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Stefan Jansson is receiving the SPPS Prize (photo: Fredrik Larsson)
Last week, the Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society (SPPS) announced that Stefan Jansson will receive the SPPS Prize. He is awarded for his outstanding contributions to plant biology research, to the development of the research community especially in the Nordic countries and his efforts in public outreach. The prize will be officially handed over to Stefan Jansson at the SPPS 2024 conference in Copenhagen in August this year.
It is now more than twenty years ago that Stefan Jansson became Professor in Plant Cell and Molecular Biology at Umeå University and more than thirty years ago that he defended his PhD thesis at the same university. During this time, he together with his group at Umeå Plant Science Centre has investigated how plants capture sunlight and how trees sense autumn and survive winter. They have made several ground-breaking discoveries and published many high impact research articles which is one point highlighted in the motivation for the SPPS Prize.
The motivation emphasises also Stefan Jansson’s engagement in public outreach which was rewarded already earlier with several prizes. Several years ago, he decided to set aside one day per week for outreach activities and he has used this time to explain plant science to various audiences. He has been especially active in the debate about genetically modified organisms and plant genome editing, was present in different media formats and has written many debate articles.
Stefan Jansson has been several years head of the department for the UPSC department that belongs to Umeå University but has also taken over several commissions of trust. He has been for example president for The Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology and for SPPS and “has sparked the society to become a more active and engaged community” according to the motivation from SPPS. Stefan Jansson is also elected fellow of three Royal Swedish Academies and contributes in this role to promote science and associated activities for the benefit of society.
“It is indeed an honour to become one in the line of recipients of this prize,” says Stefan Jansson who is after Karin Ljung in 2019 and Gunnar Öquist in 2015 the third research from UPSC receiving the SPPS Prize.
More information about the SPPS Prize and other prizes awarded by SPPS
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PhD student Bodil Häggström has studied the effect of different regeneration practices on the survival of forest tree seedlings (photo: Anne Honsel).
The choice of the planting position can determine if a tree seedling survives or not. Bodil Häggström always cared about the fate of seedlings which motivated her to investigate in her PhD the effect of different regeneration practices on the survival rate of tree seedlings. Her results reveal that there is no one-size-fits-all solution but recommends diversifying planting recommendations, especially when considering increasing drought periods in spring. Read more in this interview with her.
You worked on boreal forest regeneration in a variable climate. What motivated you to choose this PhD project in Annika Nordin’s research group at UPSC and SLU?
Bodil Häggström: Boreal forest regeneration was my first “summer job”. I was planting spruce and pine seedlings when I was a teenager. This was a common summer job when growing up in the Northern inland of Sweden. Later on, I also worked as a “planting-boss”, looking that the planters were planting the trees correctly. I always cared greatly to see that seedlings were planted in the right way, both when I was a kid and later. It is the same when I am gardening, I do not like when any sort of seedling is wasted. I guess it is in my nature to “save plants” and that was what caught my attention when I saw this PhD project.
Which factors are limiting forest regeneration, especially in boreal forests?
Bodil Häggström: All factors that make growth slower are limiting such as the short growing season, cold soil temperatures and competition from mature trees and ground vegetation for nutrients like nitrogen, water and light. Seedling growth can also be affected by allelochemicals produced for example by bilberries and lingonberries which represent the most common ground vegetation in Swedish forests. Those compounds can affect both seed germination and root growth. Initial slow growth makes seedlings vulnerable for a longer time. Then, there are of course also pests and insects like the pine weevil that can affect seedling growth and forest regeneration. In the North, this was previously not such a big problem as further south, but with the changing climate the pine weevil and other insects and pests might spread more also here. Browsing by different herbivores also pose a hinder for optimal growth.
What do you consider as the major outcome of your thesis?
Bodil Häggström: In my studies, I have evaluated the effect of planting position, environmental conditions, seedling size, arginine-phosphate addition and competition with mature trees on seedling survival and growth. My major outcome is that there is no one universal regeneration practice that works well everywhere because all sites comprise a unique combination of abiotic and biotic factors that affect the outcome of any practice. For example, the benefit of higher nutrient availability and temperature in a capped mound is counteracted in dry conditions. If a seedling does not get enough water, it cannot utilize the other resources either.
Did your results match your expectations or working hypotheses?
Bodil Häggström: Yes and no, since the results varied quite a lot. We expected higher growth on positions in capped mounds, but this was only on some sites the case. The addition of arginine phosphate as a slow-release organic nitrogen fertilizer enhanced survival and growth on some sites. On other sites, the effect of the local conditions, species and seedling size appeared stronger than or interfered with the effect of fertilization.
