Activities

A list ongoing and upcoming activites, including open positions, projects and meetings is given  below. We strongly encourage you to post any relevant activity here (upcoming conferences, postdoc or PhD positions, new instrumentation available, etc) by emailing the Board.

Promotion of publications, however,  is done under the Knowledge Bank menu, and our own conferences are listed under the Conference menu. 

"Excellence by Choice" Postdoctoral Programme, Umeå, Sweden

Umeå University is currently implementing the "Excellence by Choice" Postdoctoral Programme in Life Science research to train outstanding young researchers and stimulate cutting-edge research.

As a collaboration between the two national Centres of Excellence . Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR) and Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) - the programme aims to encourage new synergies in Life Science with a focus on molecular and translational research and to strengthen world-class research activities in Umeå. Patron for the new programme will be Nobel Laureate Emmanuelle Charpentier, who discovered the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology during her time as a scientist and group leader in Umeå.

Several fellowships are open for outstanding postdoctoral candidates interested todo research in the highly interactive and multidisciplinary research environments of UCMR and UPSC. In the scope of the "Excellence by Choice" Postdoctoral Programme, we aim to recruit up to six postdoctoral scientists in this round.

The application deadline is April 3, 2022

For more details, please visit:

www.ucmr.umu.se/ec-programme

Postdoc position at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden

A one-year postdoc position is available at the reseatch group of associate professor Magnus Johnson at the Royal Institue of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden, with the title "Plant cell wall studies with nano infrared microscopy". The aim is to expand their existing research on cellulose, using nano IR microscopy, to natural plant cell walls.

The application deadline is February 7, 2021

For further details please visit:

https://www.kth.se/en/om/work-at-kth/stipendier

Vibrational Spectroscopy User License Course

Time: November 9-13, 2020

Place: Umeå University, Sweden

Registration deadline: October 30, 2018

Course fee: free

Introduction to  the basic theory of vibrational spectroscopy, with focus on applications of various types FT-IR and Raman spectrometers and microscopes and measurement techniques. Application areas range from biology and medicine to chemistry and physics, including high-throughput transgenic screening, chemical imaging of biological tissues, surface sensitive measurements of minerals, and the analysis of compositional changes in a range of materials from bacteria to semiconductors. Data handling and multivariate analysis techniques are introduced as well as practical demonstrations of the techniques.

Please note that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, participation is limited to nine people.

Register online here.

Vibrational Spectroscopy User License Course

Time: November 12-16, 2018

Place: Umeå University, Sweden

Registration deadline: October 28, 2018

Course fee: free

Introduction to  the basic theory of vibrational spectroscopy, with focus on applications of various types FT-IR and Raman spectrometers and microscopes and measurement techniques. Application areas range from biology and medicine to chemistry and physics, including high-throughput transgenic screening, chemical imaging of biological tissues, surface sensitive measurements of minerals, and the analysis of compositional changes in a range of materials from bacteria to semiconductors. Data handling and multivariate analysis techniques are introduced as well as practical demonstrations of the techniques.

Register online here.

Spring 2019 ACS National Meeting - Division of Cellulose and Renewable Materials

The Division of Cellulose and Renewable Materials of the Spring 2019 ACS National Meeting (March-April 2019) is now calling for papers. ISPS is involved in organizing a symposium dedicated to the “Fluorescence Techniques Applied to Lignocellulose Characterization”.

This symposium is focused on the spectral and microscopy fluorescence techniques applied to lignocellulose characterization in planta or in lignocellulosic materials, including the following of cell wall biosynthesis by incorporation of fluorescent precursors (click-chemistry); evaluation of interactions between lignocellulose polymers via autofluorescence and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging, or between lignocellulose and proteins, such as enzymes via Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; measuring the nano-porosity of lignocellulose materials via Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; as well as 3D and 4D imaging of lignocellulose materials, etc.

We believe the symposium is of interest to all scientists working on lignocellulose polymer organization, interactions and (bio)transformation for various applications.

