Category Archives: Uke 2

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.

(Norsk) Informasjon om bibliotekets kurs for ansatte våren 2024

Be good in literature searching and reference software. The Medical library offers the following courses this spring:

  • Searching in PubMed and Embase
  • Introduction to Endnote
  • Introduction to Zotero
  • Introduction to systematic reviews
  • Literature studies for Bachelor and Master students (in Norwegian)

The courses are planned as a hybrid solution, with the option of attending either physically or online via Zoom. The courses are mainly for employees and PhD candidates at the Faculty of Medicine and for employees at Helse Bergen. Courses for students are normally given as a part of their study program. If that isn’t the case, they can attend these courses as well. The courses are free of charge, but registration is necessary for our planning.

Dates, registration and more information can be found on the library’s web pages:

Courses in English: https://www.uib.no/en/ub/128609/courses-and-guidance#courses-requiring-registration

Overview of all courses (Norwegian or English): https://www.uib.no/ub/126018/kurs-og-veiledning#kurs-med-p-melding

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Norwegian Microphysiological Systems (NOR-MPS) symposium 14. February 2024!

Join the annual Norwegian Microphysiological Systems (NOR-MPS) symposium 14. February 2024!

The NOR-MPS Symposium with keynotes, talks, poster session and panel debates will be a satellite event of Norway Life Science 2024 at Meet Ullevaal/Ullevaal Stadium Oslo.

For the registration pls first register for the main event (cost free) and then for the NOR-MPS satellite symposium using the link below.

We look forward to the event!

https://www.uio.no/forskning/satsinger/livsvitenskap/livsvitenskapskonferansen/sidearrangementer/symposium/nor-mps-symposium.html

How to meet Open Science requirements

The University Library offers guidance and support services for adopting open science practices and meeting requirements from funders and policy makers

There has been an increasingly strong focus on open access to publications and research data and good data handling practices. This is reflected in expectations and demands from financiers, authorities and institutions.

In this webinar the university library will give a short introduction to:

  • Open access to scientific publications (support for open publishing, open access agreements, requirements from funders (Plan S), guidelines at UiB)
  • FAIR data management and open access to research data (requirements from funders, data management plans, data documentation and metadata, archiving and reuse of FAIR research data, citable code)
  • Publication strategies (status for open publishing, visibility of own research and evaluation based on open science)

26.01.2024 – 10.15–11.00

 

https://www.uib.no/ub/167322/how-meet-open-science-requirements

Upcoming events at the International Centre

Introduction to tax
Sign up and join us for an online informative meeting about how to pay tax in Norway. This is useful if you are moving to Norway, shifting between Norway and other working

countries, or working from abroad. We have this seminar 2 Fridays per month, from 11.00 to 11.30. The next seminar will be on January 12th. In the registration form you can choose which date you want to sign up to.

Read more here https://www.uib.no/en/international/167208/introduction-tax-norway

Introduction course for new employees
This course is step 2 of our introductory seminars for new international employees. The course will take place on February 1 st from 12.00 to 15.00, in Bjørn Christiansens hus

Seminarroom 110. The doors open a bit in advance, so you have the chance to have a coffee and snacks and get to know each other. You can register here https://www.uib.no/en/international/167228/introduction-course-new-employees.

Please complete step 1 (short e-learning course https://www.uib.no/en/foremployees/141727/introduction-uib-new-employees) before attending.

Global Health EDCTP3 Work Programme 2024 Published

The Global Health European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU) has released its Work Programme for 2024.

In 2024, the GH EDCTP3 JU will distribute €140 million through two calls, which are planned to be launched on 18 January 2024, with a stage 1 deadline of 4 April 2024:

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Grantee of ERC – Permanent Position at the Faculty

The Faculty of Medicine, UiB (MED) 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Research and Training Grants from the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS)

Members of FEMS Member Societies can apply for our grants. Research and Training Grants assist early career scientists in pursuing research and training at a European host institution in a country other than their own country of residence (and exceptionally to support research and training projects outside Europe). These grants may be used to contribute to travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of making the visit. Support is limited to a maximum of €5000.

Applicants
Applicants should be active microbiologists, having obtained their highest degree less than five years prior to the application deadline date or be a PhD student*. They should be a member of a FEMS Member Society. You can find a detailed overview of the requirements for this grant in the FEMS Grants Regulations.

https://fems-microbiology.org/about_fems/network-and-activities/grants/fems-research-grants/

CCBIO courses with deadline February 1st.

