Professor Ingrid Bouwer Utne is a faculty member at the Department of Marine Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her primary research focuses on risk analyses of ships, marine systems, and autonomy, with emphasis on operational safety, maintenance management, and risk control in autonomous maritime technologies. Key Projects: Leader of the Risk Group at NTNU, involved in the SFI Autoship initiative and ERC AdG BREACH project addressing risk-based rationality in autonomous systems. Research Interests: Autonomous systems design, probabilistic risk assessment, safety engineering, and risk-informed decision-making for marine operations. Grants & Funding: Secured funding from the Research Council of Norway, MAROFF, and industry partners for projects like ORCAS (Online Risk Management for Autonomous Ships) and UNLOCK (Supervisory Risk Control). She supervises numerous PhD students and postdocs, focusing on topics such as autonomous vessel navigation, risk modeling for underwater robotics, and decarbonization of maritime systems. Her work bridges theoretical risk analysis with practical applications in marine autonomy and safety systems.
Lars O. Nord is a Professor in the Department of Energy and Process Engineering at NTNU, specializing in thermal energy systems, CO2 capture technologies, and dynamic process modeling. He holds a PhD from NTNU (2010) and a Master's from Virginia Tech (2001). His research focuses on power cycles, turbomachinery optimization, and decarbonization strategies for energy systems. Nord has led projects such as DEXPAND and InnCapPlant, addressing CO2 capture under variable loads and expander efficiency in renewable systems. Current roles: Head of the Thermal Energy research group and teaches courses like Engineering Thermodynamics. Research highlights include thermal energy storage integration, moving bed adsorption processes, and offshore hybrid energy systems. His work spans over 80 publications, emphasizing CO2 capture dynamics, turbine design, and control strategies for flexible power plants. Notable collaborations include SINTEF and Aker Solutions. Nord advises multiple PhD candidates and has mentored alumni now leading roles in industry and academia.
Jan Martin Nordbotten is a full-time Professor at the Department of Mathematics, University of Bergen (UiB), with adjunct positions at Princeton University and NORCE. His research focuses on applied mathematics, particularly in porous media, CO2 storage, fluid dynamics, and interdisciplinary applications in hydrology, biomedicine, and ecology. He completed his PhD at UiB in 2004 and became Norway's third youngest professor in 2007. His work emphasizes numerical methods, multiscale modeling, and experimental validation. Affiliations: UiB (full-time), Princeton (adjunct), NORCE (adjunct) Research Group: Center for Sustainable Subsurface Resources Research interests span mathematical modeling of subsurface processes, including flow in fractured media, geomechanics, and phase-field fracture. Notable contributions include analytical and numerical solutions for CO2 leakage, multiphase flow, and development of tools like DarSIA for image processing in porous media. Publications highlight advancements in mixed-dimensional models, finite element methods, and experimental validation of CO2 storage forecasts. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in energy and environmental systems.
Amir R. Nejad is a Professor at the Department of Marine Technology, NTNU, and leads the Marine Energy Systems and Autonomics (MESA) research group. He chairs the EAWE WindEurope Scientific Track Committee and co-founded the Drivetrain Technical Committee at the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE). He is also involved in ISO committees, editorial boards of journals like Wind Energy Science , and contributes to standards for offshore wind energy. Education: Ph.D. in Marine Technology, NTNU (top 10% international ranking) M.Sc. Subsea Engineering, University of Aberdeen (Distinction) B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Tehran University (Honors) Research Interests: Focus on stochastic and reliability-based design, dynamic modeling of electro-mechanical systems, fault detection, and condition monitoring in marine and offshore renewable energy applications. Key areas include wind turbine drivetrains, floating offshore systems, and digital twin technology. Awards: 2x Best Lecturer, NTNU (2015-2016, 2019-2020) Best Poster Award, Torque Conference 2016 Nowitech Ph.D. Fellowship, 2012-2015 Advising & Grants: Supervises Ph.D. students in drivetrain design and offshore systems. Leads projects on marine system dynamics and vibration through the MD Lab. Collaborates with industry on drivetrain testing and reliability. Labs & Teams: Director of the Marine System Dynamics and Vibration Lab (MD Lab), fostering innovation in offshore renewable energy systems and digital twin applications.
