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PhD student Eduardo Rodriguez Soldado studied how genes work together to shape the formation of wood in trees (photo: Anne Honsel).
At first glance, trees may seem to belong to a single, ancient family. But in reality, they are not one lineage at all. Instead, they represent a growth strategy that evolution has invented several times. PhD student Eduardo Rodriguez Soldado compared the genes and gene activity in six tree species to understand how trees evolved and how wood develops. His results show that what makes a tree a tree is not unique “tree genes”, but how genes work together in complex regulatory networks.
Read more: Not the genes, but how they work together makes a tree a tree
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The potential for apple cultivation and business in northern Sweden was explored at an interdisciplinary workshop organised by Northfood. Photo: Stefan Jansson
Northern Sweden may hold greater potential for apple cultivation and apple-based businesses than many realise. This was one of the key messages discussed when researchers, growers, companies and students gathered in Umeå for the interdisciplinary workshop “Apples – From breeding to business opportunities” on 2–3 February.
Read more: Workshop explores the future of apples in northern Sweden
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Olivier Keech leads the research behind a new initiative focused on circular and resource‑efficient farming of shrimp and fish (photo: Stéphanie Robert).
Soon, it may be possible to farm tropical shrimp and fish in Northern Sweden. With support from two EU projects, UPSC researcher Olivier Keech will develop and scale up a circular aquaculture system with a low carbon footprint, utilising surplus heat from Umeå Energi’s combined heat and power plant.
Read more: From surplus heat to seafood: building circular aquaculture systems
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After completing his PhD at Umeå University, Bastian Schiffthaler now works with bioinformatics at AstraZeneca (photo: Björn Schiffthaler).
As a PhD student at UPSC, Bastian Schiffthaler was given a high degree of independence and responsibility early on. Today, he works as an Associate Principal Scientist at AstraZeneca, analysing large-scale biological data in complex research projects with the potential to improve patients’ lives. Looking back, he describes his time at UPSC as a formative period that shaped how he approaches problem-solving and decision-making in his current role.
Read more: Being entrusted early helped shape his career path
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PhD students at the UPSC retreat in September 2025 during a workshop on graphical abstract illustration (Photo: Elena Mondino, instructor at "Visualize your Science").
Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the next generation of scientists. This day highlights the importance of equal participation and visibility in research.
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Susan McEvoy started in November 2025 as new group leader at UPSC (photo: Anne Honsel).
How is the evolution of forest tree species reflected in their genomes? How can we use this information to understand the forests of today and the future? These questions are at the core of Susan McEvoy’s research. As a new group leader at UPSC and part of the WIFORCE programme at SLU, she aims to translate this research into tools for forest management.
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Short warm spells in early winter help trees fine-tune when it is safe to open their buds. Photo: Aswin Nair
To survive winter, trees must time spring growth with great precision. New research from Umeå Plant Science Centre shows that trees also use warm interruptions in early winter as signals, helping buds avoid opening too early.
Read more: Trees do not just count cold – they use warm spells to track winter’s progress
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Sara Rydman recently defended her PhD research on the genetic basis of chemical defence in aspen (photo: Anne Honsel).
Trees constantly have to balance growth with defence against attack. In her PhD research at Umeå University, Sara Rydman has identified several new genes linked to the formation of chemical defence compounds in aspen. The findings provide new insight into the genetic basis of chemical defence in trees.
Read more: New genes behind chemical defence in aspen identified