDs themselves react to touch, light, fingerprints and the user’s pulse, among other things. Their results could be the start of a whole new generation of digital displays.

Autism and ADHD are linked to disturbed gut flora very early in life

Disturbed gut flora during the first years of life is associated with diagnoses such as autism and ADHD later in life. This is according to a study led by researchers at the University of Florida and LiU and published in the journal Cell.

Passionate about teaching – now she receives largest teacher award

Helen Winzell grew up in a home where both parents were teachers. To follow in their footsteps was not on her agenda – until the day she substituted for her mother. Passionate about teaching since then, she now receives Ingemars Lärarpris.

Digitalisation challenges the Swedish social model

Municipalities and other authorities are increasingly required to digitalise. What are the implications for how we build a digital society for all? These are questions that a new interdisciplinary research environment at LiU will look at.

Two new Wallenberg Scholars at LiU

Researchers Feng Gao and Daniel Västfjäll at LiU have been appointed as new Wallenberg Scholars. In addition, six LiU researchers will have their scholar periods extended. Each researcher receives between SEK 18 and 20 million for five years.

Objective: finding creative solutions to real problems

ECIU University, the virtual university, is celebrating its fifth birthday. In the university, LiU students have the opportunity to work in international and multidisciplinary groups with the objective of finding creative solutions to real problems.

Collaboration on teacher shortages in rural Norrland

Rural northern municipalities suffer from a major shortage of qualified teachers. But from the autumn, LiU will be offering single-subject courses remotely at local learning centres aimed at people who are thinking about a teaching career.

New perspectives on the Crusades

In the book Tempelherreorden (“The Knights Templar”), church historian Kjell O Lejon has summarised his research on the period of the Crusades. He believes the book is important for understanding contemporary world-wide conflicts.

Photo illustrating the app that analyses a birth mark.

AI-based app can help physicians find skin melanoma

A mobile app that uses AI to analyse images of suspected skin lesions can diagnose melanoma with very high precision. This is shown in a study led from Linköping University where the app has been tested in primary care.

Lasse – the teacher who is always seeking to improve

He came to Linköping as a student in the early 1980s. Some 40 years later, Lasse Alfredsson is still at LiU. A teacher with a drive to constantly seek to improve remains. And his reward, students’ Aha! moments, is hard to beat.

Optimizing of snow removal in cities

Researchers at the Mathematics Department of Linköping University have developed a mathematical model on how snow removal can be optimized in Swedish cities.

He put his studies on hold to set up a chain of unmanned food shops

Edvin Johansson put his studies on the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management programme on hold to set up AutoMat, a chain of unmanned food shops. Now he is back on campus with his largest shop so far.

Person (Jie Zhou) point at a computer screen.

A new world of 2D material is opening up

Materials that are incredibly thin exhibit unique properties that make them appealing for energy storage, catalysis and water purification. LiU-researchers have developed a method that enables the synthesis of hundreds of new 2D materials.

Liqourice in a bowl with liquorice roots next to it.

Small amounts of liquorice raise blood pressure

It is known that large amounts of liquorice cause high blood pressure. A study from LiU now shows that even small amounts of liquorice raise blood pressure. The individuals who react most strongly also show signs of strain on the heart.

He guides his students to top jobs

LiU students are doing well in the Swedish CFA Research Challenge. Year after year, victory goes to Linköping University. Winning the competition is a shortcut to top jobs with major banks and accounting firms. What is the secret to this success?

With pain as a driving force – from refugee to professor

After a childhood marked by displacement, Bijar Ghafouri came to a place where she could stay. “In Sweden I got the opportunity to study what I wanted. Age or gender didn’t matter,” she says. Today, she is a professor researching long-term pain.

International master’s students meet to discuss children’s issues

On the Master's Programme in Child Studies, students from different parts of the world participate remotely. During an intensive week on campus, they gather to exchange experiences and strengthen their sense of community.

Jonathan Josefsson och Branka Likic-Brboric at the conference GFMD.

The signs that reveal migration policies

Who has access to the meeting rooms? Who leaves when others enter? Who is talking to whom? This may reveal how the winds are blowing in migration policy at an international summit. And researchers from LiU are moving in the crowd to observe.

Person with glasses looks at a computerscreen.

The academic sleuth – facing death threats and ingratitude

Lonni Besançon devotes evenings and weekends to rarely appreciated sanitation work. By exposing shortcomings in scientific articles, he has made a lot of enemies. It has gone so far that death threats have become commonplace for him.

Possibilities for change

Alumni of the Year to be honoured in Linköping

Read more about the award

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