Research news

  • AI is not always fair – we need to solve the ethical dilemmas

    Machines lack human intelligence, and relying on them for important decisions can therefore be dangerous. AI may discriminate, lie and make mistakes – without feeling guilty about it. Clàudia Figueras’s research on ethics and AI shows how we can approach the problem.

  • Household power – from consumer to producer of energy

    Stockholm University joins ENERPOL, a project where leading European institutions explore policy strategies that empower households in the energy transition. Households are redefined: They are not only consumers, but also producers and flexibility providers critical to a fair, climate-neutral energy system.

  • It takes more than just a new app to go digital

    In his fresh PhD thesis, Rahmat Mulyana explores successful digital transformation. He stresses the importance of IT governance to balance between control and flexibility. We asked him what organizations can do to up their digital game.

  • Virtual patients can help nurses in real-life situations

    When health care providers meet patients, communication is key. If the nurse doesn’t ask relevant questions, important information may be left out which could lead to the wrong diagnosis and treatment. Virtual patients are here to help with clinical reasoning.

  • Postdoc fellowship (2 years) in bioinformatics of plant-microbe interactions – deadline 25 January

    A postdoctoral stipend is available with an actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses. The position is sponsored by the Carl Trygger Foundation to the laboratory of Professor Katharina Pawlowski at Stockholm University in the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences. The department has approximately 100 employees, including 25 research groups, 10 postdocs and approximately 35 PhD students; research and teaching are conducted in an international environment. Project description The successful applicant will be part of a team aiming to understand the evolution of root nodule symbioses in general. All root nodule symbioses go back to a common ancestor on the plant side, while on the bacterial side, they involve either rhizobia (Gram-negative unicellular soil bacteria) or Frankia strains (Gram-positive soil actinobacteria that grow as a mycelium). Due to their agricultural importance and comparative user-friendliness, research has mostly focused on legumes and rhizobia. However, actinorhizal symbioses have a wider phylogenetic range and Frankia strains are presumed to have been the first microsymbionts. Therefore, we are working on the actinorhizal symbioses of Cucurbitales (Datisca spp., Coriaria spp.), including comparisons with Fagales (Alnus glutinosa, Casuarina glauca). The overarching goal of the proposed work is to identify the genomic features required for the symbioses of Cucurbitales, since this order contains agriculturally important species. Job duties The successful applicant will mainly work with the analysis of plant transcriptomes as well as plant and bacterial genomes (assembly, annotation, comparative genomics). This would include the set-up of pipelines and workflows. Phylogenetic studies have to be done as well. Eligibility requirements Applicants are expected to have a doctoral degree – either a PhD in Bioinformatics or a PhD in Biology with strong experience in bioinformatics. Good communication skills in English are required. Basis of assessment The doctoral degree should have been completed no more than six years before the application date. The selection is based on documented experience, analysis methods included in the application, and publication history. Terms of the stipend The position is a full-time stipend and costs for the second year are only available after submission and approval from the funding Foundation based on a brief statement (1-2 pages) of the first year’s activities. Note that this is a tax-free stipend, with guest insurance from Kammarkollegiet. The starting date of the position is planned to be March 1, 2025 or by agreement.  Stockholm University strives to be a workplace that is free from discrimination and provides equal opportunities for everyone. Application You apply for employment by sending your application as one compiled pdf direct to Katharina Pawlowski (contact details below) before 25 Jan 2025. When you apply, we ask you to specify the following information attached as a single document or pdf: personal cover letter which describes briefly your motivation to apply for the position and what makes you suitable for the project. CV – degrees and other educations, work experience and list of publications, awards, and details on: contact, language skills, and contact information for 2–3 reference persons  project plan/research plan (should not exceed 3 pages) describing: why and how you want to carry out the described project above. copy of proof of doctoral degree own publications that you wish to refer to (max. 3 files). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please feel free to contact Katharina Pawlowski if you have any questions regarding the application materials.  Welcome with your application! Contact Professor Katharina Pawlowski katharina.pawlowski@su.se    

  • Tanja Slotte receives funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation

    Each year, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation awards research grants in the fields of medicine, science, and technology to research projects that are judged to have such high scientific potential that they are likely to lead to future scientific breakthroughs. Each project is evaluated by a group of international experts in the respective field. Six research projects at Stockholm University got funded this year, one of which is Tanja Slotte’s project entitled “Harnessing evolutionary transitions, machine learning, and genomics to decode pollen evolution and unravel sexual selection mechanisms shared across kingdoms” . Co-applicants on the project are Prof John Fitzpatrick, Dr Allison Hsiang, and Prof Catarina Rydin, all at Stockholm University.