What kind of challenges did you had to overcome during your PhD?
Bodil Häggström: The most challenging part for me was the long-term commitment - to focus on one topic over a longer period than I have ever done before. I am that type of person that in general focus on different things in shorter periods, finding a lot of things interesting. During my PhD, I was finding lots of interesting side tracks, and it has been tough to stay focus on what I was supposed to do. Then, there was of course the covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed a lot the networking part with my colleagues and in the frame of the industrial graduate school that I was part of, but all this came to a halt during the pandemic which made my PhD time less enjoyable than it could have been. Now, after the pandemic, it is much better, and I am intrigued again to continue doing research.
Can you give some practical tips to forest managers based on your results?
Bodil Häggström: Yes, in the light of increasing drought periods in springtime when many seedlings are planted, it would be good to diverge also in Northern Sweden from the general recommendation of planting in the capped mound in dry conditions. Instead, it would be better to try to assess the local conditions before deciding planting position. In drought prone areas for example, planting in the mineral soil beside capped mounds is more favourable while on more moist ground in which there is a risk of waterlogging or frost heaving, planting in capped mounds is better.
Diversifying the planting recommendations could be an easy way to increase survival rates. This is of course a challenge because there is also a need to keep the planting instructions simple, but I think it might be worth it. Hundreds of millions of seedlings are planted every year and only saving one percent would mean saving millions of seedlings. For example, 400 million seedlings - mainly pine and spruce - were delivered in 2020. Increasing survival with one percent would save four million seedlings which is a lot when considering the efforts and costs that are invested to grow a seedling.
Was it beneficial for you to be part of the industrial research school?
Bodil Häggström: Yes, it was highly beneficial! I got contacts in the industry that I otherwise might not have had now, especially with my supervisors from my host company Sveaskog and from Skogforsk. Throughout the years, I was continuously in contact with them, and I now also started the industrial part of my PhD at Sveaskog and will see different parts of the company which is a great opportunity. I wanted to gain as much knowledge as possible before doing my internship. That is why I chose to do it during the last year of my PhD, and I hope that I can now apply my gained knowledge by working on different projects within the company.
Then, in the beginning of my PhD education, I could join a study visit to Australia and New Zealand that was arranged by the industrial research school. That was an amazing journey! We got to visit both forest industry companies and research facilities like Scion in New Zealand. It was great to get early on this perspective and see how forests are managed in other parts of the world which is very different in Australia and New Zealand than in Sweden.
What are you planning to do now?
Bodil Häggström: As mentioned before, I am currently working as trainee at Sveaskog doing my industrial part until November this year. After that I do not know yet, but I could imagine continuing to work at the bridge between academia and industry. I think there are in general more bridges between science and the practice needed but I will see where I end up. Many doors are still open.
Illustration of pine seedlings in planting positions resulting from mechanical soil preparation, from left to right: mineral soil, capped mound, and non-prepared soil (illustration made by Bodil Häggström).About the public defence:
Bodil Häggström, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, defends her PhD thesis on Thursday, 14th of March 2024. Faculty opponent is Professor Douglass Jacobs, Fred M. van Eck Professor of Forest Biology, Department of Forest and Natural Resources, Purdue University, USA. The thesis was supervised by Annika Nordin from SLU together with Gisela Björse from Sveaskog and Jonas Öhlund from Skogforsk as deputy supervisors.
Title of the thesis: Improving boreal forest regeneration in a variable climate
Link to Bodil Häggström’s PhD thesis
For more information, please contact:
Bodil Häggström
Umeå Plant Science Centre
Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Email:
https://www.slu.se/en/ew-cv/bodil-haggstrom/
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Participants and teachers of the Wood Biology and Biotechnology course at Umeå Plant Science Centre (photo: Anna Shevtsova)
Wood and wooden material are accompanying us every day and the demand for wood-based products is increasing. How is this material formed and which factors determine its final features? A group of twenty international students was recently delving into these topics when they joined the NOVA course on Wood Biology and Biotechnology that was organised by SLU at UPSC. On both students and teachers, the course left an overall positive and impactful impression.
Ewa Mellerowicz, expert in wood biosynthesis and biotechnology, organised the course which was aimed at PhD students and researchers after their PhD who were interested in learning more about the field. It was an intensive week filled with lectures, seminars, practical trainings and social activities. The participants who came from all over Europe were amazed by the course content reaching from cellular processes, training in wood anatomy and bioinformatics to discussions on computer-based simulations of biomolecules and industrial application possibilities.
