Newsmakers at KTH

Gold nanoparticles to destroy cancer cells

Mariana Dalarsson , Assistant Professor in Electromagnetic Engineering, is one of the two recipients of this year’s L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science in Sweden award. She has received the award for “investigating how gold nanoparticles can be doped with nutrients that enables them to be selectively absorbed by and then destroy cancer cells via an innovative combination of electromagnetic engineering and biophysics”. The award, which identifies and supports women who have shown great potential in science and engineering, is presented by L’Oréal Sweden, The Young Academy of Sweden, and the Swedish National Commission for Unesco.

Honorary doctor praised as a role model

Alicia Dickenstein, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Buenos Aires, who was awarded an honorary doctorate at KTH last year, has been presented with a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award. Dickenstein is one of five researchers from different parts of the world who have received the award for their long-term scientific research accomplishments. Dickenstein represents Latin America and the Caribbean.

Boosting remote workers

Andrea Eriksson , Docent in Ergonomics, has been awarded a grant of SEK 4.6 million from Afa Insurance for a project on the consequences of working from home during the pandemic. She intends to research how the switch to digital channels can be further developed to promote trust, commitment and performance. The study will be performed in consultation with two companies in the private sector.

EU funds for young researchers

Four young researchers have received EU funding within the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) mobility programme for research at KTH. Erica Zegilio is going to research as part of a project on organic bioelectronics, a subject field that spans the border between medicine and electronics. Ingrid Campo-Ruiz is going to study architectonic design in an interdisciplinary case study into public buildings in Sweden. Elena Subbotina  is participating in a project within Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology that aims to develop new knowledge about the breakdown of polymers and toxicity and for use within biolelectronic interfaces. Anna Liguori is participating in a project that is developing strategies for environment issues linked to single use plastics with the aim of achieving global goals for sustainable production and consumption. The MSCA programme aims to enable excellent and innovative research by increasing international exchange opportunities and supporting the career development of researchers.

High climate ranking for KTH

KTH is ranked third in the Climate Students rankings of Swedish universities. A total of 25 universities and colleges are included in the rankings based on actual emissions, emission reductions and their climate work aims. Goals, action plans and the most careful measurement of total emissions of greenhouse gases score most highly in the climate aims. When it comes to reducing emissions, this is based on the lowest emissions from business related air travel in the last year and the biggest reduction in emissions from air travel between 2019 and 2020, respectively. Climate Students is a student movement created to support Swedish universities in rapidly reducing their emissions.

Water purification for the future

The Mistra TerraClean research programme, headed by Ulrica Edlund , Professor at the Division of Polymer Technology, has won the VA Prize. The award presented by VA Fakta, an organisation that represents the interests of the water and wastewater sector in Sweden, was for her research efforts and findings on purifying Swedish tap water and to resolve the global water shortage. The research programme, that involves several universities, research institutes and companies, aims to find new and effective ways to remove environmentally hazardous substances from the air, water and soil.

New method for measuring the coronavirus

The national research programme into Covid-19 at the SciLifeLab has received a further SEK 50 million in financing from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW). In one of the new projects, Ilaria Testa , a biophysics researcher, is going to investigate a new method to measure how viruses interact and mature via rotation mobility. Research within the programme aims both to combat the ongoing pandemic and to prepare Sweden for future pandemics.

Mathematician wins the Göran Gustafsson Prize

Mathematics Professor David Rydh  has been awarded the Göran Gustafsson Prize. He receives the Prize for his work within algebraic geometry where he has solved problems previously considered unsolvable. The Prize, a research grant worth SEK 1.5 million and a personal cheque for SEK 250,000, is awarded by the Göran Gustafsson Foundation for Scientific and Medical Research. The Foundation presents five researchers under the age of 46 with prizes annually, in mathematics, physics, chemistry, molecular biology and medicine.

Students gain podium places in Europe

A student team from KTH came third out of 350 participating teams in an international competition, TIMES, for students within industrial economics. The KTH team of Adam Wuilmart, Erik Harrysson, Lara Güleryüz and Olof Rickhammar solved an assignment to develop a business strategy. The competition, arranged by sector organisation ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management), attracted 1,400 students from 60 universities in Europe.

Technology and infrastructure talents

Two students at KTH made their mark at the Universum Awards. Benjamin Smakic was named Infrastructure Talent of the Year, while Johan Hammarstedt won the Technology Talent of the Year Award. The winners were named in partnership with the Swedish Transport Administration and SE Bank. Universum is an international recruitment company that works with universities, alumni groups and employers in around 20 countries.

Text: Christer Gummeson