Recognizing Plant Physiology first authors: Bjorn Andersson

Bjorn Andersson, first author of The Fluctuating Cell-Specific Light Environment and its Impacts on the Physiology of Synechocystis

Current Position: Ph.D. candidate at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Education: Bachelors of Science in Marine Sciences from University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden (2012); Master of Science in Botany from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States (2017)

Non-scientific Interests: Beer brewing, gardening, fishing, soccer, outdoor activities with my 4 and 5 year old daughters

Brief bio: As a child I wanted to be a paleontologist, and my main hobby was fishing. As an aquatic biologist I actually came close to fusing these things into a career. At university I first wanted to work with fisheries but got fascinated by microalgae because of the great diversity in form and functions of these organisms. I started out working with nitrogen fixation in benthic biofilms and transition to nutrient fluxes in pelagic species and microbial ecosystems. After running lab experiments I realized how rapid these primary producers could grow and produce biomass under optimal conditions. This got me interested in research on biofuel and biomass production as a mean to mitigate climate change. I got an opportunity to study in the U.S. through a Fulbright scholarship and found Graham Peers whom had similar interests and funding through an interdisciplinary project. This paper is a product of these events and you should read it if you have not yet done so. I am back in Sweden studying evolution of heavy metal tolerance in diatoms. I believe I will continue working with microalgae in some way throughout my career.