Gerhard Henning Olsen

Gerhard Henning Olsen serves as an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where he directs both the bachelor's programme in Chemistry and Materials Engineering (BIKOM) and the master's programme in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMT). His teaching portfolio centers on foundational courses including General Chemistry for Engineers and Introduction to Materials Science, with emphasis on innovative pedagogical approaches for engineering students.

Dr. Olsen completed his MSc in Materials Chemistry (2007-2012) and PhD in Materials Science (2012-2016, advised by Tor Grande) at NTNU, followed by postdoctoral research at Cornell University (2017-2019). His academic journey reflects deep integration of Norwegian and international research training.

His research bridges educational innovation and advanced materials physics. In education, Olsen pioneers digital exam systems and student-active learning methodologies, particularly for laboratory instruction. His materials science work investigates structure-property relationships in functional oxides, specializing in defect chemistry and strain engineering of ferroelectric thin films through combined computational (DFT) and experimental approaches. This dual focus enables cross-pollination between pedagogical development and materials discovery.

Publication analysis (2012-2021) reveals progressive specialization: early work established fundamental mechanisms in tungsten bronzes and manganites, while recent research addresses applied challenges in tunable dielectrics for millimeter-wave applications and thin-film manufacturing. This trajectory demonstrates increasing technological relevance while maintaining theoretical rigor in electronic materials design.

No major scientific awards or fellowships are documented in available sources.

As an educator, Olsen has supervised 28 bachelor's students across twelve externally collaborative projects and two master's theses (as of spring 2025), with recent work focusing on chemistry education research. His supervision model emphasizes industry-academia partnerships, reflecting NTNU's engineering education philosophy. While specific grant details aren't public, his sustained publication output suggests consistent project funding typical for materials science academics.