The Faculty of Science and Technology

The electrical energy system is vital infrastructure for society and this has become increasingly evident in recent years, both in Sweden and abroad. The energy system is based increasingly on IT, and is dependent on solutions protected by cybersecurity measures.

My research is primarily based on my experience in electricity transmission systems at high voltage levels – called power grids or transmission networks – with a focus on data communication and cybersecurity. My doctoral thesis in the 1990s dealt with data communication in power system control for transmission networks. At the time it was the first of its kind, and was based on academic work as well as in the industry. My research work continued at Svenska kraftnät (a public authority operating the Swedish national transmission system) and subsequently came to be about cybersecurity for power systems. This work was based on collaborations in international working groups. Over the past fourteen years as a Head of Research, I have acquired knowledge about the electricity system as a whole, in particular high-voltage/electricity transmission, and established collaboration interfaces between academia and the public authority.

I look forward to continuing my work in digitalisation and cybersecurity for electricity systems, which is work I have been doing first as an adjunct professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and later at Uppsala University. I also see teaching as an important part of disseminating knowledge and in seeking to interest potential future colleagues in this work.

In my work researching the electric power system, I study the challenges that arise in connection with the energy transition, and the changes required for the transition to 100% renewable energy production.

One of my most important areas of focus is maintaining stability in the electric power system to assure electricity supply under a range of conditions. I investigate different strategies for effectively integrating renewable energy and optimising the capacity of the transmission network. The electric power system is a complex system in which many different processes and variables need to be monitored and controlled in order to ensure its stability and reliability.

To meet these challenges, I design mathematical models to study the behaviour of the electric power system under stable conditions and in situations involving various types of disturbances using new technologies that are integrated into the system. These challenges can be addressed by developing various control strategies and innovative solutions, and my research contributes to increasing the capacity, stability and reliability of the electric power system. As a researcher, I aim to contribute to a successful transition to 100% renewable energy production

We live in a society that is heavily digitalised, where computers control a wide range of the devices we use on a daily basis such as smart TVs, avionics, medical equipment, nuclear safeguards, etc.

Given the increasing prevalence of computers in our lives, security has become a crucial problem. It is therefore important to ensure that the software running on our computers is error-free in order to prevent catastrophic and costly consequences in terms of money, lives and work.

My research is about the development of verification and testing techniques based on mathematical principles. These techniques are implemented in tools that aim to automatically demonstrate a program’s correctness, or find and fix errors in the software. My current research interests are broad, and include the verification of distributed systems, parallel programming and web applications.

Large quantities of data on human behaviour and social relationships in digital form are now available to researchers. For example, in some cases conversations on social media may be downloaded and analysed. This information can be used to supplement the data sources that are used more traditionally in the social sciences, creating new opportunities for understanding contemporary society.

My research laboratory develops methods and algorithms for analysing digital data from social media platforms. Over the past decade, I have mainly worked with algorithms for social network analysis, in particular for social networks where interactions may be of different types or take place at different times. For example, our research results can be used to identify bots that spread (dis)information on social media platforms, and to study the polarisation of online political debate. Our results are used by many other researchers through their use of the software we develop. My most recent research interests also concern the use of social network data on a country scale (for example, social networks for the entire population of a country) and artificial intelligence (for example, deep neural networks that generate explanations for images and texts) in social sciences research.

As the world develops, knowledge of the mechanisms that control the Earth and their dynamics is crucial for understanding the processes that lead to mountain building and which bring on natural disasters such as earthquakes, as well as how critical raw materials are formed and deposited. Hence, my research focuses primarily on processes connected with mountain building with a focus on the metamorphosis of bedrock, how fluids interact with the bedrock and their role in the element cycling that occurs deep down in the Earth’s crust and mantle. In addition, I study the chemistry of rare earth metals and mineral systems.

In my research I use a broad spectrum of tools, methods and field studies. I use different types of microscopy and in situ analysis techniques to obtain the chemical and isotopic composition of minerals and bedrock in order to map the development paths of the bedrock.

I am also involved in research in experimental mineralogy and petrology. This research contributes to a better understanding of the interaction of fluids with bedrock in extreme environments such as subduction zones. I also work with the development of sustainable methods for the use of critical elements from raw materials, including secondary assets such as tailings and other mining waste.

In recent decades, we have seen a rapid rise in global average temperatures, mainly due to human activities. Although in Sweden we do not live in an average climate, we are nevertheless affected by the climate’s variability, for example through extreme weather events. What causes various extreme weather events, and how will a warmer climate affect future events of this kind and their impact on the community? These are the core questions in my research.

