Presentation of an IFE-employee - I

.How did you get this position?
I was very happy with my position as researcher in Italy, and was not looking for a new job. But then different people mentioned to me a position in StorHy, an EU-financed research project in the field of hydrogen storage. I sent an application, a bit out of curiosity, to see if I would qualify in an international competition. I didn’t know IFE, but I had heard many positive things about Bjørn Hauback (IFE) who was contact person for the positions. He is highly regarded in the international hydrogen research community. When I was offered the position I trusted my intuition and accepted. I have not regretted my decision!

What are your main responsibilities?
My main research field is hydrogen storage in solid materials, and I’m particularly focused on studying different compositions of powders. I’m connected to the StorHy project, ”Hydrogen Storage Systems for Automotive Applications”, a big, international research project involving 13 European countries and 34 partners, hereunder a series of car producers such as BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Volvo. The research work is especially aimed at the automotive industry in order to realize the vision of hydrogen-fuelled cars. (Read more about StorHy here)

What does a typical day at work look like?
My work implies a good deal of reading; I have to keep updated on the research field. I exchange information by e-mail and phone with co-workers in the project. I carry out experiments in the hydrogen lab in the Jeep II reactor. Presently I’m also writing a great deal; preparing lectures and scientific papers. As a researcher in an international project you get the opportunity to travel. When convenient, I profit from this and spend a couple of vacation days in connection to these trips, so I get to know the places at the same time. New York and Iceland are some examples of exciting destinations I’ve visited.

Which qualities are important in your job?
It’s important to have good cooperation skills, to be open and able to create good relations to people you are working together with. -Not just other researchers, but also for example technicians who can help you fix problems that occur in the lab. It’s also vital to communicate your results internationally, and to give oral presentations. Other important skills are persistence; to not give up, and patience. As for myself, I’m not always that patient…

Captain Sabrina sets course at the IFE-sailing trip!

Are there some things you like in particular about working at IFE?
The international environment where people have different backgrounds and experiences, and different ways of working is something I like about my workplace. You learn incredibly much from each other in this type of environment! I also like that there are many female researchers here, in Italy most of my colleagues were men. Women and men can have different approaches to problem solving, and it is useful to have a balanced composition of the sexes.

Have you noticed any differences between working life in Italy and Norway?
Here in Norway there is money for research activities. There are adequate resources for traveling, acquiring necessary equipment and instruments, and having a technical and administrative staff. When I was working as a researcher at the national level in Italy, we didn’t have as many resources as here for this.

Do you take part in some of the social activities at IFE?
My sector recently arranged a sailing excursion on the Oslo-fiord. I have taken an IFE-sponsored kayak course, and I’m now a member of the kayak club. In the spring I took part in the wine-tasting night, which was both an educational and cheerful event.

What do you do when you are not working?
In my spare time I dance flamenco and tango. I study music composition through a self-study program and go back sometimes to Italy to hold my exams at an Italian conservatoire. Besides this, I read literature, meet with friends, go to the cinema and sometimes the theatre.

Excursion "Wilderness" with the Physics Department.