I joined LBN as a Senior Staff Scientist in the Earth Science Division in February 2008. Prior to that, I was heading the Department of Plant Biology & Forest Genetics, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden, where I held the Professor Chair in Molecular Cell Biology from 1999-2008. During 1994-1999, I was Professor in Biochemistry at the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Stockholm University.

My research involves plant and cyanobacterial biochemistry and molecular biology, with emphasis on photosynthesis and primary metabolism. Focal points of interest include:

Source-sink interaction and photosynthate allocation in starch crops. We characterize the regulatory network that control starch synthesis in cereals and cassava. We have isolated a family of transcription factors (the SUSIBAs) and shown that they participate in sugar-signaling regulation of starch synthesis during barley endosperm development, and we are further investigating their functions and activities.

Rhythmicity of gene expression during starch synthesis. We study diurnal fluctuations of gene expression during barley endosperm development. We have also demonstrated the presence of an oscillator that regulates gene expression during starch synthesis in the cassava storage root.

Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria and plants for enhanced CO₂ fixation. By understanding the mechanisms behind sink inhibition of photosynthesis we hope to be able to engineer cyanobacteria and plants with increased photosynthetic capacity, for biomass and product formation, and for CO₂ sequestration.

Cyanobacteria as bioreactors for liquid biofuel. We are exploring freshwater and marine cyanobacteria as production systems for biodiesel.

BarleyFunFood. The objective of this program is to exploit the barley endosperm as a resource for value-added food and feed, with particular interest in β-glucan and resistant starch.

Starch as a renewable and CO₂-neutral feedstock for non-food products. The purpose here is in planta production of modified starches for different industrial applications.

Antisense ODN technology. We have established antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) inhibition as a powerful diagnostic tool for gene function analysis in plant biology, and we continue to improve the method and are exploring novel applications.