The LiU year in review

From LiU to Google

"Digital marketing and business. Those things you can learn. But the soft values ... quickly understanding the culture of the team, the country, and the specific market. SMIO at Linköping University provided this”, says the alumna Elena Shabrova.

We move with the times and listen to our alumni

The SMIO Master’s Programme has established itself as an international strategy and management programme. Alumni from across the globe attended its recent 15th anniversary jubilee.

When technology exists but humans hesitate

Electric trucks are the future, don’t you agree? And yet there are so few of them on our roads and in our cities, while goods transports keep increasing. LiU’s researchers are trying to find out why.

Climate change affects greenhouse gas emissions from stream networks

Natural greenhouse gas emissions from streams and lakes are strongly linked to water discharge and temperature. This knowledge is necessary to assess how man-made climate change is altering greenhouse emissions from natural landscapes.

Portrait of a woman standing by a window looking into the camera.

The new Tage Danielsson professor is a researcher, poet and artist

She is a cultural theorist with an interest in philosophy, politics, media theory and art. In addition to this, she is also a writer and an artist. Keti Chukhrov is the new holder of Linköping University’s Tage Danielsson visiting professorship.

Woman standing on a ladder by a bookshelf reading a book.

Among noble ladies, literature and politics

What did ladies of the nobility read, and how did they read? Were they active readers who discussed books, and did literature enter their salons to become part of political discussions? Johanna Vernqvist, PhD in literature, takes an interest in this.

The sun and a thermometer showing high temperatures.

Risky climate measures studied in new research project

The climate crisis has led some experts to argue that more risky measures now have to be investigated. But how do the scientists involved reason when it comes to uncertainty? This is the subject of a new research project at Linköping University.

“A small step for research but a giant leap for utility”

Artificial intelligence is on many people’s lips thanks to Chat GPT. But is the new technology a threat or an opportunity? Or is it both? AI researcher Fredrik Heintz sees great opportunities but also challenges.

AI-generated image of robots in a classroom.

The AI-shortcut requires re-thinking of examination

Changes are ahead when it comes to testing students’ knowledge. The arrival of Chat GPT challenges both the university’s teachers and its disciplinary board.

Estrogen possible risk factor in disturbed heart rhythm

The sex hormone estrogen has a negative impact on heartbeat regulation, according to an experimental study from LiU. Estrogen impact seems to interact with hereditary changes causing a heart disease disturbing the heart’s rhythm.

A person points at something in the forest.

The forest – an eye-opener on sustainability for students

The interest in biological resources and sustainability is increasing on the programme in Industrial Engineering and Management. In one course, the students work for a fictitious company that wants to invest in more sustainable forestry.

Person in starting blocks on running track.

Fewer sports injuries with digital information

The number of injuries in youth athletics is significantly reduced when coaches and parents have access to digital information on adolescent growth. It also takes twice as long for the first injury to occur.

Magnifying glass magnifying the word corruption.

The extent of corruption in Sweden may be underestimated

There is a risk that individuals may benefit from having relatives in important posts in the public sector. This is shown in a doctoral thesis at Linköping University that investigates corruption in a mature democracy. The conclusion is that nepotism

Blood sampling in clinical setting from finger.

C-reactive protein reduces immune response in inflammatory disease

The biological function of the C-reactive protein, CRP, has long been unknown. Researchers now show that this protein has a beneficial function in SLE, an inflammatory disease. But this is true only for one of CRP’s two forms, according to the study.

Viveka Adelswärd donates millions for doctoral students

Viveka Adelswärd’s SEK four million donation to Linköping University is inspired by her own experiences as a doctoral student. Her aim is to recreate, on a small scale, the environment and atmosphere she was part of.

Students showing happiness after winning competition.

LiUstudents to compete in Brazil

Imagine spending a week in Brazil. Sun, beaches – and a global truck manufacturer wanting you to solve a logistics and sustainability-related problem. This is roughly what the spring semester will look like for two LiU students.

