Seeking cures for inflamed intestines 

Reception activities for new students, autumn 2021

The reception period should be an experience for new students to treasure for the rest of their lives. This year’s reception will be affected by the pandemic, but the situation is sufficiently under control to plan for class-based physical meetings.

Researchers to gain access to high-quality modern labs

Researchers in biomedicine and biotechnology have now completely new opportunities for access to specialised equipment at some of the best facilities. LiU is one of the 13 nodes in MOSBRI, a European research infrastructure for molecular biophysics.

Large-scale manufacture of electronic paper

A team that includes researchers from LiU has developed an electronic paper that can be manufactured on an industrial scale. Long-term uses of the paper include the construction of thin batteries and supercapacitors.

MXenes – the future of nanotechnology

Artificial kidneys, powerful batteries and efficient water purification are some of the future applications of a group of ultrathin materials known as MXenes.

New material can increase boiler efficiency

Detective work in the laboratory and sitting at a scanning electron microscope have increased our knowledge of stainless steel. The results may lead to new materials to the boilers of power plants with higher efficiency and lower emissions.

12,000 scientific articles a year – can they all be wrong?

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is often used to determine the chemical composition of materials. It is accepted as a standard method in materials science. Researchers at LiU, however, have shown that the method is often used erroneously.

Virtual pupils make for more confident teachers

Teacher training students who practised teaching virtual pupils developed greater confidence in their teaching ability, according to a study from LiU. In the long term, simulation can make the students better prepared for their workforce debut.

Distance and timing are factors insegregation

How does segregation arise? When does it arise? A thesis shows that the timing, geographical vicinity and the influence of others are all significant when areas become segregated. The size of the areas also affects the result.

Vice-chancellor given leading role in European consortium

LiU’s vice-chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson has been selected as a member of the presidium of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), a network of 13 research-intense universities.

New tools to investigate abnormal blood flow

  Images of a patient’s aorta, eight years of research and LiU’s supercomputer – this combination lies behind new tools to visualise blood flow in abnormal blood vessels. They may improve our ability to predict serious diseases.

Friendship paved the way for their careers​

​Tomas Forsyth Rosin is a developer at Spotify; Emil Axelsson​has similar duties at Apple. They became inseparable friends while studying Media Technology and Engineering, an MSc programme at LiU.​

SEK 15 million for research into Covid-19 vaccination

A research project coordinated by LiU has been awarded more than SEK 15 million by the Swedish Research Council to evaluate vaccination against Covid-19.

Fewer injuries increases probability of success in football

The campaign for football glory in EURO 2020 has started. “Keeping your players healthy increases your chances of success”, says Martin Hägglund, who works with elite football players and their injuries.

New knowledge can contribute to healthier tap water

Some of the substances used to purify water can affect our health. A thesis presented at LiU illuminates the role played by a relatively unknown group of disinfection by-products in the treatment process and how they can reach the taps in our homes.

Brazil: More than samba dancing  

Brazil is more than samba dancing, football and sun-drenched beaches – and it’s more than rain forests and a controversial president. It’s also a country with important research and many talented scientists. Just ask Petter Krus.

Using cost analysis to bring circularity 

Life-cycle cost analysis is a powerful tool to make companies more resource-efficient and enable them to adopt new business models. There are, however, several factors that hinder its use. “Money talks”, says the researcher.

He studies how to treat loneliness – with online therapy

Some 5% of the Swedish population report that they feel alone – often or always. Doctoral student and LiU graduate Anton Käll is studying methods used in internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for helping people with loneliness.  

LiU climbs in global ranking

Linköping University has taken a major step upwards on a newly published global ranking list. The QS World University Rankings put LiU at place 329 among global universities – 33 places higher than last year.

New light on making two-dimensional polymers

Researchers from Linköping University, among others, has developed a method to manufacture two-dimensional polymers with the thickness of a single molecule. The discovery paves the way to new ultrathin and functional materials.

Better results when AI and humans collaborate

Artificial intelligence that doesn’t take into account human operators creates problems. Now LiU researchers are building a system where AI and humans work together to control air traffic. 

