Newsletter June 2021

Newsletter June 2021

Lagt online: 29.06.2021

IN THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER YOU CAN READ ABOUT:

  • Video greetings
  • Make your contribution to the world goals visible via your VBN profile 
  • Brief update on the latest research area coordinator meeting
  • Graduation 2021
  • Teacher of the year 2021
  • Maternity cover in the study team
  • Seminar in the Secretariat 
  • Summer holidays in the secretariat  
  • Latest update on corona guidelines
  • Online "studievalgsdag"
  • New student contracts are now available on Bio.aau.dk
  • Matchtjekker
  • Preliminary status of Quota 1 applicants
  • Update your participation and membership in external councils and committees in PURE
  • Latest updates from the Department committees
  • Meeting schedule for the Department committees
  • The Department researchers and students in the media
  • Useful links
  • Future events
  • HR news
  • Peer-reviewed articles 

Video greetings

Meet Head of Department Michael Toft Overgaard, who takes a look back at the first half of 2021 and looks forward to the development process that awaits the Department on the other side of the summer holidays. Wishing you a great summer.

 

Make your contribution to the world goals visible via your VBN profile

Now you have the opportunity to make visible which of the UN world goals you contribute to via your personal VBN profile. The registration is made via PURE and you can also register which specific goals your publications contribute to. If you find it difficult to determine which UN world goal (s) a publication contributes to the VBN team has made the following "guide":

- "There is no 'golden standard' that defines why and how a publication specifically contributes to solving the challenges or sub-goals of the UN's global goals. […] Research publications probably do not solve the challenges - but the knowledge conveyed through the publication can be translated and have a societal effect in many different contexts. Therefore, consider whether the knowledge disseminated through the publication can potentially be brought into play in relation to the SDGs".

If you are interested in seeing how the world goals can be visible on your VBN profile and on your registered publications, take a look at Niels' profile and most recently registered publication.

In the VBN team's guidelines for updates in PURE, you will also find a guide regarding the above registrations of the UN world goals. If you have any questions, you are of course also welcome to contact Steffen, smje@bio.aau.dk

Brief update on the latest research area coordinator meeting

On May 28, we held a research area coordinator meeting. We had a great meeting focusing on the areas below.

Information on the faculty's proposals for strategic initiatives

The Faculty has determined 9 sustainability initiatives, which in future will form the direction for the Faculty's and the  Departments' work. During the summer, opportunities will be announced to apply for faculty funds for the redemption of employees with the aim of creating time to write applications that involve collaboration across departments at the Faculty.
 
Summary of the Faculty's "strategy":

  • 9 areas of sustainability
  • Collaboration across departments and faculties
  • Focus on funding and the quality of our research
  • Increased focus on the research areas at AAU underlining strategic work in the research areas, a clear profile of the research groups, elaboration of annual action plans in the research groups and a clear definition of the tasks and responsability of the group leaders. 

During the autumn, we will work on  the organization of research groups and how we ensure alignment with the Faculty's strategy and expectations.

BIO's investment strategy

  • The Department is in a new and positive financial situation - largely due to the corona sequencing efforts
  • MTO is in dialogue with the Faculty management about how this positive situation is handled. Michael will make a status at the summer seminar. In the short term, there are calls for proposals for the redemption of employees in the autumn of 2021, with the aim of releasing time for e.g. writing applications. The section leaders and research area coordinators have submitted proposals i relation to this.
  • At the meeting, it was discussed whether it could be considered to use money to extend postdocs and PhD students who are late due to corona. Currently, a group of researchers are making statistics to visualise what has been lost  ("hours / "work efforts") during corona.

Presentation by Cristina Lagido

Cristina has been an intern at the Department for a period this spring. In collaboration with Kristian Bering and Camilla Kristensen, she has interviewed the research area coordinators with a focus on uncovering how the department contributes to the faculty's sustainability goals and the UN's world goals. A really nice piece of work has been done which is important in relation to future marketing of the research areas and alignment with the faculty's strategy.

Pros and cons of our current research area organization

We had a nice discussion about experiences from the time we have worked in the e current research areas - what has worked and what has been challenging. This discussion will continue in the autumn and we will evaluate whether it is beneficial to change our research group structure.

Introduction of fundraising process plan

At the meeting, Kristians Bering presented a draft process plan for the autumn application rounds. This was subsequently sent to everyone. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities for pitch and internal peer review of applications. We will follow up on this at the summer seminar and here there will be contributions from members in DFF and NOVO.