Hans Bihs is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wave hydrodynamics, and wave-structure interaction using the open-source framework REEF3D. Key Research Areas: CFD simulations, wave modeling, floating body dynamics, ocean wave energy, aquaculture hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and high-performance computing. Projects: ERC Consolidator Grant PARTRES (2023-2028), EEA Grants Portugal SurfWave (2023), NFR KPN IPIRIS (2021-2025), EEA Baltic SolidShore (2021-2024), NTNU's MAPLE (2022-2025), and DigiCoast (2021-2024). Email: hans.bihs@ntnu.no His recent publications (2025-2020) analyze fluid-structure interaction, ship-induced waves, floating offshore wind turbines, submerged vegetation, and coastal structures using advanced CFD techniques. Topics include wave hydrodynamics, turbulence, and numerical modeling for marine and aquaculture systems.
Professor Kenneth Ruud is a leading expert in theoretical and computational chemistry at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. He serves as Director General of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and leads the Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences. His research focuses on relativistic quantum chemistry, developing advanced ab initio methods for molecular property calculations, and integrating QM/MM and continuum solvent models. Education: PhD from University of Oslo (1998, supervised by Trygve Helgaker) Postdoc: University of San Diego with Peter Taylor (1998-2000) His work spans relativistic effects in molecular properties, vibronic coupling, and X-ray spectroscopy. He contributes to software development through programs like Dalton, Dirac, ReSpect, and OpenRSP. Recent publications highlight applications in spin-vibronic dynamics, heavy metal L/M-edge XAS, and topological materials. Key scientific contributions include relativistic DFT for nuclear spin-rotation constants, polarizable embedding models for vibrational spectra, and quantum dynamics frameworks. Awards recognize his impact through the Dirac Medal (2008) and multiple academy memberships. Elected to Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Foreign member of Finnish Academy of Science and Letters He actively participates in open science initiatives and serves on boards including Norges Forskningsråd and CAROS center for subsea robotics. Current projects involve quantum molecular science in extreme environments and computational protocol development.
Harald Martin Hjelle is a Professor at the Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College (HiMolde). He chairs the PhD Logistics committee and serves on the university's board. His research focuses on transport economics, environmental performance of transport modes, and logistics systems. He has held leadership roles including department head and vice-rector for research. Education: Bachelor’s in Economics, University of Oslo (1989) PhD in Transport Technology, NTNU (2003) Research Interests: Hjelle’s work examines sustainable logistics, comparative environmental impacts of transport (road vs. short sea shipping), and supply chain optimization. His studies often address China-Europe trade dynamics and emissions mitigation strategies in maritime transport. Grant Projects: He has managed EU-funded and Norwegian Research Council projects on topics like container supply chain design (SeaConAZ), LNG vs. pipeline emissions, and offshore wind logistics. His research bridges academic inquiry with industry collaboration, particularly in maritime and transport policy. Labs/Teams: Member of the Transport Research Group (TRG), focusing on cross-modal transport efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Professor Inge Hoff is affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where he has served since 2009. Prior to this, he held roles as senior researcher and research leader at SINTEF. Research Interests : Materials for road construction, frost protection, laboratory testing, pavement dimensioning, road rehabilitation, state development modeling, ground-penetrating radar surveys, and concrete/natural stone coverings. Students : Mentors active PhD fellows Lisa Hannasvik, Arman Hamidi, Clara Weber, and Shoiab Ahmad. Teaching : Coordinates courses like TBA4204/BYGT1102 Transport Infrastructure , BYGT2204 Road and Railway Construction , and BA8600 Pavement Structure Dimensioning . Recent publications highlight his expertise in granular material behavior, asphalt durability under climate stressors, and advanced structural assessment techniques. Collaborations with international researchers and presentations at major conferences (TRB, International Conference on Bituminous Mixtures) demonstrate his ongoing contributions to road engineering.
