Learn more about the team and our alumni below.
In our work we use phylogenetics, comparative genomics, molecular ecology (long-read amplicons) and experimental methods to decipher the secret life of lichen photobionts.
Principle Investigator
Ioana Onut Brännström
I am a researcher in the Evolutionary Biology Programme at the Department of Ecology and Genetic at Uppsala University since March 2024. I completed my PhD at Uppsala University under the supervision of Prof. Hanna Johannesson in 2017, where I researched the symbiont transmission and mating system the cosmopolitan lichen Thamnolia.In 2018, I joined Dr. Fabien Burki’s lab from Uppsala University to work on protist research, using comparative genomics and phylogenomics to study free‑living and parasitic species. Between 2022 and 2024, I was awarded the prestigious Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. During this period, I returned to lichen research, focusing on photobionts in Prof. Hugo de Boer’s group at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo.
In my free time, I love to train karate (3rd black belt instructor) and gardening.
PhD Students
Beatrice Bylén
My PhD revolves around unraveling phylogenetic relationships, genetic diversity, and genomic features of lichen-associated algal photobionts. I’m especially interested in one of the most common lichen photobionts – green algal species from the genus Trebouxia. I will explore Trebouxia samples from a diverse range of environments to study population structure, distribution ranges, and dispersal mechanisms.
Part of my work will also be to investigatee and compare photobiont community composition in lichens collected in different climatic zones within Sweden as well as globally.
Veronika Veselá
I am currently a guest PhD student supported by an ERASMUS+ grant from Charles University in Prague, affiliated with Pavel Škaloud’s laboratory.
My Research Interests is the mechanisms of lichen dispersal and establishment.
Undergraduate students
Ester Ward
I am doing my bachelor thesis on a ‘Mission Impossible’ project: : I will try to kill the photobionts of the lichen Evernia prunastri to replace with fluorescent photobionts marked with Quantum Dots.
Fun fact about me: I love knitting.
Agnes Jämtjärn
I am currently working on my bachelor thesis with Ioana. I will investigate, using bioinformatics, the composition and abundance of photobionts across three Thamolina species.
In my spare time i enjoy having a beer with friends and i also train BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) which is really really fun!
Karl Angervall
I am doing my bachelor thesis this spring on the photobiont dynamics in two lichen across seasons, and if this change is connected with the environmental conditions. I will be investigating this through bioinformatics using DADA2. In addition, if time is available, the results will be confirmed through doing a digital PCR.
When I am not investigating lichens, I am a big film enthusiast. I try to go to the cinema as much as I can and watch every kind of well made movie.
Alumni
Kiley Fredericks – master student, individual project, autumn 2025
Annie Thullin – bachelor thesis, graduated 2025
Andreas Andersson – bachelor thesis, graduated 2025
Alvin Norrin – bachelor thesis, graduated 2025
Julia Nilsson – bachelor thesis, graduated 2025
Michael Bruun-Nielsen – individual project, spring 2024
Lichen Photobionts Lab 