Monthly Archives: January 2024

Dear everyone!

It’s again time to find younger, promising candidates for Trond Mohn Starting grants: The Trond Mohn Research Foundation (TMS) has announced a new round of TMS Starting grants with a final deadline of 8 March (more info here). Since there is a limit to the number of nominated candidates each department can promote, we ask interested applicants to send an outline of maximum 3 pages describing the candidate, the project, and the research community, and the candidate’s CV (TMS wants a CV of up to three pages that includes the most important and relevant publications).

The internal deadline is February 12. The project outline and CV must be sent to silke.appel@uib.no.

It is worth noting that this scholarship provides an opportunity to bring in external candidates, something both the foundation and the Faculty of Medicine strongly encourage.

And it is still possible to promote individuals for the faculty awards 😊

Proposal for Publication/PhD/Group/Dissemination/Innovation

Suggestions for Education Awards

Have a nice week-end!

!

Tilskudd til StudentEntreprenørskap (STUD-ENT)

Er dere studenter ved et norsk universitet eller høyskole med en forretningside og har ambisjoner om å starte bedrift? Har dere undersøkt om det finnes et behov eller et marked for idéen? Har dere etablert et team som ønsker å jobbe med dette? Da kan dere søke inntil 1 million kroner i tilskudd til utvikling og kommersialisering av løsningen.

Det er nå åpent for å registrere nye søknader for 2024. Søknadsfrist er 29. februar.

STUD-ENT retter seg mot studenter som skal etablere egen bedrift basert på kunnskap fra studiene. Formålet er å lage en skalerbar og bærekraftig forretningsmodell rundt en forretningsidé, og utvikle nye løsninger som markedet etterspør.

https://www.innovasjonnorge.no/tjeneste/tilskudd-til-studententreprenorskap-stud-ent

Unfortunately the call text is only in Norwegian

Vestlandslegen Colleagues – Tesfaye Madebo

Hello dear colleagues at K2,

I am Tesfaye Madebo, working as a specialist in pulmonary and internal medicine. I am an attending physician at the Lung Department at SUS and hold a concurrent position as an associate professor at K2 (Vestlandslegen, UIB).
In my clinical practice, I mainly focus on lung cancer (diagnosis and treatment) and various other pulmonary diseases, both in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as during on-call shifts. We have ongoing collaborative projects with colleagues from UiB in the field of lung cancer (shared decision-making, OL Margrethe), and within the ATLAS4LAR group (Professor Lars Thore), we are conducting clinical studies on lung diseases. As part of the national lung cancer network, we collaborate with other major hospitals in Norway, such as OUS (DART, SOLUCOM, MIMILUC, and LUNGEVAC studies) and St. Olavs Hospital (TRIPLEX and THORA II), mainly in clinical phase II and III drug trials. Despite impressive results in recent years with new treatment modalities like immunotherapy and biological treatment for lung cancer, many patients still experience progression or relapse. It is crucial to increase our understanding of the underlying biology influencing responses and resistance. Numerous exciting studies are underway in Norway, with SUS actively participating, aiming to identify predictive and prognostic markers for the development of better treatment options over time.

Photo: / Private

In addition to my clinical work and research, I am actively involved in teaching students in pulmonary medicine, including medical students, junior doctors, and oncology nurses. I also serve as a co-supervisor for a Ph.D. student. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the development of the medical program at SUS as part of Vestlandslegen/UiB. It not only provides an exciting experience but also makes a significant contribution to the local SUS environment. It is a great privilege for me to integrate clinical practice, research, and teaching in my profession (now under UiB).

What do i enjoy working on at K2?
I officially start working with medical students from May 2023, which is a relatively short time into my position as an associate professor. I enjoy working at Vestlandslegen/K2 because, through clinical work, research, and teaching as part of a large environment, I have significant opportunities for professional development. I continuously gain new insights through collaboration with colleagues, research partners across specialties, and engaged students. This dynamic interaction not only energizes me but also provides goals to strive for. Collaborating across disciplines is particularly enriching, offering me the opportunity to explore different perspectives.
Additionally, the work gives me a chance to meet colleagues at various stages of their careers, both across disciplines and institutions. This diverse interaction contributes to a broader understanding of my field. Working at Vestlandslegen/K2 also provides access to courses in pedagogy and mentoring, enriching not only my professional competence but also positively impacting my personal development. Through teaching, I encounter skilled and curious students, and it is a pleasure to contribute to their knowledge in the field of pulmonary and internal medicine. Guiding and teaching medical students and junior doctors brings me great satisfaction. It is inspiring to observe the growth and development of my colleagues’ professional and clinical competence. The working environment is pleasant, and my colleagues, both in scientific and administrative positions, are competent, helpful, and engaged. This creates a positive expectation and enthusiasm for each working day.

