Category: Person
Congrats, Dr. Camilla!
Last Friday, Camilla Løhre successfully defended her thesis, titled «The effect of input material pretreatment on product yield 
and composition of bio-oils from LtL solvolysis. A continuous process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass and solvolytic conversion of lignin.» Camilla seized the opportunity (not the opponent) with both hands and came out victorious.
Welcome to Raju!
Dr. Raju Dey recently joined the chemistry department as a postdoctoral researcher to work on the design of homogeneous late transition-metal catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of lignin model compounds. 
His project is a part of the ENERGI-X project “Renewable aromatics for fuel blending from lignin by novel homogeneous catalysis.” Raju Dey is from Kolkata, India, where he completed his MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry with emphasis on organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis.
Dr Mikel joins the club
Mikel Oregi Bengoetxea stood tall and defended his thesis Formic acid aided catalytic lignin conversion in ethanol and water media today. You may read more about his work (in Norwegian) here.
Mikel’s portrait has already joined the yet-to-be-inaugurated Gallery of PhD graduates from the Department of Chemistry (2016 onward). The gallery may be found across from the reciprocal room!
Meet BTO at the Chemistry dept. every first Tuesday of the month!
BTO works to develop innovation and commercialisation of research results in the Bergen region. We help researchers and students develop their innovative idea:
- Apply for funding to optimize or verify your research results
- Patenting considerations
- Establishing contacts with industry
- Market evaluation
- Agreements and contracts
About me: I have a PhD from the Department of Clinical Science (K2, UiB) on cancer research with focus on method development, genetics and imaging technology. I have also been involved in biotechnology projects at Uni Research, teaching at Bergen University College, and have experience as a Drilling Fluids Specialist offshore prior to joining the BTO team this year.
I will be present at the Chemistry department every first Tuesday of the month, starting the 6th of December at 12:00. You will find me in the Chem. Adm. office space.
I really look forward to learn about the various research projects at the Department, and I wish to welcome all to come have a chat! BTO might have more to offer than you know, and I hope that my presence will make BTO’s services better known and more accessible to you!
Elisabeth Silden, PhD (cell. +47 958 87 254)
Hi – I’m Henry!
My name is Henry Torres and I am an exchange student from Madrid ( although born in Perú). I am doing a Bachelor project on Metal Organic Frameworks under the supervision of the professor Pascal Dietzel. I had never been in Norway before I came this summer, and I chose this destination because of the possibility to enjoy the nature and have a different lifestyle than in Madrid!
Bjørn Grung mottok velfortjent heder
I tillegg til mange gode ord som årets beste underviser på MatNat. fikk han nevene fulle av penger, blomster og et diplom han ble stolt av. Som han selv sa i sin 3 minutters takketale har han nok av penger og blomster fra før. Diplomet er det første han har mottatt siden han tok en fjerdeplass i et durabelig 800 metersløp i Bergen vest en gang på sytti-tallet i konkuranse med tre andre.
Vi gratulerer
På Veg
Komande veke fokuserer heile MN-fakultetet på studie- og karriereplanlegging: KVA SKAL DU BLI – KVA ER MÅLET MED STUDIA – KORLEIS SKAL DU NÅ MÅLET? På tysdag kl 12.30-14.30 er det programvise føredrag frå tidlegare studentar. For oss er det verdt å merke seg at
- i Aud. 3 kl. 12.30 – 13.00, kan du høyre Inger Høstmark fortelje om korleis ho TILFELDIGVIS havna I OLJEBRANSJEN. Inger fullførte mastergrada si i organisk kjemi i november 2011 og jobbar i dag som prosessingeniør i selskapet Aibel. Ho vil fortelje om kjekke år på universitetet, om korleis kjemi har gitt ho mange moglegheiter etter studietida, om ein tidlegare jobb på VilVite med undervisning og vitenshow, og om hennar naoverande jobb hjå Aibel. Mange vil dessutan kjenne Inger frå den store, frivillige innsatsen ho har gjort i Norsk Kjemisk Selskap.
- i Aud. 2 kl. 14.00-14.30 fortel Maria Kolnes Lie om vegen FRÅ NANOTEKNOLOGI TIL KREFTFORSKING. Etter å ha fullført mastergrad i nanovitskap hausten 2013, jobbar Maria i dag som ph.d-stipendiat i forskingsgruppa «Cellnet» på Institutt for biomedisin. Her studere ho korleis nano- og mikromiljø påverkar cellene sin respons på kreftmedisin. Maria vil fortelje om mange fine år som student i Bergen og gje eit innblikk i arbeidskvardagen sin som stipendiat.
Det fulle programmet for På Veg finn du på her. Ein hovudattraksjon er utdelinga av Undervisningsprisen — til Bjørn Grung! Dette skjer på tysdag kl 1200 – møt opp nedanfor kantina! Realistutvalget grunngjev tildelinga med arbeidet og innsatsen hans på KJEM110 og vektlegg «evne til å variera undervisninga, stadig interessant undervisning og gode og morosame historier som passer godt til undervisninga. Andre viktige hovudpunkt er blant evna hans til å motivere og engasjere elever og ikkje minst vera ein som viser og forklarar overgangen frå elev på vidaregåande til student ved eit universitet. Han fortel om gode læringsmetodar og er ein viktig motiverande faktor for å få studentane til å møte opp på 08.15-førelesingane.» Det kan ikkje vere tvil om at dette fortener ein pris!
Christian explains
The danger of hydrogen sulfide has been highlighted in the recent accident at the Sture terminal in Øygarden.
Yesterday, postdoc Christian Totland assisted the public with information about the chemical properties and biological hazards associated with this invisible gas, at local radio and TV. (Photo: Ingvild Fluge / NRK)
Faculty teaching award to Bjørn Grung!
It is a great pleasure to congratulate Bjørn Grung with highly deserved recognition for the great teaching that he consistently and unfailingly delivers, generously laced with unsolicited but useful and much appreciated advice on life as a freshman student, everything with a generous pinch of humor! A nice profile interview with Bjørn, in Norwegian, is be found on our faculty news page. All hands at the Chemistry department are hereby invited to take part in the award ceremony on Tuesday Oct 18, at 12:00, probably at the 1st floor by the stair case to the cantina in the Science bldg, to cheer for the new awardee!
Photo & Copyright: RU
You have probably already met Ivan
Starting in the middle of August, Ivan Flores Linares is a Research fellow (PhD) in computational catalysis and molecular design. His background is a Master degree from the chemistry school in UNAM, Mexico City, where he majored in computational organometallic chemistry. He is working on computational design of transition metal catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of lignin model compounds, which is part of the ENERGI-X project Renewable aromatics for fuel blending from lignin by novel homogeneous catalysis, led by Vidar R. Jensen. Welcome, and all the best for your project, Ivan!