Sofia Marmon WP
The Oat genome
I have a background in Plant molecular biology, Biochemistry, and Food technology. I am especially interested in the research area where these subjects meet, and I am very happy to have found such a research niche within ScanOats.
As a work package leader, I look forward to continuing the oat genome research started. The first oat genome has already been sequenced within ScanOats and has recently been published. Now the next step is to use our knowledge about the genome to understand oat diversity, characterize oat varieties by mapping gene functions, continue the work to establish an oat genome editing platform, and more. Personally, I am specifically interested in the usability of seed lipids and the enzymes involved in accumulation and degradation of seed lipids. My work within ScanOats so far, has focused on oat lipases, and the development of low-lipase oat to increase oat storage stability, and this research continues.
I work at the Division of Pure and Applied Biochemistry, and in addition to research, I am teaching the courses Biochemistry and Gene technology. Since June 2020 I have also been coordinator for the plant research network PlantLink (www.plantlink.se), a position I am now stepping down from to dedicate more time to being WP leader within ScanOats.
José Alfredo Zambrano WP
New oat varieties
I am a plant molecular biologist with a passion for genetics. During my PhD and postdoc periods I have investigated genetic pathways that regulate flowering time in trees and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis. Thus, I have a solid genetic and biochemical background that can be applied on many different biological questions.
Currently, I am working as a work package leader in a ScanOats project focused on the development of new oat varieties, with a special focus on kernel quality. Our first priority has been to understand the biological role and molecular regulation of Arabinoxylans (AX) in oats. By identifying lines with high AX content from a mutagenized oat population, we have created a model system to characterize the AX biosynthetic pathway, to elucidate molecular mechanism underlying the high AX character and to determine health-promoting effect of oat AX by characterizing AX structures and by doing various human intervention studies.
Johanna Wetterlind WP
Sustainable oat cultivation
I have a Master of Science in Agronomy and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences in Soil Sciences with a specialisation in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition from the Swedish university of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). I held a one-year postdoc position at INRAE in Orléans in France before I returned to SLU and the department of Soil and Environment and was appointed Associate Professor in Soil Sciences in 2016.
My research focus is on applied research in pedometrics and precision agriculture. The overall goal is to facilitate a more resource efficient plant production with high productivity and quality, and with minimal environmental impact. This can only be achieved by adapting the crop management practices according to the variation in growing conditions, between and within fields.
In addition to my work in ScanOats, I also work in other projects, such as the project funded by EU, EJP-SOIL – Towards climate-smart sustainable management of agricultural soils, involving 26 partners from 24 countries. I am also co-leading an internal research project studying possibilities and limitations of using satellites for predictions of soil carbon content. Furthermore, I am working with a SIDA funded project; Agriculture for Food Security 2030 – led by SLU Global, to mention some of my ongoing projects.
Cecilia Tullberg WP
Oat processing
I am a researcher at Lund University, division of Biotechnology, with a PhD in Food and Nutrition Science. During my PhD, I studied lipid oxidation during in vitro digestion of marine lipids. My interest has always been in lipid oxidation and lipid characterization, aiming to raise the value and stability of lipids in food. An interest that it´s possible for me to continue working with in ScanOats.
In WP4 we focus on the role of processing on the quality of the oat, using mild processing techniques to improve the overall stability and nutritional value. We look at all aspects of processed oats, including protein quality, antioxidants and dietary fibres – particularly the interesting Arabinoxylans.
My personal research interest is directed towards the oat lipids, especially the polar ones. The current research areas involve investigation of mild processing methods of oats to inactivate native lipases, while still keeping a long shelf life of the oats. Also, lipid characterization, i.e. using chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry to improve our understanding of the complex lipids in oats are of interest. In addition, we study the emulsifying properties of enzymatically treated oat oil. Our knowledge in enzyme kinetics and oat oil has further been connected to in vitro digestion studies of polar oat oil, including both human- and simulated digestive fluids, focusing on mechanistic aspects.
Lieselotte Cloetens WP
Oat diet for disease prevention
I have a Master in Biomedical Sciences (2004) and a PhD in Medical Sciences (2009) from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. My PhD-research focused on the in vivo evaluation of gastrointestinal effects and prebiotic potential of Arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides from wheat bran in healthy subjects.
From 2009-2011 I was a postdoctoral fellow at Biomedical Nutrition, Division of Pure and Applied Biochemistry, Lund University. Subsequently, I continued as a researcher at the same division and in 2016, I became a group leader of Biomedical Nutrition. Besides my research activities, I am active as a senior lecturer and main responsible for the courses Biotechnology and Cell biology.
My research interest focuses on the prevention of metabolic diseases and weight management by using oats and specific bioactive compounds (Beta-glucans, polar lipids and Arabinoxylans), functional foods as well as a Nordic dietary pattern. Within my oat research, I am also working on gluten protein characterization and their use in patients with celiac disease. I am an expert in the design and management of clinical studies. Furthermore, I have participated in several European research project, e.g. SYSDIET, EURO-DISH, NordFOOD and COST-POSITIVe. Currently, I am involved in the new edition of Nordic Nutrition Recommendations project.
Martin Hedström WP
Pilot Process
My research competence rests within the field of biotechnology with emphasis on bioanalytical chemistry and bioprocess design. After my PhD defence in 2006 my research has been directed towards developing process monitoring tools to be utilized in clinical situations, pharmaceutical manufacturing and in bioprocess surveillance.
I was appointed Associate professor in Biotechnology in 2012 and have since then been involved in several large research projects related to the development of bioanalytical methods for the monitoring of e.g. mycotoxins in crops and drugs and explosives in river- and sewage water. Furthermore, I have been responsible for the project design and construction of several medium-sized experimental bioprocesses, e.g. the continuous production of bio-based propionic acid in 200L pilot process as well as the microbial production of biohydrogen in 300L scale.
In ScanOats, I am leader of the work package Pilot process, with responsibility to operate and maintain the ScanOats pilot process. In addition, the aim with our work package will be to implement various online analytical methods to aid the optimization of the process for different settings, oat varieties and other raw materials.