Stéphanie Robert at the Umeå Plant Science Centre (photo: Anne Honsel)
Every other year, the Sven and Ebba-Christina Hagberg foundation awards two young recognized scientists from the medical or biochemical field. This year, the prize goes to Stéphanie Robert, group leader at UPSC, and Ville Kaila from Stockholm University. They are both awarded with a personal prize and a research grant.
Stéphanie Robert, Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, receives the prize for her studies of the regulation of plant cell growth and plant morphogenesis. Professor Ville Kaila is awarded for his theoretical studies in the bioenergetics field, especially on proton and electron transport in the respiratory chain enzymes.
Stéphanie Robert started her group at the Umeå Plant Science Centre in 2010. She combines in her research chemical biology and cell biology to dissect on the cellular level different signalling pathways involved in plant growth. “I am really honoured to receive this prize, it feels really special. This is mainly a recognition of the hard work from present and past members of my research group.”, says Stéphanie Robert.
The Sven and Ebba-Christina Hagberg foundation aims to encourage and promote scientific research within the medical and biochemical field. Every time, the prize is awarded to one female and one male young, outstanding researcher located in Sweden. In questions regarding nominations, the foundation collaborates with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Karolinska Institutet.
Sven Hagberg (1894-1961) was a civil engineer and grain chemist. He developed a new method for measuring baking properties of flour. The method, "Hagberg Falling Number", is used worldwide today. Ebba-Christina Hagberg (1900-1972) was involved in association work and shared her husband's interest in foreign cultures. The spouses had no children but bequeathed their inheritance to the foundation, which annually awards a prize to two promising researchers.
For further information regarding the Sven and Ebba-Christina Hagberg Prize, please contact:
Dr. Gunnar Hagberg, chairman of the foundation (
Prof. Gunnar von Heijne, Board Member (