Marketing of the research areas

Camilla presented views on the future marketing of the research areas which are an essential part of the new communication strategy which will be presented in the sections this autumn.

Graduation 2021

This year's graduation was planned as an online event with the graduates and their families via a Zoom connection from their private homes. The programme included a welcome spech by Lars H. Pedersen, Chairman of the Board of Studies, after which Eske Willerslev, Professor at the University of Copenhagen, University of Cambridge and Director of the Center of Excellence in GeoGenetics, spoke and generously shared his own experiences and advice which he wished that someone had told him before entering the job market. Student representative Stine Tillebæk Søndergaard presented the prestigious award ‘Teacher of the Year’ to Rudi P. Nielsen, after which this year's graduates received a virtual pat on the back from Lars H. Pedersen and Head of study Niels T. Eriksen for their newly awarded master's degree. About 64 people attended this year's online graduation event which finished of with a tribute to the graduates and a glass of champagne.

Teacher of the year 2021

The 'Teacher of the Year' award at the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience was awarded to Rudi P. Nielsen this year. Rudi is recognized for creating committed and present teaching of high quality and with a good sense of humor. He always makes an extra effort to convey even the most difficult subject areas in an understandable and relatable way. Big congrats to Rudi for this well deserved recognition.

Welcome to Amanda Perschke, who will be Charlotte's maternity cover in the study team on 01.08.2021. Charlotte's marternity leave starts mid-August, so there will be plenty of time to hand over the tasks. Amanda is not new to AAU - she has just been employeed at the Department of Communication and Psychology for the past two years and thus has a good knowledge of AAU and several of the administrative systems. Amanda is 24 years old and lives in Aalborg with her boyfriend.

Seminar in the secretariat

After many months of shut down and work from home the secretariat was gathered for the first time at Hotel Kompas on 18 June 2021. The seminar program included interdisciplinary activities, where both academic and social aspects were included in the exercises. All in all, an exciting day focusing on knowledge sharing and creativity not least meeting new and "old" colleagues. 

Summer Holidays in the secretariat

For your information:

The BIO secretariat will close for the summer holidays as listed below and the relevant shared mail boxes/mail addresses will generate automatic mail replies if contacted during these weeks:

If in need of assistance prior to the summer holidays, please contact the relevant team(s) no later than 14 days prior to holiday closure. As for HR-related issues, please contact BIO-HR@bio.aau.dk even sooner as processing times may be extended over the summer. NB: Please pay attention that future employments must be approved by dean or head of department prior to job start. Below please find additional information on AAU summer closure and deadlines:

SERVICE HOURS DURING SUMMER HOLIDAYS – INTERNATIONAL STAFF UNIT (ISU)

Due to the upcoming summer holidays, the International Staff Unit will be closed during week No. 30, but will be available to a limited extent during weeks 28-29 and 31. You are therefore kindly requested to submit documentation and enquiries on future employments and PhDs  in due time and at the very latest in week No. 26.

ACADEMIC COUNCIL ENGINEERING

There are no written hearings in the weeks: 27, 28, 29 and 30 (all of July)

DEADLINE REGARDING THE PAYROLL PROCESS

  • 13 July
  • 12 August

Latest update on corona guidelines

Please find below a brief update, which contains the latest updates regarding the corona guidelines at the University. However, we kindly encourage you to stay updated on AAU's website:

INSTRUCTIONS - HOLIDAYS

On June 26, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a number of radical changes to its travel guides. The countries are now colored either green, yellow, orange, shaded orange or red depending on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' assessment of the risks of travel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against unnecessary travel to countries that are orange, shaded orange or red. You can read more about this on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website: Travel Guides (um.dk). If you plan to travel abroad during your holiday, you must consider the following: If you as an employee take a holiday in a country where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against unnecessary travel, you must not meet physically at Aalborg University until you have been in self-isolation in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Authorities. You can read more about the requirements in connection with travel here: Travel abroad (coronasmitte.dk). If the self-isolation cannot be included in your holiday, you must agree with your manager before the holiday whether it is compatible with your work tasks that you work at home during the period of self-isolation. Alternatively, there will be payroll deductions.

DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

On June 14 AAU decided to go back to the basic requirement about distance, which means that the distance requirement to keep 1-2 meters distance has been abolished across campus. However, we still encourage you to act responsibly and remember the general guidelines on hygiene.

