New stress response modeling research school open and recruiting

Universal complexity science principles are vital for understanding large-scale phenomena that shape ecosystems and determine climate change impacts

Starting in spring of 2025, Umeå University’s interdisciplinary research hub, IceLab (Integrated Science Lab), will host the Stress Response Modeling Graduate Research School. The program, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Swedish Research Council’s Centres of Excellence initiative, is currently advertising five PhD positions. 

A Multidisciplinary Focus on Stress Response Modeling 

The research school connects to the theme of IceLab’s Centre of Excellence: modeling adaptive mechanisms in living systems under stress. Its goal is to prepare the next generation of scientists to tackle significant challenges in environmental and life sciences by combining computational and empirical approaches. 

The five PhD positions span projects at the intersection of computational science, immunology, plant sciences, and ecology. Three projects will be based at the Department of Physics, one at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and one at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science. All projects are inherently collaborative, with supervisory teams connected to multiple departments.

These positions offer candidates the chance to begin their PhD journeys as part of a cohort, fostering synergy across diverse projects. Students will benefit from a highly supportive and collaborative research environment within IceLab. 

Complexity science in focus in the research school 

Students will gain expertise in complexity science and computational biology, applying these disciplines to living systems. This approach is critical for identifying common mechanisms across diverse systems, explains Ludvig Lizana, IceLab associate professor and deputy head of the Physics department, and person responsible for organizing the research school’s curriculum. 

“For example,”, continues Ludvig, “uncovering how immune memory gets established or how plants respond to drought requires modeling system-wide emergent behaviors that arise from cellular interactions. Also, universal complexity science principles—such as nonlinear responses, feedback loops, and tipping points—are vital for understanding large-scale phenomena that shape ecosystems and determine climate change impacts”. 

The program emphasizes tools and frameworks to understand stress responses across scales, from cellular to ecosystem levels, and to model adaptations to environmental change.   

Course package and research exchange opportunities 

In addition to the standard course requirements for departmental PhD programs, doctoral researchers in the research school will be expected to complete a customizable curriculum with a minimum of 25 ECTS from a comprehensive course package. Core courses will provide a shared foundation, while elective options allow students to tailor their learning to specific research needs. 

Two courses will be considered core: Modeling Stress Response Mechanisms and IceLab Camp. While IceLab Camp is a well-established and internationally known training program focused on interdisciplinary collaboration and communication for research proposal generation, the Modeling Stress Response Mechanisms course will be developed by the principal investigators of Stress Response Modeling at IceLab. It will provide a common theoretical framework for the research school’s students. 

Additional courses will cover topics such as fundamental mathematical models in evolution, ecological dynamics, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, mathematical ecology, among others still to be developed.  
 
Beyond these topics, the program emphasizes the development of transferable skills, such as scientific communication and grant writing. Students will also gain access to IceLab’s vibrant community and opportunities for international research exchanges, such as attending complexity science schools abroad. 
 
“This program is a unique opportunity to explore the complex mechanisms of life under stress, bridging disciplines to tackle fundamental challenges in science. We are so excited about the program and look forward to welcoming the PhD students”, says Martin Rosvall, IceLab’s director and Professor at the Department of Physics. 
 

Join Now 

The Stress Response Modeling Graduate Research School offers a singular chance to advance your research career at the intersection of computational and life sciences. As part of this program, you will investigate how living systems respond to stress and adapt to environmental changes while building strong computational and theoretical expertise.

In addition to the five advertised positions, other PhD students are welcome to express their interest in participating in the research school.

Applications for the five PhD positions close on 16 February 2025.