Biologibloggen

Hej ! My name is Antoine Touret. I’m a French and Chilean PhD student in the Vision Group, supervised by Dr. Marcus Stensmyr. I’m currently studying the systematics and adaptation of some unusual fruit flies! How does a fly go from being a cosmopolitan human commensal (like D. melanogaster) to living in crabs (like D. carcinophila)? And what is the genomic footprint of such a transition?

The journey of this fly begins in La Serena, Chile, where I lived the first 18 years of my life. Then I moved to Paris in 2018, where I completed a Bachelor’s in General Biology and a Master’s in Integrative Biology and Physiology. I did all my internships working with Drosophilidae, so they’re in my heart and on my mind, always.

Besides biology, I love listening to music and learning new things. I also enjoy reading, hiking, running, and studying languages; so Swedish might be the next one on the list… unless you give me a reason to learn yours instead.

november 14, 2025

Inger Ekström

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Hej! I’m Danielle, a new postdoc from Canada working with Anna Runemark and Maj Rundlöf. My background is in landscape genetics and landscape genomics, and I am here to study the patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity in populations of the small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus) in southern Sweden. Our aim with this project is to identify landscape features and characteristics that influence butterfly connectivity.

I completed my MSc in conservation biology at the University of Kent in the UK, where I studied spatial patterns of the chytrid fungus impacting populations of amphibians in Honduras. I then returned to Canada to study montane bumble bee populations during my PhD at the University of Calgary in Canada. During this time, I tested hypotheses related to the impact of heterogeneous landscapes on bumble bee abundance, species richness, gene flow, and local adaptation.

Next, I completed a PostDoc position at the Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Marine and Continental Ecology (IMBE) in Aix-en-Provence, France, investigating how patterns of habitat amount and fragmentation related to gene flow and genetic diversity in red squirrel populations in the south of France.

Outside of research I dabble in a variety of hobbies, from music (I play the piano, flute and saxophone, and was part of a community jazz band for many years) to sports (I have played volleyball, tennis, soccer, flag football, and will happily try pretty much any sport except dodgeball!) and outdoor activities including climbing and hiking. I’ve already felt very welcomed by the department here at Lund, and can’t wait to continue getting to know everyone here!

november 13, 2025

Inger Ekström

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Hej! I’m Chloe Kaczvinsky, a new post-doc working with Andreas Nord and Cilla Lundberg at the BMC. I’m exploring thermal tolerance in birds using experimental genetic methods. The ultimate goal is to find out what happens to birds on a steadily heating Earth.

I was raised in Louisiana, USA (nowhere near New Orleans). I then spent four years in Philadelphia, where I studied international relations and biology. I did my MSc. in entomology in rural Alabama, and then moved to England for my DPhil. I then spent five years trying to get DNA from bird faeces, wrestling code, and occasionally chasing penguins in the wild. I have a general interest in astrobiology and life in extreme environments.

When not at work, you’ll find me engaging in any variety of crafty hobbies, including spindle spinning and quilting, or reading. I’d love any good information about Lund or crucial Swedish experiences I should have while here.

november 4, 2025

Inger Ekström

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Hej! My name is Viktor, and I recently started as a PhD student in Olivier Van Aken’s lab at the Division of Molecular Biosciences. My research focuses on identifying the molecular signalling pathways that enable plants to perceive and respond to touch and other types of mechanical stimulation, and how this knowledge can be used to increase yield and stress resistance in crops.

I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s in molecular biology here in Lund. During my studies, I quickly developed a deep interest in plants. I find it fascinating that, despite being sessile organisms, they are constantly interacting with and responding to their environment. To me, it’s amazing that such “silent” organisms can be so active.

When I’m not touching plants, I enjoy listening to music (especially indie and electronic), playing the trumpet, running, cold bathing, being out in nature, and watching my favourite football team, IF Elfsborg. Feel free to swing by my office if you’re looking for music recommendations or want to chat about Swedish football! See you around!

oktober 22, 2025

Inger Ekström

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Hi everyone!

I’m Fereshteh Ghadamgahi, a PhD student from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran, currently visiting the Division for Biodiversity & Evolution, Department of Biology at Lund University, under the supervision of Professor Erik Svensson. I joined Lund in September 2025 for a one-year research and training visit.

My doctoral research focuses on animal genetics, genetic diversity, and bioinformatics, with an emphasis on detecting selection signatures and genetic diversity in livestock species. In Sweden, I am working on identifying genomic signatures of selection in Ischnura elegans by comparing DNA-seq data from Sweden and Cyprus. The goal is to detect local adaptations — such as genes involved in heat tolerance in Cyprus versus cold tolerance in Sweden — and to interpret these patterns using population genetic analyses and gene ontology approaches.

Before starting my PhD, I completed my M.Sc. in Animal Genetics and Breeding at the Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, where I worked on the genetic characterisation of growth and egg-production traits in native chickens of Khorasan Razavi province using Bayesian methods. I also contributed to studies on genetic polymorphisms of candidate genes (such as PEPCK-C using PCR-RFLP) and comparison of different heritability models in Iranian native fowl.

Outside of research, I enjoy music, travelling, and exploring nature. I am excited both to learn new bioinformatics methods and to experience the beautiful landscapes and culture of Sweden during my stay.

oktober 3, 2025

Inger Ekström

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Hej! I’m Karla Münzner, a new postdoc in Karin Rengefors’ research group. I’m an aquatic ecologist and I study harmful algal blooms – slimy blooms, toxic blooms, ideally blooms that are both! I want to find out what causes harmful algal blooms, what makes them toxic, and how they affect other parts of aquatic ecosystems, like biogeochemical cycles. During my time at Lund University, I will focus on toxic cyanobacteria blooms (specifically Microcystis) in Vombsjön (close to Lund), in collaboration with Christian Alsterberg at Sydvatten AB. Our goal is to figure out which environmental conditions select for toxic Microcystis strains, and use that knowledge to develop tools for early warning systems that can be used to manage drinking water resources.

After a master’s in aquatic ecology at Lund University, I did my PhD at Uppsala University in Sweden. I studied the harmful alga Gonyostomum semen, better known as “gubbslem” in Swedish, which forms slimy algae blooms in many brown water lakes in Sweden and other countries. My work focused on why this alga grows so much in brown water lakes (it needs high amounts of iron to grow) and how it affects carbon cycling in those lakes, specifically carbon (it can turn lakes from carbon sources to carbon sinks for a short time).

After my PhD, I worked at IGB Berlin as a postdoc for two years and investigated what causes toxicity in the harmful alga Prymnesium parvum, after a bloom of this alga killed thousands of fish in the Oder River in Germany/Poland in 2022.

I’m happy to be back in Sweden, and I look forward to hiking around Skåne, enjoying fika and visiting many lakes and other aquatic ecosystems (both for work and fun). I also enjoy racket sports (badminton, paddel, table tennis), so let me know if you ever want to play! Other than that, I’ll likely read a lot of books (preferably fantasy and historical novels) and try new fika recipes.

oktober 1, 2025

Inger Ekström

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