Tesfaye Madebo
Attending Physician at SUS
Associate Professor at UiB

 

Colleagues at Vestlandslegen – Kjetil Isaksen

Dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Kjetil Isaksen, and I have recently joined as an associate professor at K2, based at Stavanger University Hospital. I work clinically as an invasive cardiologist and specialize in internal medicine, digestive diseases, and heart conditions.

In my role as a university employee, I am involved in teaching University of Bergen (UiB) students from both the “old curriculum” and the newly initiated cohort associated with Vestlandslegen. My focus is on teaching heart diseases.

Foto:./ill

It has been particularly exciting to be part of the planning and now the implementation of the teaching for the first students at Vestlandslegen. I am confident that, in collaboration with UiB central, we will create a well-structured program for future doctors here at SUS.

Meeting talented and eager-to-learn students is inspiring, and my goal is to make a small contribution to their professional development and maturation into the role of physicians.

Kjetil Isaksen
Associate Professor
Specialist in Internal Medicine

UiB Ferd Career Center for Early-Stage Researchers

UiB Ferd supports Early-Stage Researchers: doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, researchers and associate professors. We offer a range of services designed to help you develop your career within and beyond the university. 

Throughout the spring semester, the University Library offers open webinars on the principles of Open Science, and how to meet requirements and best-practices. The Library also offers support and courses for researchers on other topics, such as literature searching, publishing, and digital tools.  

UiB Ferd located in Nygårdsgaten 5.

UiB Ferd Newsletter for January 2024 

Registration for the UiB Ferd monthly newsletter

RCN Collaborative Project to Meet Societal and Industry-related Challenges

Application type Collaborative and Knowledge-building Project
Application deadline 13 March 2024, 13:00 CET
Relevant thematic areas for this call

Cross-cutting topics

Enabling technologies

Target groups Research organisations
Funding scale NOK 4 000 000-20 000 000
Amount of funding presumed available for this call for proposals NOK 1 095 000 000
Project duration 24-48 months

https://www.forskningsradet.no/en/call-for-proposals/2024/collaborative-project-to-meet-societal-and-industry-related-challenges/

Open call for the 2024-2025 Momentum Programme

This is a call for applications to the 6th UiB Momentum Programme. The application deadline is 17.00 on the 22 mars 2024. Information on eligibility criteria, the application process, admission requirements and participation in the programme is available online (link below).

Momentum is the UiB career development programme for early stage researchers at UiB who seek a career in academia.

Total 15 persons will be admitted, 3 of them from the Faculty of Medicine.

https://www.uib.no/en/foremployees/167616/open-call-2024-2025-momentum-programme

Join Eitri Pitchfest next Friday!

Eitri opened two years ago! Want to see what our members are working on?

Come see a bunch of brief pitches by startups, innovation projects and students!

Sign up here!

When: January 26, 13:30 – 15:30
Where: Eitri, Haukelandsbakken 31

Detailed program:
13:30 – 13:45 Eitri Welcome and Intro
13:45 – 14:15 Exciting pitches
14:15 – 14:40 Mingling
14: 40 – 15:15 Exciting pitches
15:15 – 15: 20 Voting for the best pitch
15:20 – 15: 30 Best pitch award and closing remarks
15:30 More mingling

Disputation – Md Obaidur Rahman 2. February 2024

Trial lecture: Date: Friday, February 2, 2024, at 10:15 AM
Venue: Auditorium, Armauer Hansen’s House, Haukelandsveien 28 Topic: “The clinical and regulatory hurdles for cell replacement strategies in Addison’s disease”

Foto:../ill. Privat

Dissertation defense: Date: Friday, February 2, 2024, at 12:15 PM
Venue: Auditorium, Armauer Hansen’s House, Haukelandsveien 28 Dissertation title: “Autoimmune primary adrenal insufficiency – autoantibodies and cell regeneration”

  1. Opponent: Professor Per-Ola Carlsson, Uppsala University, Sweden
  2. Opponent: PhD Ras Trokovic, University of Helsinki, Finland
  3. Committee member: Professor Helena Harris, University of Bergen

The defense will be chaired by Professor Jone Trovik.