TEST FACILITIES AT AAU

Due to reduced activities during the summer, AAU’s own test facilities in Aalborg East, Esbjerg and Copenhagen will close per. July 2nd. The test facility in Aalborg Centrum will from 5 July only be open Monday and Thursday from kl. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Online "studievalgsdag"

As a new initiative within recruitment, the central communication unit at AAU and the Departments have jointly created the concept 'Online Studievalgsdag', which is an online study guidance event for study applicants who wants to apply for a bachelor's degree at AAU (in Aalborg, Esbjerg or Copenhagen) before 5 July. The event took place online on June 1, 2021 at 15-19. The potential student had the opportunity to listen to live presentations about the study programmes from student and study counselors and subsequently ask questions in plenary - either orally or via chat. It was our impression that the participants had many good and different questions, and that the format provided space and opportunity for good and in-depth conversations with a focus on helping the potential students in clarifying their choice of study.

OVERVIEW OF NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR ONLINE STUDY SELECTION DAY:

  • (Niels T. Eriksen + Magnus Bay Kirkfeldt) Biology: 11
  • (Kristian Krøyer Johnsen) Environmental Science: 10
  • (Magnus Bay Kirkfeldt) Chemistry + Chemical Technology: 5
  • (Stine Tillebæk Søndergaard) Biotechnology: 18
  • (Anne Kathrine Clausen + Jens Muff) Chemistry and Biotechnology (diploma) + Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (BA): 4

Total: 48 participants

New student contracts are now available on Bio.aau.dk

The contracts 'Internship for diploma engineers', 'Master contract' and 'Project-oriented stays in an external company' are now available in updated versions (see links below). The contracts have been revised and approved by the Contract Unit and are now updated in relation to current guidelines. At present it has not been possible to clarify who owns the results arising from our students' diploma engineering internships, and we therefore recommend supplementing with a confidentiality and rights agreement if companies are aware of and request this prior to internships until further notice. 

Matchtjekker 

Over the past few months, a number of "matchtjekkers" for the websites of our undergraduate programs have been developed. The "matchtjekkers" have been developed as a test with various answers, which contain factual education-oriented information as well as information about career opportunities, study environment and the problem-based-Learning at AAU. In addition, some of the answers point in the direction of other bachelor programs at the Department, so that the potential student also becomes acquainted with other programs at the Department within the similar subject areas. The "matchtjekers" are currently available on the following pages and will be available on all study pages as soon as possible:

Preliminary status of Quota 1 applicants

At present, this year we have so far received a higher number of applicants or equivalent for all of our bachelor's and diploma programs compared to last year (Find all application figures under ‘Internal Key Figures’) In Aalborg, there is an increase in the number of applicants for all of our bachelor's and diploma engineering programs. Currently Biology and chemistry in particular have a large increase in the number of applicants - 55 and 100% increase in the number of applicants, respectively. In Esbjerg, the trend is the same, and the bachelor's program 'Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology' shows an increase in the number of applicants of 56% at present. The diploma program ‘Chemistry and Biotechnology currently has the same number of applicants as last year. The final table regarding KOT applicants will be published after the Quota 1 application deadline on 5 July at 12. On 28 July, available study places will be published and made available on the website for available study places

KOT applicants per. 24 / 6-2021

AAL Total pr. 24/6-2020 Total pr. 24/6-2021
Biology: 36 56
Biotechnology: 32 35
Environmental Science: 13 16
Chemistry: 5 10
Chemical Engineering: 17 20

Diploma – Chemistry and Biotechnology:

19 21
ESB    
Diploma – Chemistry and Biotechnology: 8 8
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology: 41 64

REGISTER AND UPDATE YOUR REPRESENTATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS OF EXTERNAL COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES IN PURE

On 24.06.2021, the VBN-team kindly reminded all AAU employees to register and update relevant information on representations and memberships of external councils and committees in PURE. In autumn 2018, an analysis of Aalborg University’s representation in external councils and committees was conducted as part of the Aalborg University’s strategy 2016-21 Knowledge for the World. One of the recommendations was to establish increased coordination and knowledge sharing between representatives of various fora. Further, the analysis concluded that AAU would benefit from increased visibility on representation in committee work that would provide better opportunities to elevate agendas through the management system, e.g. through informal consultations with top management.

Based on these findings, AAU needs to survey the AAU representatives I all external committees and councils. Such survey is easily accessible through PURE listing AAU staff member profiles linked to VBN (www.vbn.aau.dk). The better updated PURE information, the better survey for AAU. All staff members are therefore kindly requested to review and update relevant information in PURE by 31 August 2021. Based on this information, you will receive an invitation to knowledge sharing meetings once or twice a year. The invitation lists will include staff members (both VIP and TAP, staff and leaders) with AAU representation of interests in external forums and/or are members of forums of specialized character where the representation of AAU is expected to some extent.

