News from the department
Brain research
25.01.2021
DKK 35 million for new type of research in neuro diseases
Professor Martin Røssel Larsen has received DKK 35 million from the Lundbeck Foundation to cultivate and research mini-brains.
Cancer
14.01.2021
Why does breast cancer often spread in obese women?
Every year, approx. 5,000 Danish women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Obesity makes the cancer cells more aggressive, so they spread to other parts of the body. This is the focus of Rasmus Siersbæk’s research and he hopes to be able to find better treatment methods for this disease.
Small revolutions
15.10.2020
Researcher uses mini-brains for disease research
Professor Martin Røssel Larsen researches brain diseases. In order to better understand them, he makes mini-brains from stem cells in his laboratory.
Cannabis
24.03.2020
New study: Cannabis helps fight resistant bacteria
Bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. By combining antibiotics with the cannabis compound, cannabidiol, researchers have found a way to enhance the antibiotic effect.
New research
10.03.2020
SDU intensifies its research in artificial skin
Researchers want to develop and 3D print skin for humans. The Novo Nordisk Foundation provides DKK 15 million for a new research project.
09.03.2020
Closing in on liver fibrosis: Detailing the fibrosis process at unprecedented resolution
Today, there is no effective way to treat liver fibrosis. In a new study, researchers from the University of Southern Denmark, SDU, present a new technology to investigate the cellular processes as they change during fibrosis development. Key findings are being validated in studies of human patients, paving the way for possible novel diagnostics and treatments.
Grants
23.01.2020
Phantom genes keep diabetes at bay
Until now, the purpose of a ‘phantom gene’ was largely unknown. New research suggests that it helps to ensure a healthy metabolism and could be involved in the development of lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).
News from the faculty
DKK 13 million for SDU researcher
18.12.2025
AI to make quantum physics more accessible and sustainable
Line Jelver, a newly appointed assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), has received DKK 13.3 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. By integrating advanced language models with supercomputers, she aims not only to accelerate the development of materials with tailor-made quantum mechanical properties but also to address the research world’s enormous energy consumption.
Inge Lehmann grant
15.12.2025
SDU researcher Maria Ormhøj wants cancer cells to explode like bombs
Maria Ormhøj from the University of Southern Denmark has just received a prestigious Inge Lehmann grant. With the innovative advancement of immunotherapy, she aims to harness the body’s own cells. Hence, they function as “Trojan horses,” capable of alerting the immune system and triggering an attack on stubborn solid tumours.
11.12.2025
Professor Emad Ebeid receives Carlsberg Semper Ardens grant for development of self-charging drones
With the 'FreeFly' project, researchers at the University of Southern Denmark aim to streamline powerline inspection by mimicking avian flight. The new grant will elevate the technology from basic research to practical application.
EU millions for Professor Rafsanjani
09.12.2025
Snake robot will navigate Unknown terrain by listening
The European Research Council has awarded a highly prestigious Consolidator Grant of two million euros (approx. 15 million DKK) to Ahmad Rafsanjani, professor of soft robotics at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), for the project “Exploring the Unexplored with a Crawling Soft Robot (METABOA).” His project aims to develop soft crawling robots and teach them to navigate complex terrains using friction — a capability that could unlock opportunities in everything from collapsed buildings to distant planets.
Gastrophysics
08.12.2025
Jellyfish can be used to make mayonnaise and butter
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) have discovered that jellyfish can be used as a food stabiliser. In the future, the slimy creatures may become an important ingredient in a more sustainable food production system.
02.12.2025
Thankgod Nnaji receives the DSNAME honarary award
Master’s student Thankgod Nnaji from SDU has been honoured by the Danish Society for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Foundation for his work on reusing batteries from the world’s first fully electric car ferry. The award means he can travel home to Nigeria for the first time in two years – and brings him closer to his dream of building a future in Denmark.
01.12.2025
School students' massive waste hunt nominated for UN prize
The 'Change4Circularity' project and Astra's Mass Experiment have just been selected as one of the world's best digital solutions by the World Summit Awards. The nomination recognises a unique Danish model where thousands of children and young people don't just learn about the green transition – they actively create the data foundation for it.
Robotics
26.11.2025
New research project to bring humanoid robots to Denmark
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), together with Novo Nordisk, Harting and several other partners, aim to develop a humanoid robot capable of taking over, for instance, repetitive and hazardous tasks in industry.
Circular economy
11.11.2025
New study: Denmark and the Nordics have the largest stock of plastic per capita in the world
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and the University of Cambridge have, for the first time, mapped the total flow of plastic in the Nordic countries. The study shows that the Nordic region holds the world’s largest stock of accumulated plastic per capita and that only around 5% is recycled domestically.
SDU Vejle
28.10.2025
She left New York to enhance responsible AI in Denmark
Dr. Aparna Varde has been appointed the first full professor of software engineering at the University of Southern Denmark’s new campus in Vejle. In both her research and teaching, she is dedicated to ensuring that artificial intelligence is developed and applied ethically.
News from SDU
Phishing campaign
19.12.2025
Did you fall into the trap too? Here are the results of this year's phishing campaign
At the end of November 2025, SDU IT ran a phishing campaign based on an older SDU news item about drones. Here are the results of the campaign.
Ranking
18.12.2025
SDU strengthens its position in the world's leading rankings
The University of Southern Denmark strengthens its position in the international university rankings and makes significant progress on several of the world's most recognised evaluations of teaching in 2025. At a time when competition between universities globally is intensifying, the results confirm SDU's strong research profile and strategic focus.
Status of the restructuring
18.12.2025
New unified study administration to take effect on 1 Januar
Strengthened coherence and clearer framework across SDU.
Climate
18.12.2025
Recycling and responsible choices will strengthen SDU’s climate work
We remain committed to our ambition to be a climate-friendly and sustainable university.
Salary Negotiations 2026
11.12.2025
Annual Salary Negotiations 2026
It will soon be 2026, which means that the annual salary negotiations will begin again. The salary negotiations are conducted in four rounds throughout the year.
Campus Connect
11.12.2025
New initiative strengthens your collegial network
'Campus Connect' gives you as an employee at the University of Southern Denmark the opportunity to make new connections and gain new perspectives across SDU.
SDU Business School
09.12.2025
New organisation: SDU Business School gets its own management at faculty level
The Board has decided to divide the social sciences into two units to strengthen excellent research, education and collaboration with the outside world.
MedTech Odense
04.12.2025
Twenty projects are the first to receive IDEA and CONCEPT funding from MedTech Odense
New opportunities to apply for funding in 2026.
We Drive Green
03.12.2025
Going Green 2025 – everyday logistics turned into 232,617 green kilometres
A total of 370 employees from SDU participated, who together travelled 232,617 green kilometres to and from work. This results in a total CO₂ saving of more than 40,000 kg CO₂ – the equivalent of five trips around the world.
Technical Services
01.12.2025
Here are the rules for hanging Christmas decorations
December is just around the corner - and it's important to familiarise yourself with the rules for hanging Christmas decorations from Technical Services to ensure fire safety and free escape routes.