IFT POSTEN – 11.06.2010
A Word from Department Administration
On Monday morning the department council and research group leaders
gathered for an informal meeting to discuss department’s future challenges, and
how these can best be tackled. Despite relevant documentation on challenges and
possibilities lying ahead of natural sciences, and repeated promises on
forthcoming follow-ups, all experience shows small chances of government’s
approval. Thus external financing of our department turns out to be of great
importance, whether one likes it or not. This is not a criticism of the effects
of Norwegian research financing politics; this is a battle to be fought and won
at a higher level and other arenas than the ”ground” where the actual
production takes place. We have to be able to look truth in the eye and meet it
with an even stronger focus on what we have in our house, perhaps more so than
we would actually like to do. This is in fact also one of the conclusions of
the report on basic research in physics given by the Norwegian Research Council;
improved internal interaction and cooperation.
The meeting
was also a kick-off for department’s work on the new strategic plan, complete
with the follow-up of the Research Council’s evaluation. Much time was used on
drafting the possible adjustments of department’s organization in such a way
that all research groups can help each other with their competence, regardless
of whether their goal be basic research in physics or
its commercial applicability. A draft of the matrix organization model was also
presented and well received by the ones present at the meeting. With some
adjustments, it may contribute to an improved cooperation between basic and
applied research, a more even distribution of master students among various
research groups and a better visibility of department’s activities. We would
like to encourage all to reflect over these challenges and come up with constructive
suggestions!
Have a nice weekend!
Geir
Anton
News and general information
Holiday planning
We would like to remind you all of the duty to
inform the department of your holiday plans. The planned holiday dates should
be given to Karen-Margrete via this link her. The deadline for delivering your holiday
plans is 15.06.10. After this date,
we intend to compile a holiday list, so that the department has an insight into
holiday absences.
Dean’s invitation for input
on faculty’s strategic planning
In the
course of 2010, a new strategic plan for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural
Sciences is to be drafted, which is to be valid for the period 2011-2015. All
employees and students at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences are thus
invited to come up with suggestions for the first draft of this plan. We would
like you to deliver your suggestions by July 6, so that we can proceed with our
work on the plan throughout the summer. We will also consider all later
suggestions, in case this deadline is too hard to meet.
Along with
this invitation directed at all employees and students, we will also send out
personal invitations to all faculty council and assembly members to encourage
their suggestions. A similar invitation/encouragement will also be sent to all research
group leaders, study advisors, heads of administration and department heads.
Information on and a draft of the strategic plan can be found here.
For your own orientation, UoB
has its own webside for the central strategic work for the
entire UoB.
Invitation to the ethics
seminar at Solstrand
UoB’s ethics committee organizes a seminar on research ethics Med integriteten i behold at Solstrand, 8. - 9. September 2010.
Project establishment grants for 2010 from Norwegian
Research Council / University of Bergen – continual announcement
You can now apply for positioning grants from
Norwegian Research Council /University of Bergen for researchers intending to
apply for the grants announced under the 7th frame programme, with
deadline in the course of 2010. For more information see brev the
letter from the Research Department and the application form (søknadsskjema).
This announcement has a continual deadline, the
collection dates being: June 15, September 1 and November 15, 2010.
Applications to master
studies in the autumn semester of 2010
The number
of master study applicants is now known, and we can now conclude that IFT’s master programmes are clearly the most popular at the
faculty. Physics, process and petroleum technology have received all together
120 applications, while information sciences have seen a doubling in the number
of applicants since 2008 and is now number two on the list with 64 applications.
Biology is on the third place with 60 applications. In total, 406 master applicants have been
registered at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and IFT’s master programme applications make up 30% of the
total.
We have
also marked that our technology-oriented studies are the most popular, with safety
technology, reservoir physics and measurement science receiving respectively 35,
16 and 15 applications.
Although
such high application numbers invite joy, this may lead to several challenges. More on the evaluation of these results in the next issue of IFT-posten.
Invitation to workshop in
Computational Systems Biology at UMB
The
Research School for Systems Biology at the Norwegian University of Life
Sciences (UMB) is pleased to invite you to a one-day workshop
Computational Systems Biology: Models, Methods,
Meaning to be held
Tuesday 15 June 2010 at UMB at Ås.
Topic: Modeling and simulation are essential tools in systems
biology and many other branches of science.
This
workshop is an invitation to step back from the day-to-day struggle with our
simulations and to reflect about the nature of modeling
and its relation to simulation: How do modeling and
simulation contribute to the development of knowledge? Is a simulation per se a
valid scientific experiment?
Five
scientists with quite different backgrounds have agreed to lecture on different
aspects of modeling and simulation, ranging from the
theory of science to the reproducibility of simulation experiments:
· Dr Rani Anjum, Center for the Study of
Mind in Nature, University of Oslo
Modeling causes as vectors
· Dr Marc-Oliver Gewaltig,
Honda Research Institute Europe
What can neuroscience learn from modeling and simulation?
· Prof Peter Hunter, Bioengineering
Institute, University of Auckland
The VPH/Physiome
Project: progress and challenges
· Dr Patrick Vandewalle,
Philips Research
Reproducible research: making your
experiments repeatable by yourself and others
· Dr Eilen Nordlie, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Reproducable descriptions of neurobiological models
For more information, including info on how to
register, see here.
