High activity
This spring semester has flown by with a hectic everyday life. There is high activity at our Faculty, which we also feel in the Faculty Management. The Rector election has so far marked the year, the economic situation, and not least the Life Sciences building.
Change in management
The Faculty will "give up" our dear Dean of Research, Bj?rn Jamtveit, from August. In return, we will get a very competent Pro-Rector at UiO who knows our Faculty very well. We are happy about that! And we look forward to welcoming our new Dean of Research, ?ystein Prytz, who has high research and research leadership competence and extensive experience with advanced research infrastructure. We warmly welcome ?ystein to our Dean's office!
The financial situation
The economic situation is challenging, and the Faculty is closely monitored by UiO's management. This spring, we have implemented several measures that are perceived as demanding by many. Unfortunately, this is necessary, and I am glad that our long-term economic forecasts are now pointing in the right direction. Day-to-day will be tight for a few years ahead, but I am optimistic and believe that we will get the Faculty in good economic balance. Our strength lies in the size of the Faculty and the cooperation between the Departments, which provides economic power with the possibility of action. Therefore, the measures apply to the entire Faculty, across all our institutes.
The move to the Life Science Building
The Life Sciences building is being completed at express speed, and our three Life Sciences Departments are preparing for the move. Functional areas have been clarified, the equipment puzzle is being completed, and common leasing models are under development. Workplaces are being clarified, and the timeline for the move is becoming more detailed. Teaching planning has been tested and so far shows that this will go well. We are committed to facilitating good cooperation in the building, and "get-to-know-you seminars" across Department boundaries contribute to this. All the Departments employees and the Faculty administration work across subject boundaries and roles and participate in a multitude of committees and councils. The effort is formidable, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the work that is being done!
Awards and recognitions
The last few weeks have brought joyful news, with large allocations being announced. Four of our researchers have received FRIPRO projects, and we were awarded the KI-centre TRUST and are partners in four of the other KI- centres. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this, both the researchers and the administrative support staff!
Also, in the last six months, many of MN's talented employees have distinguished themselves in various ways. Here are some of them:
? Just before Christmas 2024, Johannes Skaar (FI) and Pierre Chymkowitch (IBV) received FRIPRO grants
? Joanna Dziadkowiec (GEO) was awarded the Else-Ragnhild Neumann Award 2024
? 16 Marie Curie projects to UiO, of which 9 to MN
? Andreas Carlson (MI) received FRIPRO 1 grant
? PharmaChip and Steven Ray Wilson (KI) received verification funds
? VITADEL and Trond Vidar Hansen (FAI) received 2 million from the Research Council
? Morten Hjorth-Jensen (FI) was appointed Fellow AAAS
? Viktoria Stray (IFI) and Ingrid Glad (MI) among 50 Tech Women 2025
? Dag Kristian Dysthe (FI), Omid Mirmotahari (IFI) and Lex Nederbragt (IBV) received the Olav Thon Prize for outstanding teaching
? Anders Malthe-S?renssen (FI) will lead the government's AI committee
? Daniel Heydecker, Ali Ramezani-Kebrya (IFI) and Ingrid Glad (MI) received FRIPRO 2 grants
? Helena Hru?ková, Leon Reubsaet, Trond Vidar Hansen, Kishore Thapliyal, Liv Mathiesen, Osman Gani, Petra ?gota Szilágyi and Steven Ray Haakon Wilson received seed funds from the UiO Growth House
? Hanne Winther-Larsen (FAI) became UiO coordinator for the new research school MiMa: Microbiology Matters. Here, there are several contributors from MN: Ole Andreas ?kstad (FAI), Trine Rounge (FAI), Dirk Linke (IBV) and Roger Simm (IBV)
? Omid Mirmotahari (IFI) received Inven2's innovation award
? Jan Gulla (ITS) will be awarded the King's Gold Medal
? Trond Torsvik (GEO), Trine Rounge (FAI), Haochi Che (GEO) and Petra Kohutova (ITA) received FRIPRO 3 grants
? AI centre to MN and TRUST, led by Arnoldo Frigessi
Congratulations to all of you and the support team around you!
Happy summer!
Dear everyone, I thank you for a good semester and wish you a very happy summer!
Best regards, Solveig
Solveig Kristensen, Dean