New DION Board

The new DION Board has now been elected:

President: Martin Brattmyr

Board:

Aida Akbarzadeh

Amanda Holstad Singleton

Olga Cherepkova

Payel Chatterjee

Regina Matveeva

Siamak Karimi

W. Ludwig Kuhn

Congratulations to the new board!

Candidates for the 2021 Board

Find out who is running (so far) for the new DION board and DION president positions. It is still possible to announce your candidacy, see more information here.

DION President Candidates

Martin Brattmyr

My name is Martin, and I would like to apply for the position as a board member. I am a clinical psychologist, doing my PhD at department of psychology at Dragvoll. This is my 2nd out of 4 years, researching psychiatric outpatient treatment for adults. I’m currently deputy for representing temporaries at the institute board, and got previous experience with board work, amongst other as chairman for a local union for psychologists in Västmanland, Sweden.

Being temporary employed, we are implied to accept a great deal of uncertainty. This is of course a huge contributing factor for stress and other mental health issues. The current situation with Covid-19 has not only contributed to this, but it has disclosed other factors that makes us exposed for hazards, amongst other work enironment problems. I regard it as important to adress potentially harmful psychosocial factors, to also shed light on protective factors and role models at NTNU. Therefore, as a running board member, I would amongst others serve for a mental health perspective for temporaries.

I am looking forward to see you all at the next board meeting.

DION Board Candidates

Ahmed M. Ibrahim

I would like to express my interest to serve my colleagues, PhDs and Post-Docs, wherever possible to make sure that, creation of knowledge is surrounded with a supporting and inclusive environment, holistically.

I do believe, and experienced the challenges of international and national PhDs and Post-Docs. I feel them. I am one of them. From here within, following my motivation I want to take part in the NTNU DION Board.

I am an Egyptian professional architectural engineer, with work experience on delivering mega governmental and private projects at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. My core competency is in construction costs management (estimation and cost control), delivered a portfolio of prestigious projects, while working with “class A” construction contracting and consulting companies in Saudi Arabia. I obtained my B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering from KFUPM, Dhahran – Saudi Arabia. my research domains of interest are Smart cities, Facilities management, Properties management and Corporate real estate.

I was a club leader in Saudi, which is somehow similar to DION but for undergrads, with departmental focus. I believe in diversity, empowerment, gender equality, democracy and academic freedom. I don’t like bullying; Its a societal opponent. I believe that PhDs and Post-docs should socialize more often and be cross disciplinary, as exchange of knowledge is the top aim for education. I like to listen and advice, I like to get insights and support.

Aida Akbarzadeh

My name is Aida, and I am in my second year of PhD at the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology in Gjøvik. Currently, I am working on modelling interdependencies within cyber-physical systems for my project, which also opened my eyes to various types of dependencies exist in our daily life. Indeed, by reviewing the last year we can clearly see how different aspects of our lives depend on environmental factors that are sometimes out of our control. Last year was a challenging year for most of us, specifically for newcomers and those nearing the end of their contract. As a PhD student and a foreigner, I can truly understand how that situation can influence one’s work progress.

So, as a board member for the past year, I did my best to reflect the concerns of all PhDs, post-docs and temporary academic staff and follow their requests. I was so fortunate to be part of the DION team 2020-2021 and contribute to organizing different events such as the Mental Health Awareness week and several social activities, particularly for the Gjøvik-based PhDs, post-docs and temporary academic staff.

I believe DION can play an important role, especially during this pandemic, to help staff with work-related issues as well as organize social, cultural and family events. I had the opportunity to live in Trondheim and Gjøvik, and from my point of view, having social events in smaller cities such as Gjøvik and Alesund is highly required, and special attention should be given to that by DION.  Therefore, I would like to continue working for DION as a board member to be able to continue the work of the previous board to improve the working environment offered to PhDs, post-docs and temporary academic employees at NTNU.

Alicia Vallejo-Olivares

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Materials Engineering, studying the recyclability of aluminium food packaging. I come originally from Spain, and I first lived in Trondheim as an exchange student back in 2015. I then fell in love with the Scandinavian nature and lifestyle, which led me to undertake a masters degree in Sweden, and finally come back to Trondheim in 2020 to embark on this exciting and challenging PhD journey.

As the covid-19 pandemic slowed down both my private and professional life a year ago, I became more aware of the importance of organisations as DION. Especially now, I try to grab every opportunity to socialise, network or develop as both researcher and science communicator. A month ago, I organised a meditation workshop financed by DION. I am also involved in the Pint of Science Festival organisation, which will be held in Trondheim in May. Regarding my Norwegian level (hopefully, my colleagues agree), I can make myself understood and understand most (if dialects and speed allow) of what is discussed around the lunch table.

If I am chosen, I would be glad to be a board member of DION during 2021 and do my best to support the rights and improve the work environment and growth opportunities of the temporary staff at NTNU.

Amanda Holstad Singleton

My name is Amanda Holstad Singleton and I am a PhD candidate at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine studying antibiotics and bacterial stress responses. I first moved to Trondheim in 2015 to study biotechnology at NTNU. After completing my master’s degree in June 2020, I got the exciting opportunity to start a PhD at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine.

