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Nathalie joins PRACE Scientific Steering Committee
Professor Nathalie Reuter, CBU and Dept. Chemistry, has been elected member of the PRACE Scientific Steering Committee! PRACE, short for Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe, is an organization set to enable high-impact scientific discovery and engineering research and development, by offering world class computing and data management resources and services through a peer review process.
Quoting a recent Sigma2 newsletter: The Scientific Steering Committee is composed of European leading researchers that are responsible for advice and guidance on all matters of a scientific and technical nature, which may influence the scientific work carried out by the use of the PRACE supercomputers. Nathalie Reuter (..) will through the Scientific Steering Committee advise PRACE on how best to exploit the PRACE facilities to maximize the benefits to European Science.
We congratulate Nathalie and PRACE!
Velkomen Jonas H!
Jonas Himmelstrup has joined the Department of Chemistry as a PhD student under supervision of Vidar R. Jensen. Jonas will be working on developing molecular catalysts for ammonia synthesis by combining computational methods and experimental insight in order to design and synthesise highly efficient catalysts.
Congrats Dr Sondre!
Today, Sondre Hilmar Hopen Eliasson successfully defended his PhD thesis Mechanistic insight for improved catalytic conversion of fatty acids to linear alpha-olefins. This is his contribution to the ongoing world-wide effort of developing chemical transformations for molecular resources of biological origin into modern commodity and platform chemicals. 
Sondre was first exposed to catalysis research in 2010 as part of the Nano100 experience, where he worked with Karl Törnroos to determine the structure of a Ru-based metathesis catalyst. After completing an MSc in nanoscience at the physics department he returned to chemistry and the Jensen laboratory, and today completed the circle by becoming Philosophiae Doctor. Congratulations!
Velkomen Sara!
Sara Barranco Campos has recently joined the Department of Chemistry as a PhD student in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry under Hans-René Bjørsvik supervision. The subject of the project is medicinal imaging dedicated to the design and synthesis of PET-precursors prepared for 11C labelling, in collaboration with the Bergen Tracer Development Centre (Bergen-TDC) financed by the Trond Mohn foundation and the Tromsø research foundation.
Sara holds a bachelor’s degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) and a master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Bergen. The title of her master’s thesis was “Synthesis of imidazole core based small molecules for the treatment of SMA”.
Congrats Dr Solmaz!
Last Friday, Solmaz Ghoreishi successfully defended her PhD thesis Large-scale conversion of lignin to liquid through formic acid assisted solvolysis in aqueous and ethanolic reaction media: comparison of yields and product compositions. 
Solmaz has made signficant contributions to upscaling of the lignin-to-liquid process from small- to large-labscale (5L) reactors, which is an important step toward making it a viable industrial option. Both Solmaz and the two opponents did very well, making the disputation ceremony an interesting and enjoyable event for those present. Congratulations!
Welcome Parveen!
Parveen Gartan has joined our department as a PhD student. He will be supervised by Professor Nathalie Reuter. He will work on the project RESPOND3 financed by the Digital Life program of the NFR. The title of the project is “Towards better computational approaches and responsible innovation strategies in early drug discovery: application to antibiotics and COPD”. Parveen holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University of Delhi (India) and a master’s degree from Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (India). The title of his Master thesis was: “Calculations of absolute binding free energies of kaempferol binding to inflammation responsive protein ASC”.
Velkomen Sofie!
Sofie Lekve has taken up a position with our department, with administrative responsibilities for the interdisciplinary study programs in nanotechnology & -science and medical technology. She holds a master’s degree in philosophy from UiB, with specialization in ethics. 
She has previous work experience from both administrative and academic positions. Her administrative work experience includes administrative work in the Philosophy Department, as well as being a Student Advisor at the Grieg Academy. She has also worked as a research assistant in projects within philosophy and social science and, moreover, held a position as a Lecturer in Philosophy at UiB. She is particularly interested in bioethics and generational ethics, as well as questions regarding ethics and AI.
Welcome Gabriel!
Dr. Gabriel Jeantelot has joined the department of chemistry as a postdoctoral researcher. 
He will work with Associate Professor Erwan Le Roux on the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-based compounds to aromatics, as part of an ENERGIX-funded project. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Université Blaise Pascal (France), and a Master’s degree and Ph.D from the KAUST university (Saudi Arabia), obtained under the supervision of Professor Jean-Marie Basset. He wrote his thesis on the surface chemistry of morphology-controlled titanium dioxide nanoparticles, used in photocatalytic water splitting after decorating them with metal complexes by surface organometallic chemistry.
Velkomen Kristoffer!
Kristoffer Herdlevær has accepted a position as research fellow / PhD candidate at our department and will conduct research toward «Utilization of woody biomass and residues for production of energy products and high-value natural compounds.» This project addresses basic research challenges in the different steps of biomass treatment and use to provide a validated basis for developing a lignocellulosic woody biomass biorefinery that is suitable for the conditions specific to Western Norway. This is a strategic and interdisciplinary PhD project within the UiB priority research area Climate and energy transition. 