“Our objective was to cover a broad spectrum of topics that are fundamental for understanding wood formation and function and connect this knowledge with current developments in the field as well as future prospects,” says Ewa Mellerowicz, professor at SLU and group leader at UPSC. “I was lucky that so many of my colleagues volunteered to share their specific knowledge in this course and the engagement of the students was really great!”
The course participants were not only asked to listen to the lectures and participate in the practical trainings. They were also expected to read selected literature about the field before the course, present their own research project on a poster, take an active part in discussions and join social activities like for example a dinner after the poster presentation.
“Despite three years of experience in wood chemistry, this course has provided me with a clearer understanding of many aspects,” expressed PhD student Mateo Bello Villarino the course's significance in enhancing his understanding of wood chemistry and its potential impact on his future projects. He is in the final year of his PhD studies at Umeå University.
George Woodward, PhD student at the University of Helsinki, adds: “Inside my own PhD studies, I wouldn’t have received this level of intimate training in wood anatomy. This guidance was invaluable to my own research and interest. Understanding the industrial relevance of wood biology was truly insightful like for example the world of nanocellulose and its applications which was presented by Linn Berglund from Luleå University.”
It is not clear yet when the next Wood Biology and Biotechnology course will be organised but the overall positive feedback from the students highlights its importance for young researchers in the field.
“I hope we can arrange such a course again as it fills a knowledge gap that is currently not covered by any book,” says Hannele Tuominen, one of the teachers of the course. "It was a very intense but great week thanks to the excellent organisation of the course. To teach and discuss with such high motivated students is really fun.”
Text: Pratibha Kumari, Anne Honsel
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Vinod Kumar will study how the outermost cells of a plant leaf acquire their characteristic shape (photo: Anne Honsel).
Last week, the European Commission awarded 1249 researchers with Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellowships. One of the awardees is Vinod Kumar from Stéphanie Robert’s group at UPSC and SLU. He will study how the underlaying cell layers interact with the outermost cell layer of a plant leaf and thus define the specific jigsaw-puzzle shape of this outer cells.
It was an exciting moment for Vinod Kumar last week when he got to know that he received one of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship. His first application last year was unfortunately not successful, but it received the “Seal of Excellence” indicating that he had identified a novel research gap in his field which was motivating him to apply again.
“I decided to persevere and keep pursuing this opportunity and began refining my research idea to make a perfect proposal that would go beyond my previous attempt”, says Vinod Kumar who has joined Stéphanie Robert’s group as postdoc in summer last year. “I am very grateful to Stéphanie Robert for encouraging and supporting me throughout the entire course of application.”
Vinod Kumar will investigate how the outermost cell layer of the plant leaf acquire their jigsaw-puzzle like shape. This cell layer forms together with the underlying cell layers an integer tissue that shields the inner parts of the leave from external threats like rain, wind or pathogens. It is still unclear how exactly the integrity of this tissue is maintained and how the specific jigsaw-puzzle shape of the outermost cell layer is acquired.
Identifying signals that determine the shape of a cell
“Recent results from Stéphanie Robert’s group indicate that mechanical and physical signals coming from the inner cell layers coordinate the development of the outer jigsaw-puzzle shape layer and my focus will to be to identify the signals and analyse the way how they are sent and regulated”, says Vinod Kumar. “The ultimate goal of this project is to generate knowledge that can guide the development of stress resistant crops and trees, contributing to combat global climate change.”
During his PhD and previous postdoc at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute and CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology in India, Vinod Kumar gained expertise in crop plants, specifically tomato and rice, studies focusing on root biology and host-pathogen interaction. Now, he plans to expand his skill set focussing on cutting-edge microscopy, cell biology and biomechanics.
“Since my PhD I am intrigued about plant development and the research in Stéphanie Robert’s group immediately captured my interest when I was searching for a postdoctoral position in this field,” continues Vinod Kumar. “UPSC has a well-organized scientific infrastructure with shared equipment and over 30 research groups offering excellent interdisciplinary research opportunities in a multicultural work environment which will be advantageous for my project.”
Enhancing network and communication capacities
Being a Marie-Curie fellow brings many benefits aside from the prestige. The fellows get the opportunity to increase their competence and skills through extensive research training, career coaching, mentoring and other transferable skills. Special emphasis is put on interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international experiences aiming to enhance their networking and communication capacities with the science community and with the public.
“The MSCA fellowship does not only offer funding for research and training activities, but it also fosters professional development that is crucial for leading one’s independent research group in the future”, explains Vinod Kumar. “This is something that truly motivated me to apply for a MSCA postdoctoral fellowship. Now that I have received it, it is a crucial building block of my research career.”