She works to reduce carbon dioxide emissions

Emily Rodriguez came to Linköping from the US in 2011. She earned a master’s in environmental science and left to work in Rome, New York and Brussels before returning to LiU. She’s back here now, working on her doctoral thesis.

A drug from resin to combat epileptic seizures

New molecules, developed by researchers at Linköping University, have promising properties as possible drugs against epilepsy. A study published in the journal Epilepsia shows that several of the molecules have antiseizure effects.

Ethical issues emerge when Holocaust stories are digitalised

Digitalisation is sweeping across Europe. The political ambitions are high, and  accessibility and democratisation are keywords. But when it's time to digitalise the cultural heritage of Sweden, ethical issues emerge.

A translated book is not the same as the original

When Lars Liljegren started to study English translations of works by Swedish author August Strindberg, he discovered that some had been given a completely new guise.

New ultrathin material created under extreme pressure

An international research team with members from Linköping University has discovered a new material with a thickness of a single layer of atoms. The properties of the material, beryllonitrene, are similar to those of graphene. 

Coronavirus spurred research across disciplines

As the corona pandemic swept across the world, virologists and protein chemists rapidly joined forces and started to collaborate. Together they were able to develop ways to test the immune response after infection, and help the healthcare system.

App helps pregnant women to a healthy lifestyle

Researchers have developed and evaluated an app that helps women achieve a healthy weight gain during a pregnancy. Using the app contributed to a better diet. Pregnant women with overweight or obesity who received the app also gained less weight.

Student exchange in Portugal during pandemic 

Exchange studies in the middle of the pandemic – what is that like? For Niklas Sundell and Jonathan Olsson the spring term in Portugal was a gamble – that paid off. 

Vulnerable payment systems: when the customers can’t pay

What would happen if it was suddenly not possible to pay with a credit or debit card? As part of a research project, county administrators, politicians, and stores have played a simulation game, to help them prepare for handling an emergency.

Technology to stop poaching

The black market in rhinoceros horn is worth billions of dollars, and poaching is driving the species towards extinction. However, the drive against poaching is now to be given new impetus with the aid of the most recent technology. 

May I have your uterus?

Progress is being made in research into uterus transplantation.  But to receive a transplanted uterus, it’s necessary to find a donor yourself, and recent research at LiU shows that this can create challenges. 

One-sided image of older people in social media

Healthy and  social. This is the image given of older people in the social media from a Swedish municipality. It is a relatively one-sided image and it may reinforce stereotypes, according to a doctoral thesis presented by Wenqian Xu.

Solving a double murder arouses international interest

The use of DNA-based genealogy to solve a double murder opens new possibilities in crime investigation. LiU researchers are spreading new knowledge about the technology, which brings hope to police forces and has aroused major international interest.

How to energy renovate older residential buildings 

A new strategy for the energy renovation of older residential buildings would open opportunities to save energy and money, while reducing impact on the climate. The current guidelines do not take enough consideration of the type of house. 

Per Jensen is awarded the NSS school collaboration prize

Per Jensen, professor of ethology, is the first to receive a newly established prize at the Faculty of Engineering, Linköping University: NSS School Collaboration Prize. 

Pandemic models were inaccurate, but helped understanding

Several models of Covid-19 have been developed to predict the development of the pandemic in Sweden. A new report shows that the models helped us to understand the development of the pandemic, but at the same time it illuminates some deficiencies.

Diabetes vaccine gives promising results in a genetic subgroup

A clinical study has investigated whether immunotherapy against type 1 diabetes can preserve the body’s own production of insulin. The results suggest that injection of a protein, GAD, into lymph nodes can be effective in a subgroup of individuals.

New initiative to study how knowledge circulates through society

The nature of knowledge, and how it is created, spread, and regulated are highly topical issues that will be researched at a hub being established at Linköping University. 

LiU research on IVA’s 100 List

With its focus on crisis preparedness and on society’s ability to manage these, the research programmes are assessed as having great potential to benefit society.