Open to all interested parties.

Press release

Disputation Solveig Tangedal – February 1st 2024

Trial lecture: Date: February 1, 2024, at 10:15 AM
Venue: Auditorium, Armauer Hansen’s House, Haukelandsveien 28 Topic: “The role of human respiratory microbiota in health and disease”

Dissertation defense: Date: February 1, 2024, at 12:15 PM
Venue: Auditorium, Armauer Hansen’s House, Haukelandsveien 28 Dissertation title: “The lower airway microbiota and inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thoughts on where to measure it, how to interpret it, and why it might matter”

Foto/ill.: Frida og Hedda Tangedal-Straus

Foto/ill.: Frida og Hedda Tangedal-Straus

  1. Opponent: Professor Christopher Brightling, University of Leicester, U.K.
  2. Opponent: Associate Professor Kristian Tonby, University of Oslo
  3. Committee member: Associate Professor Anagha Madhusuda Joshi-Michoel, University of Bergen

The defense will be chaired by Professor Emerita Birgitta Åsjø.

Open to all interested parties.

Press release

Happy New Year also from me 😊

We are now in the final stages of RCN’s EVALMEDHEALTH report, thank you very much to all of you who have contributed so far! There is still some work to be done before the deadline 31.1., and not least, I encourage everyone once again to update their website.

But enough hustle about this, over to something far more fun that was already mentioned before Christmas: The Faculty of Medicine has announced several awards for 2023. If you/your research group/academic group know someone who has excelled in 2023, either on the research front (publication, research environment, PhD work, dissemination), as an innovation environment or when it comes to teaching, then now is the chance to nominate colleagues/environments (or yourself!). The categories are

  • Publication of the Year (NOK 100 000)
  • Research environment of the year (NOK 150 000)
  • PhD work of the year (NOK 100 000)
  • Dissemination award (NOK 100 000)
  • Innovation award (NOK 100 000)
  • Education Award (up to three awards for outstanding initiatives in education, a main prize of NOK 150,000 and up to two more prizes of NOK 50,000 each!)

We from K2 can put forward one candidate in each category, so do not hesitate to submit proposals (with thorough reasoning) by Monday 5 February 2024. More detailed information can be found here.

Proposal for Publication/PhD/Group/Dissemination/Innovation

Suggestions for Education Awards

And it is not too late to send nominations for the Meltzer Prizes – the deadline is today (19.1.24) 😊 All professors have the right to nominate, so check if you know of an outstanding research communicator, clever younger researcher or someone who has excelled over time with outstanding scientific activity (link to more information). The nomination should be sent to Kristin.Hansen@uib.no

Have a great weekend!

CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium, February 1st, 2024.

We are happy to welcome you all to the upcoming CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium, February 1st, 2024. This seminar series is a perfect place to meet and interact with other young scientists and engage in lively and interesting discussions. We are looking forward to the keynote lecture by CCBIO Masterclass graduate Hege Berg, who will give a talk about clinical implementation of multi-omics methods in cancer diagnostics. The program spans several exiting topics including the role and inheritance of BRCA1 epimutations, novel CAR T therapies for lymphomas, and development of preclinical models for investigating resistant subclones in ovarian cancer. The application of CyTOF in oncology and fibrosis will also be presented.

Open to all. Please register within January 29th at 11.00.

When: February 1, 2024, at 09.00-13.00

Where: Conference room, BB-building (right across from the auditoria), campus Haukeland, Bergen

Registration: on this link

Continue reading

Open Day – UiB Læringsarena

Monday 22 January from 11:00-14:00 we invite all our colleagues to visit the new UiB Læringsarena in Nygårdsgaten 5 to see Storsalen and our seminar rooms – and for a chat if you have questions.

We offer coffee and tea, and Smauet café will serve some snacks.

Invitation  (in Norwegian only): Åpen dag i UiB Læringsarena 22. januar | Læringsarenaen i Nygårdsgaten 5 | UiB

Yours sincerely,
Arenateamet

Grantee of ERC – Permanent Position at the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine is introducing from 01.01.24 a scheme that facilitates researchers who are awarded an ERC project to be permanently employed after the end of the project period at the institute where the research activity naturally belongs. The faculty will cover the salary cost at the institute. With this arrangement, we aim to stimulate increased application activity towards ERC, strengthen future medical research in Bergen, and make the faculty more attractive, especially for researchers early in their career.