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are supporting 1249 post-doctoral researchers from nearly 80 nationalities. They were chosen from a total of 8039 applications in the 2023 Postdoctoral Fellowship call. The projects selected come from all scientific disciplines. 21.7% are within life sciences like the one from Vinod Kumar which was evaluated with as score of 99.2%.
Title of Vinod Kumar’s project: iCON - Elucidating inner cells contribution to pavement cell shape acquisition in Arabidopsis
Link to the official news from Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
For more information, please contact:
Vinod Kumar
Umeå Plant Science Centre
Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Sweden
Email:
Twitter: @VinodKu53289900
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Adrien Heymans, 'Excellence of Choice' postdoctoral fellow, started his postdoc at UPSC in August 2023. Photo: Amélie Hidvégi
Adrien Heymans from Belgium was given the chance to start an 'Excellence by Choice' Postdoc fellowship with Stéphanie Robert and Stephane Verger at UPSC. He is studying the theoretical relationship between plant epidermal cells and their superstructures to mechanical stress, mostly with computational models and image analysis tools.
The 'Excellence by Choice' Postdoctoral Programme is coordinated by Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR). Text: Ingrid Söderbergh, UCMR & Umeå University
What is your academic background?
"I did my PhD from 2018 to 2022 at UCLouvain in Belgium, where I delved into the fascinating "in silico" realm of root hydraulic anatomy under the guidance of Guillaume Lobet. My curiosity led me to explore further the hidden half, as I embarked on two short postdocs at UCLouvain, the first on root plastic response to heterogeneous soil conditions, and the second one on a new paradigm of water transport at the root cross-section level."
How did you end up in Northern Sweden and at Umeå University?
"Having visited Sweden a few times, I liked the global mentality of its people, both welcoming and straightforward. Aware of the excellent plant research community in Sweden, it felt like a good environment to expand my curiosity about plant functions. When presented with the research topics in the ‘EC’ call, Stephanie’s and Stephan's proposal particularly caught my attention. Recognizing it as a great opportunity to shift my focus from root anatomy to leaf anatomy and gain a fresh perspective, I embraced the chance for this exciting transition."
What is your research focusing on?
"I am studying mechanical stress on plant epidermis, focusing on cell shape due to external and internal constraints. This consists mostly in trying to figure out how mechanical properties at the cell wall level influence the stress localisation with models. From image analysis tools and finite element modelling tools, I try to predict stress hotspot and potential cell-to-cell adhesion failure within a cell network."
What is challenging and rewarding respectively with being a researcher?
"One of the challenges of doing fundamental science is sensing how the science we do transfer to a tangible impact on society. I was lucky enough that, recently, one of the tools I developed three years ago led to valuable insights on Maize domestication and potential crop adaptation to local pedo-climatic conditions. It reinforced my determination to push the boundaries of knowledge in my field and on the importance of having an open science approach."
Where do you see yourself in five years?
"Having a permanent position as a researcher in a plant science centre, would be the dream. I like the freedom offered in academia, but I am aware of the difficulties of finding funding. It would be great if I can manage to connect my different study on roots and what I am doing in Umeå on leaves."
What are your first impressions of Umeå and its universities?
"I love the wilderness, the hikes, the nature, and also its people's mind. I really enjoy how uncomplicate people are and get along really nicely. At the UPSC, I was first very surprised by the equipment quality and by how many people were working on similar subjects, on arabidopsis and poplar trees with such collaborative philosophy. As soon as I arrived, other postdocs and phd student were always there to help me feel most welcome. I am very grateful for their kindness."
What do you like to do in your free time?
"During my free time, I like to run, do board game afternoon, play with my kids, and draw landscape sketch on holidays."
Me in three words: Dreamer. Grounded. Curious
Exciting with the plant cell: The dynamic of cell growth that forms a seemingly regulated jigsaw pattern from countless biological pathways and physical signaling.
Reading: Sci-fi and epic adventures, such as Dune
Streaming: Mostly Sci-fi, such as Westworld
Listening to: Smith and Tell, Oak Brothers, First aid kit, …
Unexpected talent: I used to be fluent in Indonesian
Swedish language sounds: “bubbly”, and Fika, of course, is the first thing I learnt!
Wanted to become when I was a child: Architect
Makes me laugh: absurd stuff arranged nicely
More information about the 'Excellence by Choice' Postdoctoral Programme
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Laura Bacete Cano (left) and Kelly Swarts (right) are the most recent female group leaders at UPSC (photo left: Mattias Petterson, Umeå University, photo right: Johan Gunséus).