Announcement of grants via
UoB’s academic agreement with Statoil
We are pleased to invite
applications for activities related to petroleum research through the
"Akademia" agreement between UiB and Statoil. You can apply for:
1.
Travel to conferences etc. related to petroleum research for
up to NOK 25 000 (Funds are not for educational purposes. Conference
participation including presentation will be given priority).
2.
Visiting guest researchers (travel and stay).
The activity must take place in 2010. Scientific staff and PhD students
can apply. To be evaluated the application MUST include a specification of
purpose, information regarding supervisor/research group, total budget ,
whether you also have applied other funding, and also whether you have received
money through the Akademia mobility scheme before. The accepted applications
are fixed to the requested travel plans and can not be transferred. Applications
and travel claim forms must be marked "SH2010" and sent by email to katrine.kristiansen@uni.no (Katrine
is located at CIPR, Allegt. 41., tel. 83645)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 15 JUNE. The committee will use approximately
two weeks to evaluate the applications. All applicants will be informed as soon
as the evaluations are ready.
Staff
– available positions at IFT
· Postdoctor in process technology – deadline: 18.06.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=67277
· Researcher
in process technology – deadline 18.06.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=67278
· Postdoctor in astro-particle
physics, deadline 01.07.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=65929
· Research assistant (2 positions) in
particle physics, deadline: 01.07.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=65926
· Research
assistant in atomic/molecular/optical physics – deadline 01.08.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=66910
· Postdoctor in atomic/molecular/optical physics – deadline
01.08.10
https://secure.jobbnorge.no/job.aspx?jobid=66930
Master-
and PhD-news
Master thesis presentation at the department on Monday, 14. June
2010, at 13:15, room 292, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Eirik Daniel Fatnes |
Process technology
– Multiple phase systems: ”Numerical Simulations of the Flow and Plugging Behaviour of Hydrate Particles” |
Pawel Kosinski |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Tuesday, 15. June
2010, at 10:15, room 316, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Are Flataker Viken |
Physics
– Particle physics: ”CP Violation in the Two Higgs Doublet Model” |
Per Osland |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Wednesday, 16.
June 2010, at 10:15, room 292, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area- thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Ragnhild Schrøder Hansen |
Physics
– Space physics: ”Observations of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes from balloon and
aircraft - constraints and opportunities” |
Nikolai Østgaard |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Wednesday, 16.
June 2010, at 15:15, room 546, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Reidar Grønsdal |
Petroleum technology – Reservoir physics: ”Økt oljeutvinning i kalk basert på
vannkjemi og potensialbestemmende ioner for endring av fukt” |
Arne Graue |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Thursday, 17. June
2010, at 10:15, room 546, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Arita Nyheim |
Petroleum technology – Reservoir physics: ” Vannbasert EOR i oppsprukne
bergarter – økt oljeutvinning ved kjemikalietilsetning i
injeksjonsvannet” |
Arne Graue |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Thursday, 17. June
2010, at 10:15, roim 366, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Vegard Eikill |
Process technology
– Multiple phase systems: “Characterization
of the anode and cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC’s)” |
Alex C.
Hoffmann |
Master thesis presenation at the department on Thursday, 17. June
2010, at 10:15, room 292, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Inger Næstvold Engh |
Process technology
– Safety technology: “Calculation
of heat loss from subsea pipeline” |
Bjørn
J. Arntzen |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Thursday, 17. June
2010, at 14:00, room 368, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Arild Grov |
Process technology
– Safety technology: “An Experimental Study of the Influence of
Major Damage of Flame Gap Surfaces in Flameproof Apparatus on the Ability of
the Gaps to Prevent Gas Explosion Transmission” |
Bjørn
J. Arntzen |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Friday, 18. June
2010, at 10:15, room 366, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Tom Erik Kjenner |
Physics
– Measurement science and instrumentation: ”Tilstandsovervåkning av frekvensstyrt
undervannsmotordrift ved strømanalyse” |
Bjørn
Tore Hjertaker |
Master thesis presentation at the department on Friday, 18. June
2010, at 12:15, room 366, IFT:
|
Candidate |
Subject area – thesis title |
Supervisor(s) |
|
Stian Stjernberg |
Physics
– Measurement science and instrumentation: ”Tilstandsovervåkning av undervanns
motordrift med lange forsyningskabler” |
Bjørn
Tore Hjertaker |
Disputations
Thursday, 17.06.10, at 13:15 MSc Åsmund Haugen has his PhD
disputation in
Auditorium 2, Realfagbygget with the following title:
“Fluid Flow in Fractured Carbonates: Wettability Effects and Enhanced Oil Recovery”
Friday, 18.06.10 at 09:15 MSc Prankul Middha has his PhD disputation in Auditorium 2, Realfagbygget
with the following title:
“Development,
use, and validation of the CFD tool FLACS for hydrogen safety studies”
Please come
a bit ahead of the scheduled time!
Publications (ISI)
· Ho TX, Kosinski P, Hoffmann AC, Vik A, Effects of heat sources on the performance of a
planar solid oxide fuel cell INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY,
Volume 35, Issue 9, 4276-4284