Research results challenge a decades-old mechanism of how we hear sounds

Researchers have made several discoveries on the functioning mechanisms of the inner hair cells of the ear, which convert sounds into nerve signals. The results challenge the current picture of the hearing organ, which has prevailed for decades.

Long-term stress in dogs linked to the owner-dog relationship

The relationship a dog has with its owner is related to its stress level. This is the conclusion of a newly published study from LiU. The results also suggest that the link between stress and the owner’s personality traits differs between dog breeds.

SEK 9 million for research into a sustainable energy megagame

Researchers at LiU, among others, have been awarded SEK 9 million from the Swedish Energy Agency for an interdisciplinary research project to develop a megagame intended to contribute to the development of future sustainable energy systems.

Full range of vaccine methods against coronavirus

Less than a year after the new coronavirus had been discovered, the first vaccines were ready for use, developed in record time. How do the corona vaccines differ from vaccines against influenza? And what happens when the virus mutates?

Keeping Baljan warm – even while closed

Teaching by remote methods and student life on hold, right? Well, two students from the two cafés run by the student sections, Baljan and Byttan, describe how they maintain commitment and enthusiasm even in the days of the pandemic.  

New conductive polymer ink opens for next-generation printed electronics

Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have developed a stable high-conductivity polymer ink. The advance paves the way for innovative printed electronics with high energy efficiency. The results have been published in Nature Communications.

50-year-old aims to foster democracy

The Folk High School Teacher Programme at Linköping University has turned fifty. But its aim of strengthening and developing democracy is just as relevant as when it started – if not more.

How networks reduce gender segregation

The social science literature has long viewed homophily and network-based job recruitments as crucial drivers of segregation, but researchers at Linköping University and ESADE, Ramon Llull University show that this view must be revised.

An ion pump to deliver chemotherapy agents to the brain

Despite surgery and subsequent treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, the majority of patients experience recurrence of malignant brain tumours. Researchers at LiU have shown that an ion pump can be used to treat brain cancer.

Biogas from excrement to reduce environmental impact

Researchers at LiU have shown that coordinated management of excrement from animals and humans could save nearly EUR 100 million each year. The key is to produce the biogas from the excrement before it is used as fertiliser.

A generous man ahead of his time

A man ahead of his time who made important contributions to computer science and who was ever willing to share his knowledge. The description is that of Harold “Bud” Lawson, founder of a scholarship at Linköping University.

Industrial design – between creativity and efficiency

Good design requires balance. It must be new, but not too deviant, while at the same time satisfying considerations of economy, function and market needs. It must also be easy to use for new products and easy to adapt to future needs. 

A breakthrough that enables practical semiconductor spintronics

Future quantum computers might use electron spin to process information. Researchers have now constructed a component in which information can be efficiently exchanged between electron spin and light – at room temperature and above.

The cost of a uterine transplantation

Sweden’s acclaimed research on uterine transplants has taken a new step forward – into the field of health economics. Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy and LiU have for the first time estimated on a scientific basis the cost of the treatment.

Creative collaboration with human rights organisation

LiU Innovation and the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders have been working together for two years on new innovation processes. LiU students have played a central role in the work.

Two projects receive grants from Horizon 2020

LiU has been awarded two EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships for international postdocs. The projects will look at soft microrobots and how cancer spreads to the bones.

Sweden’s fastest supercomputer for AI now online

Berzelius is now Sweden’s fastest supercomputer for AI and machine learning, and has been installed at NSC at LiU. A donation of EUR 29.5 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation has made the construction possible.

New material promising for making renewable energy from water

One prospective source of renewable energy is hydrogen gas produced from water with the aid of sunlight. LiU researchers have developed a material that exhibits promising properties to capture solar energy and split water for hydrogen gas production.

Schools play an important role in revealing violence in the home

The government wants to define forcing children to witness intimate partner violence as a crime. A new book published by two LiU researchers discusses the responsibility of preschools and schools when children experience violence in the home.

