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Life science

Image: Malin Grönborg

Life science is the study of biological life and living organisms. It is a very broad field of study, fundamentally based on chemistry and biology.

Life science encompasses everything from diseases to how we function, as well as our interaction with nature and all its components. Here in Umeå, we have been conducting life science-related research since the university was founded, with a focus on molecular and microbiology as well as chemistry.

One example of groundbreaking life science research at Umeå University is the discovery of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, for which Emmanuelle Charpentier was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.

The Life Science News Council is responsible for this website.

Collaboration with industry

"Collaboration with industry" is an article series that highlights the collaborations between Umeå researchers and life science companies. This is the second article in the series, that's written by the News council in life science.
Bild på Mikael Elofsson
Research collaboration with AstraZeneca provides insights into virus infections

Umeå professor Mikael Elofsson has collaborated with the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca since 2018.

Magnus Wolf-Watz, professor vid Kemiska institutionen, Umeå universitet.
Collaboration with biotechnology company opens new doors for Umeå chemist

Vacona's need for structural biology expertise coincided with Magnus' research group's ambition with Cryo-EM.

Latests news in life science at Umeå university

Anknuten som postdoktor till Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskapEnhet: Stipendium
Research on lakes and rivers receives funding from Formas

Two new projects will investigate the carbon storage potential of Arctic lakes and flooding in watercourses.

Två man står tillsammans framför en trävägg.
Tiny proteins are proving hard to ignore

Once overlooked, tiny proteins are revealing surprising roles in biology – and new possibilities for research.

Magnus AnderssonProfessor vid Kemiska institutionenRoll: Studierektor
From still images to movies of life’s molecular machines

New technology could reveal how vital processes in the body work in real time.

Vy över vatten.
New project to map pristine and vulnerable Arctic lakes

The Arctic is warming rapidly. Researchers are now set to investigate effects on lake ecosystems.

Johannes Messinger, lab, membrane inlet mass spectrometry
The quest for a better photosynthetic enzyme

Hidden mechanisms may provide clues for the development of more efficient plants.

Ryan SponsellerProfessor vid Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskapRoll: Studierektor
Tracking methane across land-water boundaries

Scientists want to gain a better understanding of how methane is produced to predict future emissions.

Elektronmikroskop som inhyses i en stor, 2x2x3 meter grå-vit behållare. Inuti syns mikroskopet med behållare och instrument av metall och många sladdar.
7.5 million for Umeå University in new Nordic cryo-EM network

NCX expands Nordic cryo-EM collaboration, making advanced methods and expertise more accessible.

Jun Zhang, Laura Herzog, and Yaowen Wu in front of the computor.
From Controlling Neurons with Light to Programming Living Cells

Light-controlled molecular tools let scientists program living cells, from cancer therapy to microbes.

Thesis on a table
Simulations reveal why pharmaceuticals become trapped in soil

Computer simulations reveal why some pharmaceuticals become trapped in soil—and others spread through water.

Students standing around the teacher in a lab, the teacher shows different tools to be used. Some students take notes.

Curious about studying Life Science?

The Bachelor’s programme in Life Science focuses on life, bridging chemistry and biology to explore living systems. The teachers have close links to outstanding research in areas such as microbiology, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, infectious medicine, and plant and forest biotechnology.

Learn more about the programme here.

Study both chemistry and molecular biology

The Life Science programme builds the basis and during the third year you specialize in chemistry or molecular biology.

 

Organisations within life science at Umeå university

Coalition Umeå for Life Science (CU4LS)

An initiative to improve visibility of Umeå life science research activities nationally and internationally

Chemical Biological Centre (KBC)

An interdisciplinary research centre in life/natural science and medicine at UMU and SLU

Del av jordklotet. Europa sett från rymden med atmosfär och moln.
The European CBRNE Center

Learn more about the European CBRNE Center at Umeå university

SciLifeLab logo
SciLifeLab Site Umeå

SciLifeLab national site at Umeå (UMU and SLU) is a local site of the national SciLifeLab network.

Umeå center for functional brain imaging

UFBI is an inter-disciplinary research center using imaging techniques to examine the brain.

Dykare mäter växter på en havsbotten.
Umeå Marine Sciences Centre

UMF is a dynamic environment for marine research including a complete suite of analytical platforms.

UCMR logga
Umeå Centre for Microbial Research UCMR

UCMR is a Linnaeus Centre of Excellence promoting cutting-edge microbial research at Umeå University.

Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine

WCMM strives to enable excellent molecular and translational research

Latest update: 2025-09-18