Post-COVID syndrome visible in DNA

A reprogramming of which genes are active, and which are not, is visible in post-COVID sufferers. In a study on a small group of individuals, genes associated with taste and smell, as well as cell metabolism, were affected.

Translucent droplet on an electronic circiut.

Electrodes grown in the brain

The boundaries between biology and technology are becoming blurred. Researchers at Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body’s molecules as triggers.

Gunnar Cedersund in front of image illustrating the model of different organs.

Digital twins to be tested in health care environments – LiU leads the EU project

Digital twins will now be tested in real health care environments, in an EU-financed project. The idea is that having a digital copy will make you follow advice from the health care better.

New research project for safe sport environments

How widespread are the problems of harassment, abuse and the culture of silence in Swedish sports? The answer is that nobody knows. A new research project at LiU aims to find out and come up with concrete measures to counter these problems.

Mattias Ekstedt, Nils Dahlström, Peter Lundberg, Bengt Norén and Patrik Nasr.

Adverse muscle composition linked to risk in fatty liver disease

Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to an increasing number of people developing fatty liver disease. According to a new study, poor muscle health may be a marker of risk for developing sequelae.

Magnus Berggren is awarded a medal by Norrköping Municipality

Norrköping Municipality’s honorary medal Honoris Causa, the St. Olof’s medal, has been awarded to professor Magnus Berggren. He is hoping for continued success at LiU but can also see clouds on the horizon.

A spirometer is used to measure the respiratory functions of the dolphins. It gives the researchers at Kolmården data used to diagnose health issues and how the lungs perform in a dive. - If we understand their physiological capacity, we can understand better how climate changes will affect their capability to find food, says Andreas Fahlman.

Kolmården hosts students in Zoo biology course

The International Master's Programme in Applied Ethology and Animal Biology was welcomed by Kolmården in the course Zoo biology. Students spent four weeks with the researchers to learn how research on zoo-animals is performed and why.

Man in office with hand behind his head.

Extreme earners are not extremely smart

People with higher incomes also score higher on IQ-tests – up to a point. At high incomes the relationship plateaus and the top 1% score even slightly lower on the test than those whose incomes rank right below them, shows a new study from LiU.

Two men wearing white lab coats in a lab.

AI helps researchers understand the machinery of cells

Breaking the code to understand why a protein takes on a specific shape has long been one of the major challenges in biology. A couple of years ago AI led to a breakthrough in this field. Björn Wallner’s research unites AI and bioinformatics.

Deforestation in the shape of a human fingerprint

SEK 39 million for graduate school on just climate transition

The Just Transitions graduate school, which focuses on management and organisation for a just climate transition, has been granted SEK 39 millions over five years by Formas, the government research council for sustainable development.

A person next to a computer with a painting by Hilma af Klint.

Sonification for a stronger art experience

In the 'Sound of Art' project, famous Nordic works of art have been enhanced with new music by different artists. The music was created after LiU researcher Niklas Rönnberg decoded the works of art through musical sonification.

LiU collaborates with the University of California in osteoporosis study

The fact that a common drug against osteoporosis can also cause bone fractures created major concern following a study at Linköping University. LiU will now lead the Swedish part of an international project to gain more knowledge about this.

A person stands outside watching into the camera.

Liu alumnus new leader of the Centre Party

Muharrem Demirok, an alumnus of Linköping University, has been elected as the new leader of the Swedish Centre Party.

Researcher photographed through an aluminum tube.

Passive radiative cooling can be controlled electrically

Researchers at LiU have now shown that electrical tuning of passive radiative cooling can be used to control temperatures of a material at ambient temperatures and air pressure. The results have been published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

Four materials scientists at LiU share SEK 80 million

Materials research is a strength of Linköping University. This is shown not least by the outcome of the European Research Council's calls, which this round resulted in four grants totalling around SEK 80 million.

Scholarships were key for his research visits

PhD- student Anton Zubayer dreamt of traveling to neutron facilities all over the world. He started to apply for scholarships and can now realize his dream. He was awarded three grants in 2022.