The following criteria apply:

  • The arrangement applies to individuals who are employed in postdoc or researcher positions, or in temporary positions as associate professors or professors at MED at the time of the ERC project award.
  • The arrangement applies to individuals who move to MED with their ERC project from the start of the project period and who have their research activity at MED during the project period.
  • The arrangement does not apply to individuals who are permanently employed as scientific staff at MED as associate professors or professors prior to the ERC award.
  • Salary funds from the faculty will normally be provided after the completion of the ERC project. This means that candidates must secure their own salary from the ERC project or other sources during the project period.
  • The position (associate professor or professor) will be advertised using the usual procedure as the project period nears its end, but the advertisement text will be tailored to the candidates’ scientific and methodological profile.

Read more about ERC https://erc.europa.eu/homepage

 

Illustration for Science 2024

Do you want to use illustration as an effective communication tool? Learn the essentials of design theory, drawing by hand and drawing digitally during this course.
Illustration for Science 2024 – CHESS (uib.no)
This course will introduce the theory and method of how to visually represent your scientific research. Being able to translate complex research into information that can be understood by a wide range of audiences is an important skill that will help you throughout your career. When: 20 – 22 February 2024 (plus 3 online meetings on ZOOM, starting from 30 January 2024). Where: Geophysical Institute, UiB. Max. number of participants: 20. Credits: 1 ECTS. Register here: Illustration for Science 2024 – Page 1 of 3 (uib.no)

INVITATION: CCBIO seminar next week, Thursday 25.01.2024, 14.30–15.30, Aud. 4, BBB, with Vibeke Fosse

We are happy to invite you to a CCBIO seminar next week, Thursday 25.01.2024, in Aud. 4 BBB, from 14.30-15.30. 

Vibeke Fosse will give a talk on, Comparative oncology: a valuable model for cancer immunotherapy research.

Speaker: Vibeke Fosse

Title: Comparative oncology: a valuable model for cancer immunotherapy research

Time: Thursday 25.01.2024, 14.30–15.30

Where: Aud. 4, BBB

Host: Emmet McCormack

Abstract: Is available here

Onsite event in the auditorium. The CCBIO seminars are open to all, so feel free to forward this invitation.

Hope to see as many as possible there!

Best wishes,

Camilla Tvedt Ekanger
Seminar coordinator/PhD student
Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO
The University of Bergen
Mobile +47 465 29 280

UTFORSK Call 2024

31 January 2024 9.00-11.00

This seminar offers an introduction to UTFORSK, a measure under the Norwegian government’s strategy for cooperation on higher education and research with Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and the USA, the Panorama Strategy.

We will start by looking into the UTFORSK call and how it is aligned with policies and objectives outlined in relevant policy documents. From this starting point we will discuss objectives related to institutional partnerships, integration between higher education, research and working life, sustained student mobility and enhanced international learning environment. Last but not least we will dig into the recent UTFORSK call for applications and how to write a convincing application.

Programme:

  • Introduction to the UTFORSK call (HK-dir)
  • One or two project proposals that were funded in previous rounds will share experiences from their applications:
    • professor Bjørnar Borvik and senior adviser Ingrid Tøsdal, Faculty of Law
    • TBC
  • How to write a convincing application; story telling, impact, tips and tricks
  • Timeline for guidance from the support team

Target group:
UTFORSK is open to all levels (Bachelor, Master, and PhD) and all academic fields. Cooperation across disciplines and sectors is encouraged. Accordingly the seminar is open to interested academic and administrative staff across UiB.

Language: 
English

https://www.uib.no/internasjonalt/167670/utforsk-call-2024

Happy New Year!

As we begin the new year, it’s time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. For many of us, this means returning to work after a well-deserved break. As a large university medical department with many specialties in medicine as well as in pharmacy and nutrition with staff teaching and performing research, we have a unique opportunity to set the tone for the year ahead.