How can we empower women and girls to pursue a career in science and achieve gender equality? Laura Bacete Cano and Kelly Swarts think that it is important to encourage curiosity and create a more supportive and inclusive academic environment. On today’s International Day for Women and Girls in Sciences, we have asked the two most recently recruited female group leaders at UPSC about their experiences and motivation to go into science.
Why did you choose to become a scientist?
Laura Bacete Cano: My curiosity drove me to become a scientist. When I was a kid, my favourite words were “¿por qué?” – which means - “why?”. I’ve always been eager to understand how things work and I enjoy mental challenges. Finding answers to my questions is deeply satisfying. As someone from a farming family, I also chose to specialize in plant science, because I know how important plants and agricultural production are.
Kelly Swarts: I have always like understanding systems and how things work and research (whether in a company or in academia) is just pushing beyond what is already known. From a practical perspective, I like that my job is different every day.
Do you remember a key moment that influenced your decision to go into science?
Kelly Swarts: I think I always knew that I wanted to do something in science but my path into research was decided when I was working as a middle manager in a company and felt, intellectually, under stimulated. This has never been a problem in research.
Laura Bacete Cano: As a teenager, I was uncertain about my future and whether university was the right path for me. Despite excellent grades, I disliked high school and doubted my abilities as a student. But I was really interested in science, especially Biology, and I have always had a desire to address societal issues. Then I bought a book entitled “Choose What You Want to Become”. It was a list with all the higher education programs (university degrees and advanced vocational studies) in Spain, my home country, at that time. Each of them came with a description of what it is about and a short interview with two people involved in it (former students, professors, etc.). I fell in love with the Biotechnology degree because it was closely related to biology and, at the same time, I could see a big impact in society. So, I decided I wanted to become a biotechnologist, and since then, I was much more motivated to go to high school and keep a good average so that I could qualify for that degree.
What has helped you to move on with your academic career?
Laura Bacete Cano: My passion for science is a significant motivator, though academia can sometimes be challenging, especially for minorities, including women. I have seen many good friends leaving Academia or settling for positions that do not allow progress in their careers, just because they feel that they do not fit in here. And they are very smart and kind people. I felt at some point I did not want to continue in this career. But then I thought that if everybody, who is not a perfect fit, leaves, then this toxic environment will never change. So, I chose to stay, hoping to contribute to a more inclusive environment from within and make decisions that reflect these values.
Kelly Swarts: I have had wonderful mentors and peers at every stage and have really benefitted from excellent academic environments. This, combined with (a lot) of dedication and hard work, has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today. I also have had my feet in a number of fields (archaeology, biology, computer science and statistics) and I think that this has been a real benefit, as a lot of innovation happens at the intersection of fields, or ways of thinking.
What kind of obstacles do you had to overcome during your career (so far)?
Kelly Swarts: During my master’s degree, my primary advisor left for other opportunities as I was going to begin my analysis. In the end, I reached out to others, who were very generous with their time and expertise, and I was able to complete the project. The moral of this story is, do not hesitate to ask for help from any source when you need it. The worst they can say is no.
Laura Bacete Cano: Being the first in my family to attend university and pursue a PhD presented challenges, as did battling depression during and after my PhD. The lack of understanding and support for mental health issues and the pressure to continuously work without breaks were particularly tough. Other obstacles included language barriers, frequent relocations for positions, and adapting to different cultures.
What do you think can we do to inspire the next generation of women in science?
Kelly Swarts: Inspiration is not the problem. All young children are curious about their world, but this needs to be encouraged and nurtured as kids grow up. The trickier questions are political, social and logistic. The opportunities available to women need to, obviously, be equal. However, what this means varies by context.
Laura Bacete Cano: We need to acknowledge the challenges women encounter instead of dismissing them as just the way things are. This includes addressing clear issues like ensuring equal parental leave and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, as well as tackling less obvious concerns. As I said before, the toxic atmosphere in academia often drives people away, which is something we urgently need to change. At the undergraduate level, there's nearly an equal split between men and women, but this balance shifts dramatically at the professor level, as illustrated by the famous “Scissors Diagrams”. I used to think this disparity was due to changes over time, but now, I see it is a widespread issue. The struggle to maintain a healthy balance between personal life and a successful career often leads to burnout, especially for women who face additional expectations in their personal and family lives. This imbalance is a significant reason why many women leave academia before or shortly after completing their PhDs, based on what I have observed and heard from friends. I am convinced that creating a more supportive and inclusive academic environment will encourage more women to pursue and excel in scientific careers at every level.
Do you have any tips for young (female) researchers who want to start a career in science?