My work covers several different subject areas. I always start out from a physical and mathematical description of extreme weather, but then also work with the impact of extreme weather events on the community. For example, my research group and I have studied how large-scale movements of air in the atmosphere can cause coincidental extreme weather events in different parts of the world – in the current and future climate. We have also worked to develop a database of the costs to the community of various extreme weather events, and studied how one and the same event can have completely different impacts in different parts of the community.

My long-term goal is to further develop an interdisciplinary understanding of extreme weather that utilises physical and mathematical analyses to illustrate how our communities are impacted by extreme weather today and will be in the future.

My research lies in the borderland between particle physics and astrophysics. I am a member of the IceCube Collaboration, an international research group that built the first and largest neutrino detector in the world. Neutrinos are elementary particles produced in dense and violent objects in the Universe, such as the environment around black holes or fusions of neutron stars. The idea behind a neutrino detector is to open a new window to the Universe by means of a new messenger that is not electromagnetic in nature, in contrast to those used by traditional telescopes. IceCube first discovered neutrinos of astrophysical origin in 2013. But neutrinos are particles that are interesting in themselves, and my research is focused on exploring the boundaries of particle physics using neutrinos reaching the Earth from far away in the cosmos, and with energies millions of times higher than those achievable in human-made accelerators.

In my research, I use neutrinos to search for physics not described by the Standard Model – our current theory of elementary particles and their interaction. Astrophysical neutrinos can be used to search for dark matter, to test the validity of the basic laws of physics beyond current precision levels, and to search for new particles predicted in theories that expand the Standard Model of particle physics. These searches for anomalies in our current understanding of fundamental physics can help us to establish the nature of dark matter, and help us to understand the early evolution of the Universe.

Simulation is often called the third pillar of science alongside theory and experimentation. By simulating processes in physics, geology and medicine for example, time-consuming, costly and potentially unethical experiments can be minimised. Simulations allow researchers to forecast future phenomena to give a conception of future scenarios based on a range of assumptions.

For simulations to serve as a useful tool, you need robust calculation methods that are programmed and run on powerful computers. This means that the methods need to be accurate, efficient and stable, i.e. they must compute a result that is close to the exact result in a short time. Developing, implementing and analysing such methods are keys aspects of the research subject computational science.

The areas of application that I have principally studied are option pricing problems in finance, and glaciology, which is the study of the movement of glaciers and inland ice sheets. In both cases, my research is about how to design a method that applies computational power where it is most needed to obtain as accurate results as possible in a short time. In glaciology, this mainly involves taking into account that physical processes are different in different parts of the ice; and for option pricing problems, it is important to take advantage of the fact that you are most interested in an accurate solution in just one part of the area.

I study how ecology and evolution converge to give rise to the reproductive diversity of plants. I have two main lines of research. Firstly, I study adaptation and the origins of species using non-native plants as model systems. We have shown that these non-native plants can develop rapidly in response to natural selection and even give rise to new species. One of my proudest scientific achievements is the discovery of a new species of monkey flower in Scotland that has evolved over just the last 150 years.

I also study buzz pollination or sonification, where bees use powerful vibrations in their chest muscles to shake the pollen loose from flowers. Buzz pollination is utilised by thousands of species of plants and bees, including crops like tomatoes, but we still know relatively little about how it works and why it develops. I use a multidisciplinary approach, from behaviours to biomechanics, and field expeditions around the world to find out how and why bees buzz-pollinate flowers.

Ceramics, which has a history spanning thousands of years, are among the oldest materials we use. Their special characteristics have contributed significantly to advances in everyday applications as well as a variety of technologically advanced fields including electronics, the automotive industry, energy and medicine. There are still challenges and interests to pursue in achieving controlled multi-functionality and mechanics in ceramics, despite concerns about their innate fragility.

My research focuses on bioceramics and glass-ceramic matrix composites, and is driven by clinical needs. This research includes the synthesis and mechanical analysis of nanostructured ceramics and the exploration of their physicochemical and biological properties. For example, ceramics serve as a drug-free platform for bone tissue regeneration, the treatment of tooth sensitivity, and pathogen control. In addition, a new generation of glass ceramics that have high transparency, flexural strength and reduced fragility is emerging as a promising choice for dental reconstructions and implants.

The overall goal is to deepen our understanding of the interaction between synthesis, structure and properties. This knowledge forms the basis for designing and making progress in superior ceramics-based biomaterials. Finally, my research aims to satisfy patient requirements and present solutions to clinical complexities.