Dear all,

We have a range of courses coming up this spring, and please note: for study point (ECTS) providing participation, registration deadline is February 1, in Studentweb. So, PhD candidates and students: remember to register, and supervisors and PIs, remember to advise your students to register.

(Except for the Clinical Trials course which takes place January 17-19, which qualifies for a Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificate as well as study points. ECTS deadline in Studentweb for this course was January 5, and non-ECTS registration closes January 12.)

Courses with deadline February 1 for registration in Studentweb:

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Metabolic pathway analysis

Course description:
This course will provide an introduction to the computational analysis and reconstruction of both small and genome-scale metabolic networks. The main goal is to familiarize students with relevant state-of-the-art computational tools and databases, as well as to provide the students with hands-on experience in metabolic modelling approaches. Furthermore, we will cover the mathematical basis of constraint-based analysis of genome-scale metabolic models and provide a foundation for stability and control analysis of dynamic models. Link to the course description: Metabolic pathway analysis

Prerequisites:
Basic competence in a programming language (preferably Python) is expected. Basic knowledge in biochemistry, linear algebra and statistics are required.

Time: February 19th to March 1st, 2024. Please note that the course is two weeks.
Place: University of Bergen, Department of Biomedicine
Course responsible: Ines Heiland, Mathias Ziegler, and Suraj Sharma

Invited lecturers: Sascha Schäuble, HKI, Jena Germany

Suggested amount of ECTS: 10
Number of participants: max 20

Registration form: Metabolic pathway analysis 2024 (google.com)

UN Young Researcher’s Grant

Dear Colleagues,

The Task Force Student Mobility is pleased to announce an additional round of the UN Young Researcher’s Grant.

We are offering up to 20 scholarships of 1200€ each to students within the framework of the UN Young Researcher’s Grant.

Application Requirements:

  • Minimum length of stay: 4 weeks
  • Mobility must start between 1 May 2024 – 31 March 2025
  • Application deadline: 20th February (universities can set a different internal application deadline, so that nominated students can be sent to the Task Force before the 4th of March)
  • For the details and the application form, please refer to the UN website: http://www.utrecht-network.org/activities/young-researchers-grant/

All UN universities are kindly asked to promote the mobility scheme among their students and young researchers.

Nomination of selected students:

  • The nomination of selected and ranked students should be completed online. Please refer to the nomination link provided.
  • Nomination deadline 4th March 2024
  • Scanned application documents should be sent by email to rita.vienazindiene@cr.vu.lt
  • ! Please note that it is possible to nominate no more than three students. If there is more than one selected student per institution, the home university must create a ranking, and selected students should be nominated in the ranking order.

Selection results:

  • Selection results will be available on the 19th March and sent out to all the nominated students and contact person for nominations in a copy.

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me by e-mail rita.vienazindiene@cr.vu.lt

Kind regards,

Rita

****************

Rita Vienazindiene

Exchange Student Coordinator, International Relations Office

Vilnius University, Universiteto str. 3, LT-01513 Vilnius, Lithuania

FRIPRO: Free, bold and innovative research

Are you planning a FRIPRO proposal?
Do you want help from research advisors?
Register your plans 3 months ahead of the planned submission.
And remember: you can always discuss your plans with your research advisor

Researcher Project for Experienced Scientists (FRIPRO)

Researcher Project for Early Career Scientists (FRIPRO)

Three-year Researcher Project with International Mobility (FRIPRO)

EMBO Young Investigator Programme

The EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports life scientists who have been group leaders for less than four years at the time of application in setting up their laboratories. Young Investigators receive financial support for networking for four years and benefit from training opportunities, support for their lab members and mentoring. They become part of an international network of more than 700 current and former EMBO Young Investigators, Installation Grantees and Global Investigators.

This is an annual award and the next applications opens in February and close on April 1, 2024.

https://www.embo.org/funding/fellowships-grants-and-career-support/young-investigator-programme/

Data science meetings – mark the dates!

We will have a “data café” at the faculty of medicine on the 30th of

January from 9 to 12. All interested in data science applied to medicine are invited to mingle around a nice breakfast. Then, two workshops will be organized: (1) “Introduction to data handling in python” by Jakub Vasicek and (2) “How to be Open about your Science?” by Julia Romanowska.

Many of you have asked for it and we are pleased to announce that we will have a joint MED-CBU seminar on the 21st of March at 11:15. Like last time the seminar aims to foster interaction between researchers at

MED and CBU and will be followed by a mingling lunch. If you are interested in joining these events please let Marc know (marc.vaudel@uib.no). If you have suggestion of activities, workshop, or want to help with the organization – it would be most welcome!

Thank you!
Ma