Foteini Oikonomou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She specializes in theoretical astroparticle physics, focusing on extreme astrophysical environments that accelerate particles to energies exceeding 10 20 eV. Current research includes multimessenger emission modeling of active galactic nuclei Expertise in cosmic ray acceleration and high-energy neutrino origin Active in teaching advanced astrophysics and particle physics Her work bridges astrophysics, particle physics, and cosmology, with particular attention to blazars, tidal disruption events, and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. She contributes to major collaborations like GRAND and GCOS, developing future instrumentation for astroparticle detection. Recent publications explore cosmic ray propagation in diverse source populations, neutrino emission from transient astrophysical phenomena, and magnetic field line effects on particle acceleration. Her research has been featured in journals such as Nature Reviews Physics , Physical Review D , and The Astrophysical Journal . She teaches AST-3451 Astrophysics II and has previously taught particle physics (FY3403/FY8913) and general astrophysics (FY2450). Her outreach includes public explanations of ultra-high-energy cosmic ray research through popular science articles.
Roger Flage is a Professor of Risk Management at the University of Stavanger, affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Department of Security, Economics and Planning. His research focuses on foundational and applied aspects of risk analysis, uncertainty quantification, and decision-making under uncertainty, with applications in critical infrastructure, environmental systems, and offshore energy. Roger Flage's research interests lie at the intersection of risk science, safety engineering, and decision theory. He investigates how uncertainty—especially epistemic uncertainty and assumptions—affects risk assessments, and advocates for more transparent and robust frameworks. His work spans theoretical advances, such as the treatment of 'black swan' events and the concept of 'real risk', as well as practical applications in offshore safety, power systems, and geohazards. He emphasizes the integration of data-driven methods, AI, and digital twins while critically assessing their limitations and associated security risks. His recent publications show a strong trend toward integrating dynamic, data-rich, and interdisciplinary approaches to risk analysis. Themes include the role of time in risk, AI applications, infrastructure interdependencies, and environmental risk in the oil and gas sector. He frequently publishes in top-tier journals like Risk Analysis , Reliability Engineering & System Safety , and Safety Science , often in collaboration with leading scholars such as Terje Aven and Seth Guikema. No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text. Roger Flage has supervised or collaborated with several researchers, though no formal list of advisees is provided. His work is supported through academic collaborations and institutional affiliations rather than explicit grant mentions. He is actively involved in advancing risk science methodology, particularly in the treatment of assumptions and uncertainty, and contributes to both theoretical foundations and real-world applications in safety-critical domains. He is associated with research groups and collaborative networks at the University of Stavanger, particularly within the Department of Security, Economics and Planning. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on risk in complex engineered systems, including energy, transportation, and environmental systems.
Ann-Cecilie Larsen is a Professor in Nuclear and Energy Physics at the University of Oslo, leading research in nuclear physics and astrophysics. She works with the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL) and collaborates with institutions like Université libre de Bruxelles, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and CERN's ISOLDE facility. Master of Science in Physics, University of Oslo (2002) Cand.scient. in Nuclear Physics, University of Oslo (2004) Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, University of Oslo (2008) Her research focuses on nuclear properties at extreme temperatures, particularly level density and gamma decay functions. These studies inform astrophysical reaction rates for understanding cosmic element formation. She teaches FYS-MEK1110 - Mechanics and KJM-FYS5920 - Nuclear Measurement Methods . Recent publications analyze nuclear decay patterns in Sn isotopes, neutron interactions on 89Y, and shape coexistence in rare isotopes. Her work connects nuclear structure studies with stellar nucleosynthesis. Prize for Young Outstanding Researchers, Norwegian Research Council (2016) Fulbright Scholarship (2015) ERC Starting Grant (2015-2020) Best Poster, Zakopane Conference (2006) She holds a Research Council of Norway project (2021-2026) and has previously received personal postdoctoral funding (2011-2014). Collaborations include Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, ISOLDE@CERN, IReNA, and ChETEC-INFRA networks.