Benefits of big city life – only for the elite

In a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers at Linköping University show that the higher-than-expected outputs of larger cities critically depend on the extreme outcomes of the successful few.

Schools’ intake segregates students

Various intake rules for upper secondary schools affect segregation among students. The effect is less than from other factors, but still clear. This is the conclusion of a new study written by researchers at Linköping University.

The supercomputer Berzelius photographed with fisheye lens.

Swedish AI research gets more muscle

The supercomputer Berzelius was inaugurated in the spring of 2021, and was then Sweden's fastest supercomputer for AI. Yet, more power is needed to meet the needs of Swedish AI research.

Female researcher studies a cell plate in a laboratory.

Long-term effects on the immune system following COVID-19

The more severe the COVID-19 infection, the slower the recovery of immune cells which are necessary for the activation of the immune system. Six months after severe COVID-19, a negative impact on several types of immune cells can still be seen.

Researcher at a archeological excavation site.

Climate change and the rise and fall of civilisations

Pronounced climate fluctuations and changed conditions for agriculture coincided with the rise and fall of the Persian Empires, according to an international study. The study highlights the vulnerability of human societies to fluctuating climate.

Peter Nilsson’s molecules shine a light on Alzheimer’s research

“Even though I’m a professor now, I still spend a lot of time in the lab, as I know that when I’m working hands on, that’s when I get the new ideas,” says Peter Nilsson. He develops tracer molecules that are used in research into Alzheimer’s disease.

Man in coverall labb gear hold translucent disc infront of face.

Artificial nerve cells – almost like biological

Researchers at LiU have created an artificial organic neuron that closely mimics the characteristics of biological nerve cells. This artificial neuron can stimulate natural nerves, making it a promising technology for future medical treatments.

LiU shares digital knowledge with teachers from Ukraine

The use of digital tools is crucial to the Ukrainian universities during the current war. This according to Tetiana Kuvaieva, who teaches at Dnipro University in Ukraine and participated in a network conference at LiU within the EMDIAC project.

The LiU doctoral student behind a hit game

LiU doctoral student Fredrik Präntare is the architect of the company Pugstorm, which is achieving global success with the game Core Keeper. "Even back when I was studying for my Master of Science degree, I spent every free hour on my own projects,".

Higher mortality rates linked to hospital bed shortages

The number of hospital beds is linked to mortality rates, according to a Linköping University study. Researchers estimate that reducing the number of hospital beds by three corresponds to approximately one more death per year.

The birth of an invention at LiU: “Something magical happened”

He came to LiU with a dream of revolutionising the textile industry. During his economics studies, Sam Issa met up with LiU researchers and their collaboration resulted in an invention – a smart thread that enables garments to change size.

LiU’s welded stoves bring warmth to Ukraine

War, freezing temperatures and a shattered power grid – Christmas in Ukraine will be an ordeal for many people. Stoves welded together by LiU students in the M workshop will provide light in the darkness and bring vital warmth.

Anton Källström sketching at a whiteboard.

Professional project pitchers

It is different, fun, productive and profitable! This is how some students describe inGenious - a creative and interdisciplinary course at Linköping University. The students work in projects trying to find a business idea to solve an existing issue.

18 million from Wallenberg Foundation for LiU research

Three researchers at LiU receive a total of SEK 18.4 million from the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation for three research projects. All are four-year projects that concern different aspects of the progress towards a sustainable society.

Adel Daoud charts the poverty in Africa

Can it be true: a researcher specialising in poverty elected to the Young Academy of Sweden? What about a social scientist who is also an expert in computer science, straddling the boundary between scientific disciplines? Why not? Meet Adel Daoud.

“It’s the best way to tell a story”

His fascination with comics has followed LiU researcher Robert Aman since he was five years old. He was recently awarded the Adamson Diploma by Svenska serieakademin, which emphasised in the citation Aman’s book as a classic in the making.

Bringing hybrid AI forward together

Recently researchers from all over the world gathered at LiU to network through seminars, organised activities and informal day-to-day interaction. All with the aim to collaborate and find new ways to conduct research in a huge area – hybrid AI.

