Monthly Archives: December 2016

Call for proposals – cooperation agreement UiB-BKK

Referring to the letter from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (2015 / 6653-16) on funding announcement for student scholarships and research projects through the cooperation agreement between BKK and the University of Bergen.

Announcement Text can be found here and Application form can be found here.

The funds will help support master students and PhD candidates at the University of Bergen, working on assignments or papers that relate to new knowledge about technological, scientific and social issues related to the development and utilization of renewable energy, energy restructuring and provident infrastructure

You may apply for funding to study trips, conferences and fieldwork.

All Applications shall be submitted jointly by email to marianne.stien@uib.no  by Thursday January 5th 2017 

Centre for Digital Life Norway Research School is open

Here you can find information about the newly established Research school in the Centre for Digital Life Norway (DLN). This is a national research school and it is open for participants outside the DLN – both for PhD/postdocs attending courses and meetings, but also for supervisors, course organizers and group leaders.

See more information in the attached document and here

Are employee appraisals really necessary?

Jone Trovik, portrett til disputasAt the last HSE seminar this was a topic for discussion, and those of us who were present got a good introduction to why and how.

All employees (permanent, temporary, PhD-fellows but not students) are entitled to annual employee appraisals.

This applies regardless of whether a UiB employe is on a full- or part-time position, if one has the main or secondary workspace. (The same applies for a Helse-Vest employee if one has such in their group, they have, however, their own electronic form).

Group leader is responsible for giving the option of employee appraisals to their employees. Department Manager is responsible for providing employee appraisals for group leaders and this has already been largely completed now late autumn.

What one wants to get out of such a conversation is a mutual clarification between manager and employee as regards to expectations for work, how to exploit / utilize competanse / personal resources, how work is perceived and further development / advice with respect to career planning for the employees.

This we believe is useful for both managers and employees?

(Clarification: This is not primarily forums for bargaining, it is done mainly through other channels). The conversation will be confidential and one make a short synopsis according to form available online in the University’s Director’s Handbook, and can be downloaded here:

https://cp.compendia.no/universitetet-i-bergen/lederhandbok/70154#openstep=70159
(only in Norwegian)

There are three different forms according to employee group but in principle they are very similar. It is useful for both parties to look through the forms before the meeting is held.

Generally, it is recommended that there are no supervisors who has employee appraisal with PhD-fellows. If they wish they should be able to talk to someone else. Hopefully the “second in command” in our organizational units can take over the employee appraisal function when such factors are present?

Emphasis should be on constructive dialogue, ie focus on things that can actually be improved or adapted. Those needing a humorous look at how to NOT imagine the mapping of a performance employee appraisal can view attached whining notification form, found in the Administration Department of Research at Stavanger University Hospital: Click here!
(only in Norwegian)

Good Advent!

Jone

HSE corner

Engagement and Development characterize health, safety and environment (HSE) ved University of Bergen (UiB). UiBs HSE report for 2015 shows that  there is a lot of good HSE at the University. Targeted efforts with the tasks and work directed towards challenges.

Read the HSE report here.

COST: New research networks – medical and health research

logo_costCOST is a European networking organization where most European countries (including Norway and all EU member states) are members. An important task for COST is to promote European research by initiating scientific networks (“COST actions”).

General information on COST can be found here and here.

In February 2016 it was decided to initiate 26 new COST actions, of which the following is within / relevant for medical and health research:

  • CA15203 – Mitochondrial mapping: Evolution – Age – Gender – Lifestyle – Environment (CA15203 – MITOEAGLE)
  • CA15204 – European Platform for Outcomes Research into Perioperative Interventions during Surgery for Cancer (CA15204 – EuRO-PeriSCope)
  • CA15205 – Gene Regulation Ensemble Effort for the Knowledge Commons (CA15205 – GREEKC)
  • CA15208 – Rationing – Missed Nursing care: An international and multidimensional problem (CA15208 – RANCARE)
  • CA15210 – European Network for Collaboration on Kidney Exchange Programmes (CA15210 – ENCKEP)
  • CA15214 – An integrative action for multidisciplinary studies on cellular structural networks (CA15214 – EuroCellNet)
  • CA15216 – European Network of Bioadhesion Expertise: Fundamental Knowledge to Inspire Advanced Bonding Technologies (CA15216 – ENBA)
  • CA15222 – European Network for cost containment and improved quality of health care (CA15222 – COSTCares)

Summary of the actions can be found by following the links in the parentheses. The sites also contain links to a detailed description of each action (Memorandum of Understanding).
In the attached file the summaries are given along with some additional information and a complete list of the new COST actions.
The Research Council of Norway is coordinating the process with regard to Norwegian participation in COST actions. Hans Hellebostad is liaison for actions within medicine/health and chemistry. If interested in participating, please contact me before 18 April 2016 *). You will then also get more detailed information about participation in COST. The application form used to join as a participant, is attatched.

Sincerely
Hans Hellebostad
Senior Adviser
The Research Council of Norway
Division of Science / Department of Medicine, Science and Technology
Phone + 47 22 03 71 72
E-mail: hh@rcn.no
*) This is not necessarily the last chance to join the actions, but is set as a first deadline for the sake of the Research Council’s follow-up of COST.