Position: Systems Engineer, the Visual Interface Division, IFE-Halden

Education: Bsc (Hons) Informatics, University of Teesside

Nationality: Norwegian

How long have you been employed at IFE?
I have been employed at IFE since August 2000, well over nine years now.

How did you get this position?
I started at IFE immediately after finishing my degree. I applied for the position while studying in England, and moved back home to start in the new job directly.

Did you know about IFE before you started working here?
Yes, I am from Halden city, so I knew a little about IFE. While I studied in Halden I also got to know IFE a bit more. I have the impression that most people know about IFE because of the two reactors. I certainly did not know that IFE was active in so many fields of research before I started working here.

From left: Morten Gustavsen, Stein Helgar and Department Head Terje Johnsen

What are your main responsibilities?
My main task is software development with Java and Java3D, and other tasks related to this.

Are you involved in some specific projects?
Yes, I have been working on so many different projects, it would be too much to mention them all here, but first and foremost I have been working on developing a tool to build and test control room layouts in 3D: CREATE

3D Visualisations of operators view-cone and reach envelope in CREATE

The research assignments I work with now coincide with a Master degree I am working on at Østfold University College, on 3D maps or virtual terrains. This puts me in the fortunate position of being able to do "school work" in office hours!

What does a typical day at work look like?
A typical day at work is spent sorting out problems related to software developments. This can be either solo problem solving, or in discussion with others.

In our section we are a small group, so you are given the opportunity to take part in the process from idea to finished product, something I like. This also implies client contact and visits to companies that are using our programs.

Which qualities are important in your job?
I would say it is a big advantage to think systematic and perform the job in a tidy and orderly way. Since there is so much ongoing development in the field, I believe it is important to be keen on continuously learning new skills and stay abreast of recent developments.

Are there some things you like in particular about working at IFE?
Many things are positive working at IFE. In particular I like the mixture of research and industry assignments. The research program enables us to develop our ideas, something we later can test out in the industry. Other things positive about IFE are good colleagues and a good working environment.

Do you take part in some of the social activities at IFE?
I am not especially active on that front, only some company football in the summer season.

What do you do when you are not working?
The last years I have spent many weekends travelling around in Norway with a band called Corazón, where I play the peculiar instrument pedalsteel. Also, a lot of spare time is spent on my passion for many years: fly-fishing.

Like many others in my age group, a number of hours are dedicated to various home improvement projects.

3D visualisation of radiation flux and dose level for the ESA module on ISS(International Space Station)