The past year has been tough for everyone, especially if starting a new position where opportunities to network and socialize with your colleagues have been limited. The connections and friendships formed at work are critical for engagement, productivity, and feeling valued. Organizations like DION are very important, especially in a time like this when it is already challenging to meet new people, both at work and socially. Starting my PhD in the middle of the pandemic, I know how hard it can be meeting new people and building a network. Because of this experience, I would like to be part of the team that supports and represents the interests of doctoral candidates, post-docs, and temporary scientific employees, and hopefully, help prevent too many new employees from feeling lost. I am fluent in both Norwegian and English, and thus will be able to reach out to all NTNU employees whose interests are promoted by DION.

If chosen to serve on the board of DION, I would do my best to help create a platform for doctoral candidates, post-docs, and temporary scientific employees to interact and have their voices heard by NTNU. Hopefully, the DION board will be able to organize more exciting events in the future, both online and in person.

Gabriela Kazimiera Warden

Hello! My name is Gabriela and I am a PhD candidate at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. My PhD-work is related to quartz crucibles used for silicon production for PV-applications. I was born and raised in Poland, but I moved to Norway as a teenager back in 2011. I did my high school years in Bergen (unfortunately, I did not inherit the bergensk dialect), and then came to Trondheim to study Materials Science and Engineering, which I fell in love with.

I started my PhD in November 2020, and have since then taken two courses, spent a lot of hours in the lab and read tons of articles. However, the social aspect of my work has not been a great part of my daily life. This is why I decided to join DION. I see it as a possibility of gaining new exciting experience, meeting new people and at the same time doing something valuable for others in the same situation. Even though Norway is considered to be a paradise for doing your PhD, there still exist some challenges that I would like to work with during my time as a board member, if elected.  I think my biggest motivation for joining the board is the mental health aspect of doing a PhD, which is, in my opinion, very often neglected and/or downplayed.

I would be very glad to join the DION board and work for the well-being of all temporary scientific employees at NTNU.

Martin Brattmyr (this candidate also runs for president)

My name is Martin, and I would like to apply for the position as a board member. I am a clinical psychologist, doing my PhD at department of psychology at Dragvoll. This is my 2nd out of 4 years, researching psychiatric outpatient treatment for adults. I’m currently deputy for representing temporaries at the institute board, and got previous experience with board work, amongst other as chairman for a local union for psychologists in Västmanland, Sweden.

Being temporary employed, we are implied to accept a great deal of uncertainty. This is of course a huge contributing factor for stress and other mental health issues. The current situation with Covid-19 has not only contributed to this, but it has disclosed other factors that makes us exposed for hazards, amongst other work enironment problems. I regard it as important to adress potentially harmful psychosocial factors, to also shed light on protective factors and role models at NTNU. Therefore, as a running board member, I would amongst others serve for a mental health perspective for temporaries.

I am looking forward to see you all at the next board meeting.

Olga Cherepkova

My name is Olga. I am in the first year of my PhD, working at the Colorlab in the department of Computer Science in Gjøvik on the topic related to Image Quality Assessment. I did my Master’s under Erasmus Joint Degree Program with specialization in “Colour in Science and Industry”, which allowed me to visit and live in beautiful different places and get in touch with the people of diverse cultures. It was an exciting experience, which brought me to Gjøvik for the first time in 2016, where I have spent almost a year. In January 2021 I came back here in Norway to continue research in a PhD.  I am happy to be here again and love Gjøvik with all my heart. At the same time, I feel the need to participate in social life and get the opportunities to meet new people and stay in touch, as community plays an important role in healthy and fulfilling living, especially in a small city, and while working on a personal research project, which does not give many ways to connect with other people (especially when the situation is exacerbated by today’s conditions). Community brings us back together, allowing to get to know each other’s culture, story, and background, makes us feel connected, supports during difficult times, and gives a feeling that you are not alone, as we are all going through similar processes. Its role cannot be overestimated.

I am still in the process of discovering Gjøvik and believe that there is much more to find out. I feel that the mix of diverse cultures is very concentrated here, which gives a unique opportunity to be a part of this international environment and to look at the world with the eyes of a person of a different mindset. I would love to share my experiences exploring this cozy town and together with the DION team to find more opportunities to connect us all together, to create for NTNU researchers, employees, and their families more beautiful moments to share together and to enjoy your stay here, regardless of what you are working on back in the lab, if you just came here and feel a bit lost or if you have been living here for years. I hope that the DION group team will be well-balanced to be able to create and organize exciting activities more efficiently in each city: Trondheim, Ålesund, and Gjøvik. 