Please feel free to contact the VBN-team – vbn@aub.aau.dk – if you have any questions or need assistance and guidance on the registration process.

What should I do?

Please update below specific categories (“Memberships” in PURE): 

  • Membership of committees, commissions, boards, councils, associations, organizations or similar
  • Membership of research networks or expert groups 
  • Board work in company, association or organization

In PURE, registration of “Memberships” is located under "Activities". The guide How to Register Memberships in PURE will take you through the various steps of registration.Deadline for update of present registrations in PURE is 31 August 2021.

Latest update from the Department committees

Meeting schedule for the Department committees

It is important for both employees and students at AAU to be involved in the governing bodies as this provides an opportunity get influence. Therefore, in the future, an updated meeting schedule for each Department committee will be included in the newsletter, so that you know in good time when the meetings are scheduled. Please note that the agenda is prepared well in advance of the meetings, which is why any subject for the agenda should be submitted to the committee's representatives no later than one month before the date of the meeting. You will find the representatives of the committees here.

Liaison Committee

  • 14 October 2021 /26. October 2021
  • 15 december 2021

Department committee

  • 12 October 2021 / 25 October 2021
  • 9 December 2021

Safety committee

  • TBA

Study board

  • 25 August 2021
  • 29- September 2021
  • 27 October 2021
  • 17 November 2021
  • 15 December 2021
  • 26 January 2022

THE DEPARTMENT RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE MEDIA

Useful links

COURSES

FUTURE EVENTS​​​​​​​​

If you want to stay updated on events and guest lectures facilitated by the Department, please visit the Department web for more information. If you plan to host or coordinate an activity yourself, please forward the information to Camilla (cakr@bio.aau.dk) or LIne Christensen (lch@bio.aau.dk) who will provide the relevant information on the web. 

HR NEWS

New employments

PhD students

  • Fernando Raul Montero Revelo, Chemical Engineering, 1.6.2021
  • Peter Grouleff Jensen, Chemistry, 15.7.2021

Postdoc

  • Khalil Kashefi, Chemical Engineering, 1.8.2021
  • Alaaeldin Mohamed Abdelhamid Aly Khali, Chemical Engineering, 1.8.2021

Study secretary

  • Amanda Perschke, Secretariat/study administration, 15.8.2021

RESIGNMENTs

  • Ben-Guang Rong, Chemical Engineering, Associate Professor, 30.6.2021
  • Wagma Saei, Bioteknologi, laboratory Engineer, 30.6.2021

GUESTS

  • Jianrong Jiang, Kemiteknologi, 15.6.2021 – 14.6.2021, contact: Jens Muff
  • Erica Bertozzi, Kemi, 5.7.2021 – 31.10.2021, contact: Vittorio Boffa

Peer-reviewed artikler siden sidst

New peer review articles registered in PURE 25.05.2021 -  24.06.2021

Lorenzen, J., Xu, Y., Jonikaite, M., Chen, X., Bjarnsholt, T., Kirketerp-Møller, K., & Thomsen, T. R. (2021). CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF A NOVEL IN VITRO CHRONIC WOUND BIOFILM MODEL. I EWMA CONFERENCE 2020

Peydaei, A., Bagheri, H., Gurevich, L., de Jonge, N., & Nielsen, J. L. (2021). Mastication of polyolefins alters the microbial composition in Galleria mellonella. Environmental Pollution, 280, [116877]. 

Ren, X., Liu, P., Rzoska, S. J., Lucznik, B., Bockowski, M., & Smedskjær, M. M. (2021). Indentation Response of Calcium Aluminoborosilicate Glasses Subjected to Humid Aging and Hot Compression. Materials, 14(13), [3450]. 

Foncillas, C. F., Estevez, M., Uellendahl, H., & Varrone, C. (2021). Co-Management of Sewage Sludge and Other Organic Wastes: A Scandinavian Case Study. Energies, 14(12), 3411. 

Foncillas, C. F., Estevez, M., Uellendahl, H., & Varrone C. (2021). Effect of alkylthiolated hetero-aromatic rings on the photovoltaic performance of benzodithiophene-based polymer/fullerene solar cells. Synthetic Metals, 276, [116756]. 

Kristensen, S. B., Pedersen, T. B., Nielsen, M. R., Wimmer, R., Muff, J., & Sørensen, J. L. (2021). Production and Selectivity of Key Fusarubins from Fusarium solani due to Media Composition. Toxins, 13(6), [376]. 

