University of Gothenburg
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Marica Ericson

Professor

Department of Chemistry & Molecular Biology
Telephone
+46 31-786 90 30
+46 766-22 90 30
Mail
marica.ericson@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
413 90 Göteborg
Room number
6355
Postal address
Box 462
405 30 Göteborg

Head of Department

Swedish NMR Centre
Telephone
+46 31-786 90 30
+46 766-22 90 30
Mail
marica.ericson@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
41390 Göteborg
Room number
6355
Postal address
Box 462
405 30 Göteborg

Head of Department

Department of Chemistry & Molecular Biology
Telephone
+46 31-786 90 30
+46 766-22 90 30
Mail
marica.ericson@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
413 90 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 462
405 30 Göteborg

About Marica Ericson

The interaction between light and matter is central to all life on Earth. We would for example not be able to exist, if it were not for the ability of plants to convert light into chemical energy. Physical chemistry – concerns with concepts and understanding related to the fundamental processes involved in light-matter interaction. But what happens to matter when light is concentrated in time and space, that is, when light from a laser with very short pulses of light is focused in matter? This creates non-linear optical interaction. Although this process is more complex to understand theoretically, it has already found applications.

My research is about how multiphoton microscopy, based on non-linear optical processes, can be applied for three-dimensional imaging of biological tissue. My research focus has been studies of human skin. The tissue is investigated three-dimensionally at microscopic level. In this way, we can investigate tissue, and study processes in a completely new way. I have explored the potential as diagnostic method as well as for drug delivery and toxicology studies. Presently, we are exploring how the technology can be combined with organ mimicking tissue cultures to study living tissue in real time.

I have a MSc in chemical engineering from Royal institute of Technology (1999) and PhD in Physical Chemistry from Chalmers University of Technology (2004). My thesis was about "Spectroscopic measurement for diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer". Since then I have worked with clinical research studies at the Dept. of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and as a research assistant at the Department of Physics at the University of Gothenburg (GU) where I became associate professor in 2010. During the years 2010-2011 I was a visiting researcher at the University of Texas, Austin, USA. Since 2013 I am a teacher and researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, and in autumn 2018 I was promoted to professor of physical chemistry.

As a teacher, I mainly teach courses in basic and physical chemistry (KEM011), but also have more specific courses aimed at pharmacy and biotoxicology with a focus on skin uptake (KER260 and KEA270), i.e. two optional courses in the prescription and pharmacy programs. I supervise PhD students, bachelors’ and masters’ students. I see a close connection between research and education, the ambition is that my research will contribute to society from several perspectives, both through the education of students and doctoral students, as well as with new knowledge for sustainable development. I am proud to work at GU and share the university's vision and work for a sustainable and democratic future.