Payel Chatterjee

I am an experimental physicist who likes to play with machines and synthesize novel nanostructured materials which can contribute towards an energy-efficient society.
I grew up in Kolkata which is one of the biggest cities in India with more than 5 million population. I received my M.Sc degree in Physics from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) and started working as a research fellow at Defence Metallurgical Research laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad.
I moved to Trondheim in 2018 to start my PhD journey. Trondheim is a very different city compared to the previous ones I have lived in. I always enjoyed interacting with people from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. So, I started to participate and organize diverse international events to remove cultural barriers and became a board member of the Indian Students’ Forum (ISF), Trondheim. I was also a member of the organizing team who arranged the DION funded workshop on desk fitness last year.
I was gradually settling down in this city until global pandemic disrupted our daily lives and forced a lot of PhD students like me to rethink and replan their entire PhD journey. During this challenging time, DION did an amazing job by providing mental support to PhDs and Post-Docs and making them aware of their rights. Personally, I have been trying to provide support to my fellow PhDs whose career path has been greatly affected by the pandemic. If I become a board member of DION, I think I would be able to reach out to more PhDs and Post-Docs and encourage them to fight this crisis together.

Regina Matveeva

My name is Regina and I am a first-year PhD Candidate in chemistry, working in the field of theoretical chemistry. Originally I come from a Russian city called Samara, which is located at the beautiful Volga river. After high school graduation I moved to Germany, where I studied chemistry in the gorgeous college town, Heidelberg. During my master studies I had a unique opportunity to work on a number of research projects in different areas of chemistry, from homogeneous catalysis to bio-organic chemistry. One of these projects I conducted at NTNU in Trondheim and I was fascinated by the work-life balance and the international working environment. So I decided to come back to start the marathon called a PhD, three months ago.

Throughout my time in Heidelberg, I have been involved in extracurricular activities as a member of a student’s body and as a participant of an interdisciplinary academic work and exchange series called “Kolleg Europa”. The goal of “Kolleg Europa” was to promote an international dialogue on European issues among the students from different countries. As a consequence, I am not only an experienced team-player, but I am also used to taking on responsibility.

Due to the current situation, I wasn’t able to be socially active that much last year and I noticed how much I missed it. That’s why I jumped at the chance and applied straight away, when I saw the call for DION Board members for 2021. I think the work of organizations like DION is very important because it not only represents the interests of PhDs, post-docs and temporary academic stuff, but also actively interacts with them through various social events and thus creates memories. DION is a place where I could contribute all the experience that I gained so far and together with other members make NTNU an even more attractive work environment for temporary academic stuff. If elected, I would also be happy to work with others members to develop ideas for more activities that could bring us together despite the current situation, so that we still will have some positive memories despite these difficult times. 

Siamak Karimi

My name is Siamak, my friends call me Sia, and I am a PhD student in the department of Marine Technology, NTNU, Trondheim. At the Tyholt campus, we work on several aspects of sea transportation, aquaculture, offshore wind turbines and everything related to water. I personally, as an electrical engineer, work on the battery charging of electric ships. I come from Iran and my home cities are Isfahan and Shiraz (you may have heard of it as a type of good wine). It has been around 2 years that I started my PhD at beautiful Trondheim.

As an international PhD student, I feel the important of such organizations like DION which connect all the young talented people in the academia and care for their needs. I know that it might become challenging to hang out physically or throwing parties lately but still there are several opportunities for making contact with our colleagues. I believe that other than catering events like Game nights, Quiz nights and Pizza nights, DION has the intention to establish your work family not only in your research group but also throughout the whole NTNU. If I am chosen to be honored to serve in DION, I will do my best to make DION a family for us.

Wolf Ludwig Kuhn

Hei! My name is Ludwig, and I really don’t know why my parents decided to put another name before my commonly used first name. Anyways, I am a PhD student at the department of Energy and Process Engineering, IV-faculty at NTNU. My project is about degassing air-supersaturated water within hydropower plants by using power ultrasound, and explaining that in detail takes usually a couple of minutes. Although the project is interdisciplinary, my educational background is engineering science, and I hold a M.Sc. from the Technical University of Berlin, which is roughly the place I grew up as well. I came to Trondheim to write my Master’s Thesis in the fall 2018, and got stuck with the great city and the beautiful Norwegian nature. After a year as scientific assistant, I started the PhD at the Waterpower Laboratory.

As I foreigner, I know of the hassles and difficulties regarding the start-up phase at NTNU and the integration process into the Norwegian society. This helps me to give feedback and indicating points of improvement. Furthermore, I have been volunteering since my school time, where I was participating and partly leading a group against racism (“School without racism – school with courage”). During my studies, I was engaged in the organization and implementation of the introduction week for new students within my line of studies. Nowadays, I am treasurer and board member within NTNUI Rumpeldunk.

For the DION board, I would bring the experience from former volunteering as well as a great motivation to organize social activities, which most of us had a shortage of due to the Corona pandemic. I am also very interested in communicating with the NTNU board and make useful changes for all temporary employees at NTNU.

Celebrating Spring Equinox with a Bonfire

Spring is slowly taking over Norway. With this occasion, DION invites PhDs, PostDocs, and temporary staff at NTNU Gjøvik and their family members for an outdoor gathering next Wednesday afternoon (the 24th of March). There will be a cozy bonfire, together with hot beverages, light snacks, and good company. The event will take place at Organisasjonskollektivet, the black house on the small hill just beside G-building.

Please register here.