It is important to acknowledge the challenges that we have all faced over the past few years, including the pandemic and its impact on our work and personal lives as well as large cuts in public funding, which has resulted in a negative surplus in the economy. However, it is also important to focus on the positives and look for ways to move forward. This can include setting new goals, developing new strategies, or simply finding new ways to connect with colleagues. It is important to remember that challenges are a natural part of any organization’s growth and development. By working together and focusing on our strengths, we can find new and innovative ways to overcome these obstacles. This can include exploring new funding sources, developing new partnerships, or simply finding ways to streamline our operations.

Thus, coming back to work in the new year is an opportunity to start fresh and make a positive impact. By focusing on the positives, investing in your environment, and maintaining open lines of communication, you can help set the stage for a successful year ahead.

 

The artificially intelligent billion

In September, the Norwegian government launched an investment in research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital security

The investment must be “at least NOK 1 billion over five years” (2024-28) and have three main tracks:

  • Social consequences
  • Technology development
  • Innovation

The Research Council has had an expert group that has made recommendations for the organization of the AI billion. UiB has been represented by pro-rector Pinar Heggernes. They have described the current situation and expectations for the investment as well as suggested overall measures.

The initiative will have three cross-cutting, overarching themes: trust, responsibility, and creativity. The ambition is that the investment is both long-term, fruitful, ground-breaking, and interdisciplinary.

Follow-up at UiB concerns both research, innovation, and education. UiB will organize a mobilization event when the first calls for proposals open around Easter. The purpose is to identify opportunities for cross-sector and cross-faculty collaboration and lay a good foundation for the application work.

Read more about mobilization at UiB here .

Read more about UiB AI

Colleagues at Vestlandslegen – Katrine Brække Norheim

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Katrine Brække Norheim. I am the department head at the Rheumatology Department at Stavanger University Hospital.

I am a specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology. I am employed as a 1st associate professor at K2, with my workplace in Stavanger.

Foto /ill:. Privat

I provide instruction to medical students from UiB MED8 and students in the Vestlandslegen program in rheumatology. It is exciting and educational to be involved in student teaching, and I hope to contribute to making students curious and confident when interacting with patients. I am particularly focused on helping students develop a keen clinical sense and approach patients with respect and dignity. Through my involvement at UiB, I aim to contribute to a medical education that produces competent doctors who prioritize the well-being of patients, colleagues, and themselves.

Vestlandslegen colleagues – Svein Joar Auglænd Johnsen

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Svein Joar Auglænd Johnsen, and I specialize in internal medicine and rheumatology. Currently, I work at Department K2 as the coordinator for medical disciplines in Vestlandslegen, with my workplace located in Stavanger.

In my current role as the coordinator for medical disciplines in Vestlandslegen, I collaborate closely with the coordinator for surgical disciplines and the instructors within specific sub-specialties. Together, we have developed a proposal for a new study program for the 4th to 6th years, aiming to integrate medical and surgical disciplines as effectively as possible. This involves teaching both gastroenterology and gastro-surgery in the same week, along with interdisciplinary instruction on specific topics such as surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

This fall, we conducted an introductory week and teaching program for a pilot group of students for the first time. This was based on existing instruction at UiB and in collaboration with responsible instructors in various fields. Now, we are facing the evaluation and improvement of this program, while also preparing to welcome a larger group of students next fall.

What makes my position inspiring is the groundbreaking work in regional medical education. This concept is novel both in Norway and comparable neighboring countries. The collaboration between Stavanger University Hospital and UiB has the potential to increase the capacity for medical education in Norway. Working in a team with experienced professionals across disciplines towards this goal is inspiring. It is also an honor to be involved in the education of ambitious medical students, with the hope that they will become colleagues and successors over time.

My goal is to contribute to the University of Bergen, in collaboration with Vestlandslegen, educating competent doctors well-prepared for the challenges they will face as LIS-1. I hope that my dedication will result in the successful completion of students’ education and that they find a specialization they enjoy. Furthermore, I hope to be part of building a campus that delivers high-quality education, research, and innovation. Collaboration across disciplines will also lay the foundation for new and exciting projects. I have several projects of my own in the planning stage, and I hope they will start soon, while I look forward to developing into a professorially competent individual.

Information about HR

Julie Hansen has been HR Adviser at the Department of Clinical Science. She is leaving UoB and moving to an external position in January. Christine Bresil is in training and will take over as HR Adviser at the department. From now on, HR inquiries can be directed to Christine Bresil: Christine Bresil | University of Bergen (uib.no)

Thank you Julie for your efforts so far, and welcome to Christine.