Laura Bacete Cano: Believe in yourself and your ability to be a scientist. There are no specific requirements, just a curious mind. Overcoming stereotypes and not letting them deter you from pursuing science is important. I read the other day an interview with the actress Sofia Vergara where she said she had assumed she will only play some kind of roles because of how she looks (very “explosive”) and how she sounds in English (Colombian accent), and she literally said nobody will ever call her to play a role of a scientist in a movie. That is the mistake. We have an image of what a scientist is, but it is not real, and not seeing ourselves in that image should not discourage us from being scientists. Because the reality is that science is actually (and must be even more in the future!) much more diverse than what the stereotypes suggest.
Kelly Swarts: Focus on the big questions (rather than tools or techniques, which change constantly), work hard and ask lots of questions!
More about the two researchers
Laura Bacete Cano started to establish her research group at UPSC when she became Assistant Professor at Umeå University in 2023. She also leads a project at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, where she worked before as postdoc. Laura Bacete Cano investigates plant cell walls focussing especially on the dynamic processes that allow the cell wall to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Kelly Swarts became Associate Senior Lecturer at SLU in 2023 and has now moved part of her research group from the Gregor Mendel Institute/Max Perutz Labs in Vienna to UPSC. Since 2023, she is also fellow of the SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS). In her research, she is combining her background in biology, archaeology, genetics and computer sciences to study how conifers have adapted over time to changing climate conditions.
More about the International Day for Women and Girls in Science
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Photo: Jenny Svennås-Gillner, SLU
Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation allocates SEK 272 million to a strategic research initiative on forestry research at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The grant includes funding for a new research school within Future Silviculture, five recruitment packages to establish new research groups and the extension of two ongoing research programmes. One of them is coordinated by UPSC.
The future use and conservation of forests is in the centre of this strategic research initiative at SLU. The main part of the grant is allocated to a new research school in Future Silviculture which will be coordinated by the Faculty of Forest Sciences. More than 50 doctoral students including 14 industry doctoral students will be trained in this research school involving also doctoral students and researchers from UPSC.
The grant will also cover five recruitment packages for new research groups. Two of them will be established at UPSC. Moreover, the two ongoing research programmes “Future Silviculture”, coordinated by the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at SLU, and “Forest Biology and Biotechnology”, coordinated by UPSC will be extended until 2030.
“Together with the already existing support to the “Future Silviculture” and “Forest Biology and Biotechnology” projects, this represents by far the largest investment we have ever seen in forestry-related research”, says Ove Nilsson, director of UPSC and coordinator of the research programme “Forest Biology and Biotechnology". “This will provide a solid foundation and stability for the basic research and knowledge needed to develop a sustainable forestry taking into account both productivity, survival and biodiversity aspects in the face of a changing climate.”
News from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (English)
News from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Swedish)
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Stefan Jansson (photo: Fredrik Larsson)
Stefan Jansson, plant researcher and professor at Umeå University, is honoured by Örebro University and The Hamrin Foundation for his research communication.
There is a conscious effort behind Stefan Jansson's success in reaching out to the society with his research. For many years, he has chosen to set aside one day a week for public outreach.
"Many researchers do not have this opportunity because it hinders their academic career. It is therefore very good that this prize exists as the academic system does not manage to reward research communication very well," he says in an interview with Örebro University.
Stefan Jansson is professor of plant cell and molecular biology at the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, and group leader at Umeå Plant Science Centre. He receives the prize of SEK 100 000 "for decades of patiently contributing the scientific perspective in the polarised debate on genetically modified crops".
In addition to a number of debate articles, Stefan Jansson has also written a book on GMOs, which has been published in several languages, and given a number of lectures on his research.
Read the full interview and more about the award on Örebro University's website (in Swedish only)
Text: Sara-Lena Brännström (Umeå University)
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Vice-president Madhusree Mitra and president Maximiliano Estravis Barcala of Umeå Postdoc Society (Photo: Mattias Pettersson)
As many as 220 postdocs at Umeå University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences are connected to Umeå Postdoc Society, UPS. President Maximiliano Estravis Barcala and vice-president Madhusree Mitra, both postdocs at UPSC, are halfway through their “tenure” and have the important task to further improve the postdoc experience in Umeå.
“Being president carries significant responsibility, but it is truly rewarding when postdocs express gratitude, spread positive word of mouth, and attract new members after events. I personally struggle with delegating and trying to have everything under control at the same time. Fortunately, I am surrounded by excellent colleagues who are helpful and understanding,” says Maxi, postdoc at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Umeå Postdoc Society, UPS, is a network of postdocs in Umeå. Its purpose is to create an open and inclusive network environment, regardless of the postdoc’s length of stay or employment situation (contract or stipend holder). It aims to bring about more collaborating opportunities, provide a platform for raising awareness of postdoc rights, career development opportunities, and a forum for voicing disquiet. Furthermore, it is a checkpoint to meet new friends and feel welcome in Umeå.