Yellow quadruped drops first aid kit infront of injured person.

Collaboration the key to realising the potential of AI

In the near future, it is probable that autonomous drones and quadruped robots will perform rescue operations. But we are currently far from achieving full autonomy. Consequently, well-functioning collaboration between human and machine is crucial.

people trying out a virtual reality headset.

Kajsa Igelström wants to study autism using VR

Many people with autism or ADHD find that sensory input and motor skills are problematical in their everyday life. Researcher Kajsa Igelström wants to understand why.

Saving forests with AI

Attacks by beetles destroy huge areas of forest every year, costing several billion Swedish crowns. LiU alumnus Markus Drugge wants to do something about this. His company, Arboair, uses AI-driven image analysis to improve sustainability in forestry.

“What exactly do we mean by sustainable development?”

Politicians are unanimous that society must develop in a sustainable manner. But what does this mean? If we are to achieve sustainable development, we must discuss the concept itself.

LiU to coordinate EU project on click chemistry for cancer therapy

Small implanted ion pumps combined with click chemistry may provide a new type of cancer treatment. This is the objective of the EU’s bioSWITCH project, coordinated by Linköping University with a budget of SEK 43 million for three years.

COVID-19 reactivates several latent viruses – particularly in ME patients

COVID-19 reactivated viruses that had become latent in cells following previous infections, particularly in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. The results adds to our knowledge of the causes of the disease and prospects of reaching a diagnosis.

New technology to secure future harvests

Wars, natural disasters and climate change bring huge challenges for the agriculture industry, which must at the same time provide food for a growing population. Future high-technology solutions can increase food production in a sustainable manner.

Meet Akshay, student at Statistics and Machine Learning

Master's student awarded for research on traffic flow patterns

Akshay Gurudath receives the Christer Gilén Scholarship for his degree project in statistics and machine learning. In his thesis, Akshay presents and compares models he has built to predict positions of pedestrians, cyclists, and autonomous vehicles.

She took on the challenge of creating climate-neutral campuses

How can university campuses become climate-neutral? Students came together to address this question in the first ECIU Strategic Challenge. One of them was Juliane Maria Kraskes from the master’s programme Science for Sustainable Development.

Two women gives presentation in classroom.

Master’s thesis on ecodesign awarded prize

A thesis that deals with eco-friendly products and environmentally sensitive product development by Alice Landin and Angelica Reyes has been awarded one of two Christer Gilén scholarships for 2022. “It’s a wonderful surprise,” say the winners.

LiU doctoral student awarded Gunnar Engström Scholarship

Giacomo Carraro, doctoral student at LiU, has been awarded the ABB Gunnar Engström Scholarship for his research into improving the production of biogas. The scholarship has a value of SEK 150,000.

physician helps woman measure heart activity with an handheld EKG apparatus.

Screening for stroke risk can save lives and money

Atrial fibrillation is the greatest risk factor for stroke. Screening to detect atrial fibrillation in older people would not only increase the chance of preventing stroke, it would also save money for the healthcare system and society.

Professor Feng Gao and postdoctor Rui Zhang are talking in a corridor

SEK 20 million for laser research from the ERC

Professor Feng Gao at LiU has received an ERC Consolidator Grant for work to create electrically pumped perovskite lasers. The project may fundamentally change laser technology. The award is SEK 20 million over five years.

Girl with backpack standing in flooded village.

The Paris Agreement – better measurement methods needed

The Paris Agreement says that we should reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to limit the rise in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius. But do we have the measurement methods needed? LiU-researchers have the disheartening answer.

Additional Academic Ceremony at LiU

LiU will hold two Academic Ceremonies in 2022, to make it possible to celebrate all new professors and doctoral degrees after the pandemic. The celebrations to be held 10-12 November will also offer lectures from honorary doctors and a gala concert.

Large LiU presence at climate meeting in Egypt

Seven people from Linköping University will be at the UN climate change conference in Egypt. LiU researcher Mathias Fridahl believes that a major focus will be on adaptation.

