There are nearly fifty open vacancies for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions at the University of Turku from 1 January 2023 onwards. The call for applications is open 29 August – 16 September 2022. All current doctoral researchers as well as those who are also applying for the study right for doctoral training can apply for the funded positions.
A new study shows that horses can be more reluctant in new situations if they have multiple riders, have had several owners or the horse has been with its current owner only for a short period of time. The results of the international research group that studied the interaction between horses and humans also indicate that it takes time to build a good interactive relationship with a horse.
Researchers of the Biodiversity Unit and the Department of Biology at the University of Turku won this year’s Elias Tillandz Prize with their opinion piece on the effects of the herbicide glyphosate on species interactions and insect biodiversity. The Prize was awarded to the researchers at the BioCity symposium on Thursday, 25 August 2022.
The antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacterium is one of the most globally harmful bacteria that causes hospital-acquired infections. Researchers at the University of Turku have discovered that the bacterium spreads by attaching to surfaces using ultrathin stretchy fibers. The researchers also revealed how these fibers are formed on the bacterial surface and suggested new approaches to prevent bacterial infections. The new findings have been published in Nature, one of the leading scientific journals in the World.
A research group headed by senior researcher Jianwei Li at the MediCity Research Laboratory has explored a new type of materials called supramolecular plastics that would substitute the conventional polymeric plastics with an eco-friendlier material promoting sustainable development. The mechanical properties of the supramolecular plastic created by the researchers using liquid-liquid phase separation were comparable to conventional polymers, but the new plastic decomposes much more easily and would be easier to reuse.
University of Turku takes part in the newly launched Horizon Europe project IN SITU - Place-based innovation of cultural and creative industries in non-urban areas (2022–2026). IN SITU is coordinated by the Centre of Social Studies at the University of Coimbra.
The department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Turku is a partner in the international Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) project, which will play a key role in shepherding in a new era of gravitational wave science. The GOTO observatory is made up of two identical telescope arrays on opposite sides of the planet that will track down sources of gravitational waves resulting from violent cosmic events that create ripples in the fabric of space-time itself.
Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Turku, InLAMES Flagship Director Jukka Westermarck has been nominated as a member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) executive board. EACR is Europe's largest association promoting cancer research and has more than 10,000 members worldwide.
An international research group has investigated the mechanisms of cell migration and the impact of tissue rigidity on cell positioning and steering. The research sheds light on e.g. cancer cell migration and opens new possibilities for stopping and directing it.
Researchers from the University of Turku have described seven new fern species from the rainforests of tropical America. Many of the species were uncovered as the by-product of ecological research: the species diversity in tropical forests is still so poorly known that field trips and herbarium work keep discovering previously unknown species.