COMMONS
COMMONS is a Center of Excellence funded by the Swedish Research Council, with the theme "Commonalities in biomembrane and biomolecular interactions”. The overarching aim of COMMONS is to provide a multifaceted scientific environment focusing on unifying physicochemical processes of key importance for the function of cellular membranes and biomolecules.
The COMMONS Center brings together methodological and theoretical expertise from Lund University, Chalmers and Copenhagen University, and will serve as host for a Graduate School and a Visiting Professor program to attract experts from a broad field of biomembrane and biomolecular sciences.
NEWS
The role of experiments
Academic Forum
May 5 at 13.15 in KC:A
The role of experiments for science seems apparent, but how has it changed over time and between disciplines?
After an input by Julia Ravanis, we will have a panel discussion to inspire reflections on the structure of science
COMMONS Annual meeting
May 5-6, Lund
The program includes:
* Academic forum - the role of experiments
* LLPS – perspectives from the past into the future!
* COMMONS ideas - ongoing and upcoming!
* Presentation of ESS Lighthouse
WHAT IS LIFE? HOW DID IT START?
Release event of Glänta magazine issue "What is Life".
April 8 at 17.00 @ Pufendorf Institute.
The program includes: reading, panel discussions, mingle & light food. The presentations will be run in Swedish, while questions and discussion in English are welcome!
The issue is made in collaboration with the COMMONS Center.
Upcoming COMMONS Challenges
Two speakers present research that fall under one overall theme; providing two perspectives on a common underlying phenomenon. The aim is to create an interactive thinking and collaboration process focusing not only on specifics, but rather on the commonalities.
More information
2025-04-23
Challange on Ligand binding
Jannette Carey (Princeton) & Ulf Ryde (LU)
Four COMMONS postdocs on board!
Welcome to our 3 new COMMONS postdocs!
Ewa Andrzejewska: Condensate-mediated amyloid nucleation
Ferdinand Fandrei: Membrane-induced liquid-liquid phase separation
Sajitha Sasidharan: Impact of Nanoparticle Binding on Lipid Redistribution and Membrane Deformation in Cellular Membranes
In addition, Nicole Galenkamp started her COMMONS postdoc in 2024. She investigates a-synuclein coopreative binding to biological membranes.
The COMMONS postdocs work between different COMMONS groups, stimulating interactions and collaborations within the Center
PhD course on Ligand binding
Ligand binding theory and practice
March 24-28, 2025 in Lund
The course will give a comprehensive introduction to the quantitative theory of molecular interactions ("ligand binding") applicable to any chemical or biochemical system.
The course is organized by Jannette Carey (Princeton University and guest professor in COMMONS)
COMMONS Summerschool on cryo-EM
We are happy to announce the COMMONS summerschool Cryo-EM of Soft Materials. Topics covered include the components of the TEM and the SEM, the principles of image and picture formation in electron microscopy (EM), the physics of electron beam-specimen interaction, specimen preparation in cryo-EM, elemental analysis in cryo-EM, and a survey of a wide range applications.
More information
Time and place: August 25-29, 2025 @ Dept Chemistry, Lund
Registration deadline: April 1, 2025 Registration