Professor Mohan Lal Kolhe is a distinguished academic at the University of Agder , serving as a Full Professor in Smart Grid and Renewable Energy within the Faculty of Engineering and Science and the Department of Engineering Sciences . With over three decades of international academic experience, he has held positions at prestigious institutions including University College London, University of Dundee, and Hydrogen Research Institute in Canada. His career spans technical innovation, policy development (e.g., as a member of South Australia’s Renewable Energy Board), and extensive research leadership in sustainable energy systems. Research Leadership : Focus on Smart Grid integration, Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen Energy, Solar/Wind Systems, and Techno-Economic Energy Analysis. Global Recognition : Listed in the top 2% of scientists worldwide (2020-2023) by Stanford University, with 10 publications averaging 200+ citations. Recent publications emphasize advanced optimization techniques for renewable integration, EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen production, and power system stability. His work has secured competitive funding from entities like the Norwegian Research Council and EU programs. Awards and Expert Roles : Top 2% Global Scientist (Stanford, 2020-2023) Highly Cited Researcher (Top 10 publications, 200+ avg. citations) Expert evaluator for European Commission, Royal Society London, EPSRC, and Cyprus Research Foundation He actively contributes to international conferences as keynote speaker and editorial board member, with leadership roles in research groups like Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems and Energy Systems .
Shao-Fang Wen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Their work focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with cybersecurity, secure software development, and socio-technical systems. Research Interests: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Secure Software Development Semantic Web and Ontology Socio-Technical Systems System Security Assurance Publications and Contributions: Shao-Fang Wen has contributed significantly to developing frameworks for AI security assurance, quantitative security evaluation models (e.g., SAEOn metamodel), and contextualized learning systems for software security. Their work spans journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters, emphasizing ontology-based approaches and open source community dynamics. Teaching: IIKG2001 - Software Security
Roles and Affiliations: Fred Espen Benth is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Risk and Stochastics research group. He holds a Dr. scient (PhD equivalent) in mathematics from the University of Oslo (1995). His academic journey includes roles as a researcher at the Norwegian Computing Center, a postdoc at the Universities of Aarhus and Oslo, and an Associate Professor at the University of Trondheim before becoming a full professor in 2002. Research Interests: Benth’s research focuses on mathematical finance, particularly energy and weather markets, commodity derivatives, and stochastic analysis. He explores modeling, estimation, and simulation of spot and forward prices, as well as pricing options and portfolio optimization. Recent work extends to climate systems, energy transition dynamics, and machine learning applications in financial and environmental modeling. Publications and Projects: His extensive publication record includes over 150 journal articles and book chapters, with a focus on energy markets, stochastic processes, and climate-related financial instruments. Notable projects include ‘Spatial-Temporal Uncertainty in Energy Systems (SPATUS)’ and contributions to interdisciplinary energy informatics. His work bridges theoretical stochastic analysis with practical applications in energy systems and risk management. Labs and Collaborations: Benth collaborates with the Stochastics of Renewable Energy Markets (STORE) group and contributes to initiatives like the ‘Computational Modelling and Machine Learning for Applications in Hydropower’ project. His research emphasizes the integration of stochastic methods with real-world energy and climate challenges.
Lokukaluge Prasad Perera is a Professor in Maritime Technology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and a Senior Research Scientist in Smart Data at SINTEF Digital . He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (1999), MSc in Systems & Controls from the same institution (2001), and a PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Technical University of Lisbon (2012). His research focuses on Maritime and Offshore Systems , Advanced Data Analytics , Autonomous Navigation , Energy Efficiency , and Digital Twin Applications . He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and was recognized in the World's Top 2% Scientists (2021-2022) by Stanford University. Key professional experiences include roles at SINTEF Ocean (2014–2017), Center for Marine Technology and Engineering in Portugal (2008–2012), and Wärtsilä Finland (2012–2014). He has also held academic positions at Naval & Maritime Academy and Ocean University of Sri Lanka . His work addresses challenges in emission reduction , renewable energy integration , and safety-critical systems for maritime operations. Current projects emphasize trustworthiness of autonomous ships and data-driven decision frameworks for energy efficiency.