Research to combat designer drugs

Researchers are involved in the campaign to make designer drugs illegal as quickly as possible. Henrik Gréen investigates how new psychoactive substances act, and why some designer drugs are more lethal than others.

A boost for interdisciplinary science turns 25

Some 200 doctoral students and 50 postdocs have attended the graduate school / network Forium Scientium positioned at the intersection of medicine, technology and science. For 25 years, Forum has gained momentum and maintained its relevance.

Tidy up: Feel better

During the corona pandemic, we have had to get used to spending a lot of time within the four walls of home. But do we feel comfortable in our homes? Social worker and LiU alumna Clara Johansson changed her life in midstream and became tidying coach.

Major new project for AI in digital pathology

The Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization participates in a major European collaboration for artificial intelligence in digital pathology. The project has received financing from the Innovative Medicines Initiative under Horizon 2020.

Foreign-born run greater risk of workplace bullying

The risk of being bullied at work is twice as high if you were born abroad. And if you come from a culture that is culturally dissimilar to Sweden’s, the risk is even higher. These are the results of a study from LiU.

Interview with vice-chancellor: Reduced travel can be effect of pandemic

LiU’s vice-chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson sees many effects of the corona crisis. A reduction in travel might be a permanent one.

Clean fuels not always so green

A vehicle with zero emissions can  have a large impact on the environment when the complete life cycle is considered. A study shows the significance of electricity production for the emission of greenhouse gases from fuels. 

Technical Oscar for film industry improvements

Swedish company ftrack, with the three LiU alumni Fredrik Limsäter, Björn Rydahl and Mattias Lagergren at its head, has been awarded a scientific and technical Oscar for its project management system – a tool to improve the film industry.

Probiotics increase gut bacteria diversity in extremely preterm infants

Extremely preterm infants can suffer from a life-threatening inflammation of the gut. A new study has shown that supplements of a lactic acid bacterium may have positive effects by increasing the diversity of intestinal bacteria in these infants.

Student Health is there for the students – even in distance mode

Student Health meets students who, for instance, feel isolated and have problems with motivation. The questions haven’t changed but the problems are increasingly corona-related.

The mystery of the missing energy – solved

The efficiency of solar cells can be increased by exploiting a phenomenon known as singlet fission. A research group led by scientists at Linköping University has discovered what happens during singlet fission and where the lost energy goes.

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The corona-year that changed LiU

A year after the outbreak of Covid-19, LiU’s co-workers and students can look back at a rapid realignment to distance mode. Time to reflect over what has happened since March 2020.

AI creates texts for people with reading difficulties

The aim of the TextAD research project at Linköping University is to better understand different types of reading difficulty. This knowledge can then be used to develop digital tools that automatically adapt texts to the needs of readers.

Practical tasks and closemonitoring improve engineering education

The use of physical items in teaching and digital monitoring of student performance are two ways to improve engineering education. Studies must change to keep pace with changes in the industry. These are conclusions of a new thesis.

Robots aid in remanufacturing

Remanufacturing is a way to preserve the value of products that have already been manufactured. Researchers at Linköping University, LiU, have shown the potential of automation in repair and remanufacturing. 

Men obstructed from entering female-dominated occupations

Job applications from men are disfavoured when they apply for work in female-dominated occupations. Reaching the interview stage was most difficult for men applying for jobs as cleaners. 

Doctoral students a vulnerable group during pandemic

Reduced productivity, social isolation and anxiety about one’s career. Many doctoral students are suffering during the pandemic. The result, from a study conducted at LiU, is in line with experiences from other universities.

Aeronautical engineering of the future

The control systems in aircraft have been essentially unchanged for over 50 years. Now, however, the future of aeronautical engineering is taking shape at LiU. Researchers here are using an “iron bird” from Saab, equipped with the latest technology.

A rude robot designed by students

A group of LiU students has built a prototype of a robot intended to help visitors to the Östergötland Museum. The students gave it one friendly personality and one slightly unpleasant one.