LiU congratulates successful researchers, and looks to inspire others

The Grantee Celebration Event is an initiative in which Linköping University congratulates LiU researchers who have recently been awarded prestigious research grants. It is intended to become an annual event – one that inspires young researchers.

Person in a lab reaching for an instrument.

Cancer researcher Linda Bojmar leads a unique study in humans

What’s it like to lead a research group, spend half your life on an airplane across the Atlantic, while making sure that family life runs smoothly? This is the reality facing Linda Bojmar every day, now back in Linköping to work on a unique study.

Possible biological explanation for increased cancer risk in dense breasts

The risk of developing breast cancer is higher in what are known as dense breasts. Researchers at LiU have now shown that there are major biological differences between dense breasts and nondense breasts.

Two LiU spin off companies "best startups 2022"

The magazine Ny Teknik has listed 33 of this year's best and most promising startups in Sweden, in the yearly "33-listan". Two startups on the list are spin-offs from LiU. The companies are ArgusEye and Grafren.

The brain cells needed for fever

Researchers at LiU have identified in mice the cells in the blood vessels of the brain that are necessary for a fever reaction. The results answer a long-standing question of which organs are involved in producing fever.

male researcher standing in material laboratory.

Linköping University develops neutron optics for surface physics instruments

The Swedish Research Council has granted funding for two projects as feasibility studies for future instruments at ESS, the world's most powerful research facility for neutron radiation. Researchers at LiU will develop neutron optics.

SEK 22 million ERC grant to research on sex-bias in disease

Associate professor Colm Nestor has been awarded a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) of approximately SEK 22 million over the next 5 years. The funding will be used to research sex bias in human disease.

Woman and man with headsets and green military clothing in front of computer. More screens in the background.

A LiU master’s programme to fight cybercrime

Companies and society in general are increasingly targeted by cybercrime. Experts are needed to ensure protection. There are several good reasons for LiU to establish a master’s programme in cybersecurity, starting in the autumn of 2023.

Electricity from renewable sources can increase with flexible systems

Energy flow from solar and wind power is uneven, and depends on the weather. However, research from LiU shows that a flexible energy system in which district heating, electricity production, and industry work together can balance energy consumption.

Neurodegeneration can be studied long before symptoms arise

In prion diseases, the brain gradually deteriorates. New research suggests that cellular changes can be studied extremely early in the disease process, which is important if we are to develop treatments.

Barriers to climate-friendly e-commerce

The retailers want it, so do the distributors. The consumers also say that they want it. Even so, the introduction of climate-friendly deliveries for e-commerce is proceeding slowly. A new study analyses the barriers that hinder development.

“The Iran regime is doomed,” says LiU researcher

The regime in Iran is ideologically, morally and economically bankrupt, and will collapse sooner or later. These are the opinions of Khalid Khayati, researcher in political sciences and the Middle East, himself from the Kurdish area of Iran.

LiU condemns violence against students in Iran

The Swedish academic world has expressed its profound concern about events in Iran, with escalating violence directed at citizens in general, and teachers and students in particular. Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson at LiU condemns the violence.

Nobel Prize awarded for evidence of entangled particles

The Nobel Prize for Physics, 2022, has been awarded to three researchers, for their research into quantum phenomena. Jan-Åke Larsson, professor at LiU, has made theoretical contributions to experiments led by Anton Zeilinger in Vienna.

The road to future AI is paved with trust

Many researchers believe that what we have seen so far is only the beginning of AI. However, it must be trustworthy in all situations. LiU is coordinating a EU project that has drawn up a roadmap towards the trustworthy AI of the future.

New honorary doctors: one CEO, one furniture designer, three researchers

Lena Miranda, CEO of Linköping Science Park, is awarded an honorary doctorate. She will receive the award, together with furniture designer Åke Axelsson and international researchers Lucy Henry, Barbara Riegel and Arnold Tukker, in November 2022.