Submission deadline for oral abstract submission is Monday, October 29, 2018 via the link below:

https://callforpapers.acs.org/orlando2019/CELL

Chemical Imaging of Plant Cell Walls - PhD Course

Time: June 4-8, 2018

Place: University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Registration deadline: May 15, 2018

Course fee: € 200

This PhD-course introduces young researchers to a number of chemical imaging techniques that can provide spatially resolved chemical and structural information in high resolution. These include X-ray synchrotron techniques, Raman and Infrared Microspectroscopy, Ultraviolet MicroSpectroPhotometry, Atomic Force Microscopy, as well as advanced chemometric tools for analysing imaging data. The course is provided by an international team of expert researchers from Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA.

In connection with the course, students can apply for a limited number of short research stays at Scandinavian research institutions with free access to some of the described techniques. Furthermore, the course is a chance to network with fellow young researchers from across Europe while enjoying springtime in Southern Scandinavia.

Lecturers: Olivier Arnould, Université de Montpellier; Joseph Jakes, Forest Product Laboratory; Tobias Keplinger, ETH Zürich; Gerald Koch, Thünen Institute of Wood Research; Sara Piqueras Solsona and Lisbeth G. Thygesen, University of Copenhagen

For more information, please contact Lisbeth G. Thygesen directly by email or see the flyer.

Exploring Lignocellulosic Biomass 2018

Time: June 26-29, 2018

Place: Reims, France

Chaired by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research and the University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, together with local academic laboratories, ELB 2018 congress is dedicated to the different uses of lignocellulosic resource in both agroecosystems and biotechnology. ELB 2018 congress further aims at providing an overview of the challenges of i) lignocellulose biotransformation in soils, in relation to their fertility and to climate stabilization, ii) lignocellulose conversion by bio-physico-chemical processes to produce biobased chemicals, materials and fuels. The socio-economic point of view will be discussed in the context of the emerging bioeconomy.

There will be 6 interdisciplinary sessions covering all aspects of lignocellulose transformation and bioeconomy, with renowned keynote and invited speakers in each, presenting high-level research and their vision for lignocellulose transformation.

1. Biorefining for bioeconomy

2. Structural and chemical complexity of lignocellulose

3. Physical, chemical and biological deconstruction of lignocellulose

4. Lignocellulose as a source of organic matters in soils

5. Lignocellulose as a source of biomolecules for energy and platforms molecules

6. Biobased materials from lignocellulose

For more information and registration please visit:

ELB2018

ASPB Scholars Program

Time: August 11, 2017 (application deadline)

Place: ASPB

ASPB is announcing an exciting opportunity to nurture the next generation of plant scientists. Open to 20 exceptional undergraduate and graduate students studying plant biology, the ASPB Conviron Scholars Program delivers an experience that is intended to serve as the foundation for a career in plant science.

This program includes:

•1-year membership in ASPB

•Free registration to one ASPB regional section meeting

•Discounted registration to the Plant Biology Annual Meeting

•Opportunity to present a poster at the Plant Biology meeting

•Individual virtual mentoring and resume review

•A unique hands-on learning program

•Private online group network for ongoing discussions and Q&A

•Opportunities for exposure to plant biologists who have taken different career tracks

•Opportunity to submit an article to the ASPB blog

•A copy of the book Career Planning for Research Bioscientists

Participants will receive a certificate of completion after one year of successful participation.

For the 2017 program, a total of 20 students will be chosen to participate.

To learn more and apply, visit aspb.org/conviron.

Current Challenges in Plant Phenotyping

Time: 12-16 December, 2016

Place: Viikki campus, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

The aim of the course is to provide participants with a broad view of the newly developing research area of plant phenotyping. The course will make use of the newly acquired national research infrastructure equipment at the Helsinki node of the National Plant Phenotyping Infrastructre NaPPI. The equipment allows the possibility to analyse plant growth using non-invasive imaging technology.

Course topics include: a general introduction to phenotyping plant life cycle; growth, development, (a)biotic stress responses, photosynthesis, data acquisition and processing methods, forest phenotyping and special technologies such as chemical imaging (UV).

The course is comprised of lectures and practical experiments conducted using the imaging technology.

The course is intended mainly for PhD students. Advanced undergraduate students with a suitable background are also welcome.

