Nominations of representatives for fixed-term academic staff

• Cecilie Glittum
• Batool Akbar
• Pål Orten

Cecilie Glittum

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics, and my research focuses on magnetism and quantum technology. I am now running for election to the faculty board as a representative for fixed term scientific staff, because I believe it is crucial for us to take part in decision-making processes that affect our working conditions and career development.

As a bachelor's (2015-2018) and master's student (2018-2020) at UiO, I was active in various boards and committees such as the department board and the program councils at the Department of Physics. I have also been engaged in teaching and teaching development at the Department of Physics, the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Informatics.

After my master's degree, I spent five years abroad: Four years as a PhD student at the University of Cambridge (where I served as representative for PhD students at my college), and one year as a postdoctoral researcher at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin. This background would be valuable in helping to further develop the faculty: Not only do I know UiO well, but I also bring with me new experiences and insights from abroad.

Now, I am employed through the DSTrain programme and the dScience centre. Thus, I regularly meet with employees across departments, supporting my ability to represent a broad range of the fixed term scientific staff at the faculty. As a member of the faculty board, I wish to work for:

• An inclusive and supportive academic environment where research and teaching are prioritised.
• That all employees, regardless of employment type, feel valued and heard in decision-making processes.
• Initiatives that promote career development for fixed term scientific staff.

• Cecilie Glittum's employee profile 

Nominators for Cecilie Glittum

• Helene Lane

Batool Akbar

Hi,

My name is Batool Akbar, I have recently started as a research fellow in mechanics and am running for election as a representative of the temporary academic staff at the faculty.

If elected to the board, my primary focus will be to be a clear voice on behalf of the temporary staff. I will be accessible and easy to reach out to. To achieve this, I will, among other things, set up regular, informal meeting points, such as lunches and coffee breaks, where there is a low threshold for expressing concerns, making suggestions for improvement or just talking.

A good, safe and inclusive working environment is important for everyone. Our needs in the workplace are all different and I will do my best to ensure that you feel heard and that this is reflected in the board's decisions.

• Batool Akbar's employee profile 

Nominators for Batool Akbar

• Gabriel Paaske
• Stephane Albert Jules Poulain
• Rishabh Nain

Pål Orten

I am professor II at Department of Technology Systems, and I am candidate for the faculty board for temporary scientific employees.

My main motivation for participating to the faculty board is that I hope to contribute my experience from industrial- and university research, in addition to teaching over many years. This faculty spans a wide range of sciences, and at the faculty level it is crucial to see this also as an asset. This not very unlike an industrial company where different areas contribute to the total success. I expect that this experience will benefit the faculty and likely also the university’s industrial relations.

Cooperation between university and industry is another passion for me. It is a fact that many of the top ranked universities in the world benefit from a systematic industry cooperation. This is at the core of my career, being a catalyst for such cooperation.

A significant part of university research is done by temporary employees, PhD candidates and post-docs in particular. Therefore, following up and ensuring the well-being of this group is not only crucial for their personal success, but for the university performance and reputation in general. In my role as supervisor for many PhDs over the years, I fully recognize this. Furthermore, the board can expect to also benefit from my experience from several universities (MSc from NTNU, PhD from Chalmers, employment at UiO in addition to many good connections and collaborators in universities across the Nordics).

• Pål Ortens employee profile 

Nominators for Pål Orten

• Pål Orten