“I feel both privileged and stressed in the UPS leadership, receiving appreciation in feedback is always a relief. But it is not all on us. As the motto of UPS implies ‘for postdocs, by postdocs’, indeed this is a big responsibility for all UPS members to improve the overall postdoc experience here in Umeå,” says Madhusree, postdoc at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, SLU.
Started during the pandemic
UPS was created in 2020 as a way for postdocs to connect and support each other in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first postdoc association of Northern Sweden.
“When UPS started, several months were spent in bureaucratic tasks writing the bylaws, constituting an advisory board, and setting up a website and mailing list. Also, the first active members were recruited. Thanks to the hard work of that 'first generation', we can now focus on organizing events for an established and solid community of postdocs,” says Maxi.
He describes that the organization of career development events, particularly the big events, works very well. This year UPS has organised a Postdoc Day in February, a Postdoc Retreat in September, and most recently a Young Investigators Symposium (co-organized with UCMR). Each of these events had between 50 and 100 participants.
Young Investigator Symposium arranged by UPS in October was a success (Photo: Mattias Pettersson)
Aims to widen the community
The previous leadership strived to gain a campus wide presence in Umeå. It is a task that now continues and has high priority. The society is well-known in centres like KBC, UCMR and departments at the Faculty of medicine and the Faculty of science and technology, but very few postdocs represent the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“We want to change this and work to extend our communication so that more postdocs from all fields know about our events and to recruit active members in as many departments at Umeå University and SLU as possible,” says Maxi.
Another development area is to try to improve the awareness in the society about postdoc rights, working conditions and mental health related issues.
“We aim to become more aware of what is going on, what actions are needed and more importantly have a voice in these matters. I know that in our short tenure of one year most probably we cannot achieve all we plan, but we will take a sincere approach to make these attainable in the future,” says Madhusree.
Discussion on postdoc problems at the Retreat in September (Photo: Madhusree Mitra)
Step into the unknown
Being a postdoctoral researcher is a transient phase between the PhD degree and a permanent career path, therefore embarking on a postdoc journey can be both exciting and challenging. Most postdocs who arrive in Umeå are from foreign countries, and many come on their own, without any support network of colleagues, family, or friends. The situation can be full of struggle, both personal and work-related.
“For them, UPS can work both as a source of information on what to do before and after arriving in Sweden, and as a way to meet like-minded people and socializing,” says Maxi.
Maxi and Madhusree emphasize that UPS is a place where postdocs are having lots of fun.
“We organize many social events, like board game nights, pub nights, and hikes out in nature. It really feels like a friends’ gathering, which is valuable when you are new in Umeå and not knowing anyone,” says Maxi.
“Far away from home in a place where it is dark and cold most of the time, UPS has also helped me to meet new people and friends, explore Swedish nature, and learn new things. I am enjoying every bit of it and hope that our members do too,” says Madhusree.
Board Game Night at KBC atrium (Photo: Maximiliano Estravis Barcala)
Barbeque at Hamptjärnsberget in Umeå after hiking (Photo: Maximiliano Estravis Barcala)
Wanted: passionate members
“In my opinion, what works less well in UPS is recruiting and maintaining a constant base of active members. We are working hard on that,” says Maxi.
Even though the mailing list reaches around 220 postdocs in Umeå, only around 15 are active members, which forms the important core of the society.
“Therefore, we have started departmental fika crawls and are attending departmental meetings to introduce the roles and responsibilities you can take within UPS. In all our major events, we emphasize the importance of active members, encouraging them to contribute a small amount of time from their busy research lives for a significant impact. We have recently attracted more interest and recruited eight new active members,” says Madhusree.
Make a difference
Joining UPS enables postdocs to make a difference by contributing ideas for events and enhancing the experience of fellow and future postdocs, fostering a strong sense of team spirit and commitment.
“Also, demonstrating event organization and coordination skills is advantageous for a CV, highly valued by recruiters especially outside academia,” says Maxi.
Madhusree adds: “People are always vocal about what should change in a researcher’s condition like how to improve work-life balance, the lack of collaboration and information, and so on. By joining UPS one can enact those changes instead of worrying about things.”
Before leaving their posts, Maxi and Madhusree would like to develop a code of conduct – that is, to establish the ethical standards that the organization expects postdocs and people in leadership positions to follow – to make sure that all postdocs feel welcome and safe in the context of UPS.