The participants at 2022 IEEE SPS - EURASIP Summer School

Focus on the super-fast 6G networks of the future

Hardly has 5G become a reality, when the question of what 6G will be like is asked? That was the starting point when the 2022 IEEE SPS - EURASIP Summer School was arranged at Linköping University.

International four-way collaboration ready to start

An unique four-way collaboration project will enable 21 Students from Linköping University and 21 Washington State University to participate in an innovative exchange and research programme in engineering science and scientific computation.

New research throws doubt on old ideas of how hearing works

The way in which we experience music and speech differs from what has until now been believed. The new findings have been published in Science Advances, and may make it possible to design better cochlear implants.

LiU’s new university director appointed

Determined, efficient and organised, with a clear focus on goals and results. A firm believer in leadership based on dialogue – so describes LiU’s newly appointed university director Peter Yngve himself.

How fear memories get stuck in some brains

Researchers at Linköping University have discovered a biological mechanism that increases the strength with which fear memories are stored in the brain. The study identifies shared mechanisms behind anxiety and alcohol dependence.

“All children have the right to know what they’re going to experience”

As a child, she ran and hid because she was afraid of an impending operation. For more than 25 years, nurse Gunilla Lööf has fought for the right of children and adolescents to prepare themselves for their interaction with the healthcare system.

“Art can’t save the world – but it can make us think in new ways”

In cultural history, who is visible and who is invisible? One of LiU’s two Alumni of the Year, Salad Hilowle, asks this question. With his art, he sheds light on people of African descent in Swedish cultural history.

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

Nurse Gunilla Lööf fights for the right of children to prepare themselves for their interaction with the healthcare system. Artist Salad Hilowle works to make people of African descent a natural part of Swedish cultural history.

Moral illusions may alter our behaviour

Moral illusions can fool our decision-making ability, making us more selfish. But the results also show that we are more likely to vote for the good of all when taking part in democratic decisions.

Recommended blood sugar levels to avoid diabetes-related damage

A study has followed individuals for more than 30 years after the onset of type 1 diabetes. The results show that the levels of long-term blood sugar can be used to accurately determine the risk of developing eye- and kidney complications.

A healthcare worker putting an oxygen mask on a patient

Severe COVID-19 impairs the immune system for longer than 6 months

The immune cells of patients who received hospital care for COVID-19 early in the pandemic were still affected six months later, shows a study conducted by researchers at Linköping University.

Major leap for stable high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

Solar cells manufactured from materials known as “perovskites” have advantages of low cost and short energy payback time. However, such solar cells have problems with stability – something that researchers at LiU, have now managed to solve.

Making stable molecules reactive with light

Researchers at LiU have used computer simulations to show that stable aromatic molecules can become reactive after absorbing light. The results may have applications in such areas as the storage of solar energy, pharmacology, and molecular machines.

Kalas is back!

After two years in which the pandemic forced the Kalas to be held remotely, it is at last time for a proper Kalas, on campus. The balloon will go up on 7 September.

Lakes worldwide emit less methane than believed

Lakes emit globally approximately 42 million tonnes of the greenhouse gas methane each year, according to a new study from NASA and LiU. This is less than previously believed, but even so, lakes are one of the largest natural sources of methane.

Electronic nose may help in court

Today, cadaver dogs are used to find human remains, for instance after a murder or a natural disaster. But as this practice faces both legal and ethical problems, researchers at LiU are developing an electronic nose as a complement the search dogs.

Better wildlife observation with new counting method

Are wildlife populations increasing or decreasing? It is difficult to count wild animals, but the amount harvested through hunting gives an indication. Now, these statistics can be made more useful, thanks to a new model developed by researchers.

How young chickens play can indicate how they feel

Researchers have for the first time mapped the development of play in young chickens. The results show that the young chickens spend lots of time playing in different ways – just like puppies and kittens.

The Pillow Project is a success – “Sustainability a key priority for LiU”

The Pillow Project is a new collaboration between LiU and its student associations. The recycling initiative where new international students may buy a kit with pillows, bedding and towels from LiU Summer Academy became an instant hit.