Children who became researchers – their stories in a new book

The children’s book “Forskardrömmar” (“Dreams of Research”) opens the door to the university and tells the stories of children who became professional researchers. Two researchers from LiU describe their childhood and how they ended up as researchers

Return trips of adopted children fill a need for the adoptive parents as well

It used to be common that adopted children made return trips to their birth countries. Today such trips are made where the entire family travels. A doctoral thesis has studied return trips and found that in many ways the focus is also on the parents.

IT support helps volunteersincrease security

Citizen responders can make a big difference to increase security and safety in sparsely populated areas. Also, the initiative has positive side effects. But there are major challenges, not least with respect to IT support for the volunteers. 

Big increase in exam cheating

During 2020, the pandemic year, the number of students found guilty of cheating almost doubled – from 149 in 2019 to 292 in 2020.

Let´s celebrate Forum Scientium!

In the year of 1996 Forum Scientium was founded. That we would like to celebrate during 2021. On this web page we will publish news, events and interviews with Forum members from then and now.

Health survey conveys messages on how we should live

The questions in a health survey aimed at young people raise issues of status and convey norms about what people should own and how they should be. This is according to a study from Linköping University.

Biosensors monitor plant well-being in real time

Researchers at LiU have developed biosensors that make it possible to monitor sugar levels in real time deep in the plant tissues. The information from the sensors may help agriculture to adapt production as the world faces climate change.

Good supply of student housing

The supply of student housing is unusually good, both in Linköping and Norrköping. One reason is the pandemic, which has led to far fewer international students coming to Linköping University.

Long-term stress linked to increased risk of heart attack

Can stress lead to heart attacks? Most people would probably answer in the affirmative, but the scientific evidence of this is scarce. A new study, measuring a stress hormone in hair, suggests that long-term stress is a risk factor for heart attacks.

Malmstens mirrors contrasts in central Stockholm

A rare thing these days: a physical indoor event that is actually being held! The final-year students at Malmstens Linköping University have packed up their best work and taken it from the quiet Lidingö campus to Sergels torg in central Stockholm.

Possible models for a sustainable economy

What are the factors that influence the introduction of a circular economy? How would such a conversion affect the environment and business? And how can you make such predictions – is it even possible? These questions are the focus of a new thesis.

SEK 12 million for research into serious eye disease

Neil Lagali coordinates a research project that has received SEK 12.5 million from the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases. The researchers will evaluate experimental treatments for a rare eye disease that affects sight directly from birth.

Design for a more sustainable lifestyle

His own experiences growingup in Wuhan in China and case studies of astronauts and exchange students formthe basis of Chu Wanjun’s doctoral thesis. The central question: how can designbest make it easier for people to live in a sustainable manner?

Accurate drug dosages with proton traps

Researchers at LiU have developed a proton trap that makes organic electronic ion pumps more precise when delivering drugs. In the long term, the ion pumps may help patients with symptoms of neurological diseases.

LiU student gets important child rights appointment

LiU student Rita Riadh-Issa, 23 years old, is a new board member for theWorld’s Children’s Prize Foundation, which manages the world’s largest educational programme for children’s rights and democracy. 

DNA networks in research into autoimmune renal diseases

Daniel Appelgren is investigating a type of renal disease in which the immune system attacks and damages the kidneys. He has been awarded a grant of SEK 1.25 million from the Ingrid Asp Foundation to carry out renal research at LiU.

From LiU-research to LEAD-business

Many researchers and students have ideas that can grow into companies of benefit to society.But how do you determine whether an idea is good?A tip from the business incubator LEAD is to dare to talk about it early, and to assess interest.

Immune cells are behind the depression experienced in inflammation

The findings from a new study on mice suggest that special immune cells found in the brain, microglial cells, contribute to the negative mood experienced during several neurological diseases, and maybe also depression.

Successful mentoring project brings hope

Lower secondary school pupils with better grades, a prouder gaze, and enhanced self-confidence. These are the results of the LuMiNk academy. LuMiNk has been underway in Norrköping for almost six years, and plans to make it available to more pupils.