Feeling good doing fun stuff together, here at an excursion with Postdoc Society to Hamptjärnsberget. (Photo: Maximiliano Estravis Barcala)UPS has an advisory board consisting at present of ten PIs from different departments, who generously put aside a part of their funding on a general account for UPS expenditures. They also meet with the advisory board to report activities and get feedback from them. They have also applied for independent funding from KBC and the Forestry Faculty of SLU for event organization.
UPS website: www.umeapostdocs.com
Contact for inquiries:
For more information, please contact:
Maximiliano Estravis Barcala, President of UPS
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
E-mail:
Madhusree Mitra, Vice-Presiden of UPS
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
E-mail:
Text: Ingrid Söderbergh
UPSC Symposium for Early Career Plant Scientists: Attracting talented researchers to Northern Sweden
- Details
Speed dating under the time control of Laura Bacete (right front) at the symposium in June 2023 - postdoctoral candidates and UPSC group leaders interacted with each other in different formats to identify common interests. Photo: Stéphanie Robert
How to encourage talented young researchers to move to Northern Sweden? UPSC is inviting them for the UPSC Symposium for Early Career Plant Scientists – a concept that has been revived this year. The postdoctoral candidates had the opportunity to see the place and the research environment, and their overall feedback was very positive. After a successful symposium in June this year, UPSC is now accepting applications for the next symposium which will take place on March 21-22, 2024.
Long, cold and dark winters, short summers – the geographical location of Umeå might discourage many talented scientists from applying for open positions. However, Umeå has a lot to offer: two universities and a university hospital with cutting-edge research infrastructure on one campus in a growing and vibrant city. UPSC is located right in the middle as part of both universities and that is what UPSC wants to show to those talented, young plant scientists that will be invited to the UPSC symposium in March 2024.
“UPSC is a great place to work. We have about 30 research groups with strong international reputation, and the centre is impressively well-equipped with shared platforms and facilities for all kind of plant research”, says Stéphane Verger, group leader at UPSC, who took the initiative to restart organising the UPSC symposium for Early Career Plant Scientists this year. “It is an excellent environment for learning new techniques and acquiring new skills, and Umeå with its beautiful surrounding is a good place to live.”
Six postdoctoral candidates from Canada, France, Germany and India were invited for two days in June for the last symposium. All of them were at the end of or have recently finished their PhD and were selected because they had high chances of being successful in applications for competitive European postdoctoral fellowships. During the symposium, the candidates presented their research, met and discussed possible projects with UPSC group leaders and visited UPSC’s facilities.
“The research discussions were of course central to the programme, but we also offered a workshop with Umeå University’s Research Support and Collaborations Office to provide information about European research grants as well as time for social interactions and networking”, says Petra Marhava, one of the main organisers of the previous and the coming symposium. “We received very positive feedback from the participants which reassured us to continue with the same format also next year.”
The programme for the upcoming symposium in March is not finalised yet but the organisers plan to address the suggested improvements from the participants of the previous symposium. For instance, they moved the symposium from June to March so that the postdoctoral candidates and the group leaders have more time to prepare applications for European postdoctoral fellowships, which mostly have a deadline in autumn. They will also try to include an inspirational lecture by a more senior group leader in addition the one by a junior group leader to give a more complete picture about the possible challenges of an academic career.
“The most difficult point to address is that the invitation to the symposium does not come along with a definite job offer. Postdoctoral fellowships from Marie Curie, EMBO or HFSP are very prestigious, but it costs time to apply, and they are very competitive”, says Laura Bacete, who recently started her research group at UPSC and was invited herself to a similar symposium in Norway before starting her postdoc there a couple of years ago.
“We think that the participation in the symposium is still very valuable for the invited candidates because they can get feedback on their research and expand their network without any expenses from their side.”
Stéphane Verger adds: “As a group leader you are depending on qualified staff that fits into your team. If I meet such a candidate that is willing to apply together with me for a fellowship, I will try my best to find a backup solution in case the application is not successful. Moreover, there are all the time new postdoc opportunities coming up at UPSC and those candidates might fit well to one of these openings.”
The application for the symposium is still open until Tuesday, the 9th of January. Besides their CV and references, applicants are expected to send in a cover letter explaining their research interests and motivation and they should mention UPSC group leaders they would be interested in working with. Once the application is closed, an evaluation committee will go through all applications, select the most promising candidates, and invite them for the symposium in March.
More information about the UPSC Symposium for Early Career Plant Scientists
For questions regarding the symposium, please contact:
Laura Bacete, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Email:
https://www.upsc.se/laura_bacete
Petra Marhava, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Email:
https://www.upsc.se/petra_marhava
Stéphane Verger
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Email:
https://www.upsc.se/stephane_verger