For more information, please visit the course homepage or contact Karen Sims-Huopaniemi

PhD Course in Functional Materials and Surfaces, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden

This is a 5.5 credit course, starting in September, given completely online.

The overall aim is to provide an overview of functional materials and surfaces, including but not limited to cellulose based materials. Primarily, the course deals with advanced materials and surfaces which have, or are expected to get, great industrial importance. In addition to an understanding of the material itself, a description of the synthesis or design of each material will be undertaken. Topics that will be included are for example superhydrophobicity/superhydrophilicity, Langmuir-Blodgett films, self-assembly of thiols and silanes, surface cleaning, biosurfaces, conducting polymers, responsive materials, and surface modification of cellulose.

Contact Magnus Johnson at KTH, Stockholm if you’d like to take the course or if you have some questions.

Postdoc position in plant-microbe interaction at UPSC, Sweden

A postdoctoral opportunity is available in the group of Dr. Judith Felten at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences at the Umeå Plant Science Center (www.upsc.se), Sweden from early fall 2016 for two years. 

Deadline for application is July 3, 2016. Please contact  Judith Felten for more details, using "postdoc_ECM2016" in the subject line of your email.

June 23-24, 2016, Exploring lignocellulosic biomass, Reims, France

FARE (Fractionation of AgroResources and Environment) is a joint lab between the French National Research Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Reims Champagne-Ardenne University (URCA). FARE celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2016 with a scientific seminar, presenting the state-of-the-art in the field of lignocellulosic biomass transformation.The meeting will take place in the superb city of Reims, which hosts three exceptional UNESCO World Heritage sites and Champagne Houses. More information and registration   here.

June 14-17, 2016, Analytical Days, Umeå, Sweden

A great conference dedicated to analytical sciences and related fields with prominent invited speakers. Vibrational spectroscopy will also be represented. More information and registration   at Kemiportalen

February 23, 2016, Umeå Renewable Energy Meeting, Umeå, Sweden

A regular meeting series within the Bio4Energy project, focusing on biofuels. More informationn at  the homepage of Bio4Energy.

January 27-28, 2016, Advances of Raman Spectroscopy in Bio/Medical and Material Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

A seminar with selected talks focusing on different applications of Raman spectroscopy and imaging, including practical demonstrations and possibility to test recording one's own samples.

January 26-27, 2015: 4th Swedish Vibrational Spectroscopy Meeting, Gothenburg, Sweden

A conference dedicated to vibrational spectroscopy in all areas of research, including but not limited to plants. More information and registration  at: http://vibspec.se/page2.html

October 26-27, 2015: 4th Swedish Vibrational Spectroscopy Meeting, Gothenburg, Sweden

A conference dedicated to vibrational spectroscopy in all areas of research, including but not limited to plants. More information and registration  at: http://vibspec.se/page2.html

July 12-17, 2015: 8th International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy, Vienna, Austria

A conference dedicated to vibrational spectroscopy in all areas of research, not only for plants. More information and registration via the  homepage of the meeting.

May 6-8, 2015: RamanFest, Xiamen, Fujian, China

A symposium dedicated to Raman spectroscopy and imaging in general, including but not exclusive for plants. More information and registration via the  homepage of the meeting.

April 13-17, 2015: Vibrational Spectroscopy User License Course, Vibrational Spectroscopy Core Facility, Umeå University, Umeå Sweden

The course is to provide introduction to the field of vibrational spectroscopy by covering theoretical bases, techniques for recording and analysing vibrational spectra (including images), applicability areas and hands on experience with the instrumentation available at the Vibrational Spectroscopy Core Facility. The course is free of charge, but registration is required.

More information and registration via the homepage of the Vibrational Spectroscopy Core Facility.

August 24-28, 2014: Lignin 2014 meeting, Umeå, Sweden

The Lignin 2014 conference aims to strengthen our knowledge on the various aspects of lignin biosynthesis and utilization, from the basic cell biology, molecular biology to pre-treatment of plant biomass and utilization of lignin. The conference will take place at the beautiful river-side Arts Campus of Umeå University between August 24-28.

More information and registration on the conference homepage.