Mørch, M. G. M., Møller, K. V., Hesselager, M. O., Harders, R. H., Kidmose, C. L., Buhl, T., Fuursted, K., Bendixen, E., Shen, C., Christensen, L. G., Poulsen, C. H., & Olsen, A. (2021). The TGF-β ligand DBL-1 is a key player in a multifaceted probiotic protection against MRSA in C. elegans. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 10717. [10717]. 

Fan, W., Youngman, R. E., Ren, X., Yu, D., & Smedskjær, M. M. (2021). Structural control of self-healing silica–poly(tetrahydropyran)–poly(ε-caprolactone) hybrids. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 9(21), 4400-4410. 

To, T., Sørensen, S. S., Christensen, J. F. S., Christensen, R., Jensen, L. R., Bockowski, M., Bauchy, M., & Smedskjær, M. M. (2021). Bond Switching in Densified Oxide Glass Enables Record-High Fracture Toughness. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 13(15), 17753–17765. 

Jødal, A. S. S., & Larsen, K. L. (2021). Investigation of the relationships between the alveograph parameters. Scientific Reports, 11(1), [5349]. 

Altin, I., Ma, X., Boffa, V., Bacaksik, E., & Magnacca, G. (2021). Hydrothermal preparation of B–TiO2-graphene oxide ternary nanocomposite, characterization and photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A under simulated solar irradiation. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 123, [105591]. 

Hu, Y., Liu, Z., Yang, K., Krishnan, N. M. A., Smedskjær, M. M., Sant, G., & Bauchy, M. (2021). Rigidity theory of glass: Determining the onset temperature of topological constraints by molecular dynamics. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 554, [120614]. 

Su, W., Fan, Q., Jalan, I., Wang, Y., Peng, W., Guo, T., Zhu, W., Yu, D., Hou, L., Moons, E., & Wang, E. (2021). Nonconjugated Terpolymer Acceptors with Two Different Fused-Ring Electron-Deficient Building Blocks for Efficient All-Polymer Solar Cells. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 13(5), 6442-6449. 

Karamanlidis, A. A., Skrbinšek, T., Amato, G., Dendrinos, P., Gaughran, S., Kasapidis, P., Kopatz, A., & Stronen, A. V. (2021). Genetic and demographic history define a conservation strategy for earth’s most endangered pinniped, the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus. Scientific Reports, 11(1), [373]. 

Jørgensen, M. K., & Mattsson, T. (2021). Quantifying Charge Effects on Fouling Layer Strength and (Ir)Removability during Cross-Flow Microfiltration. Membranes, 11(1), 1-15. [28]. 

Foncillas, C. F., Cabrera Rodriguez, C., Caparros Salvador, F., Varrone, C., & Straathof, A. (2021). Highly selective recovery of medium chain carboxylates from co-fermented organic wastes using anion exchange with carbon dioxide expanded methanol desorption. Bioresource Technology, 319, [124178]. 

Yang, K., Hu, Y., Li, Z., Krishnan, N. M. A., Smedskjær, M. M., Hoover, C. G., Mauro, J. C., Sant, G., & Bauchy, M. (2021). Analytical model of the network topology and rigidity of calcium aluminosilicate glasses. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 104(8), 3947-3962. 

König, J., Petersen, R. R., Iversen, N., & Yue, Y. (2021). Application of foaming agent-oxidizing agent couples to foamed-glass formation. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 553, [120469]. 

Matos, M., Simões, P., Fragata, I., Quina, A. S., Kristensen, T. N., & Santos, M. (2021). Coping with Climate Change: A Genomic Perspective on Thermal Adaptation. Frontiers in Genetics, 11(1768), [619441].

Del Puerto Bengoetxea, O., P.F. Gonçalves, N., Calza, P., Bianco Prevot, A., & Roslev, P. (2021). Ecotoxicity of Azole Fungicides After Uv-C and Vacuum-Uv Irradiation. I Abstract Book (s. 148). Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Maksimavicius, E., & Roslev, P. (2021). Methane emission and methanotrophic activity in groundwater fed drinking water treatment plants. I IWA Congress Programme IWA Publishing.

Kedwell, K. C., Jørgensen, M. K., Quist-Jensen, C. A., Phamb, T. D., Van der Bruggen, B., & Christensen, M. L. (2021). Selective electrodialysis for simultaneous but separate phosphate and ammonium recovery. Environmental Technology, 42(14), 2177-2186. 

Christensen, M. L., Dam Jensen, M., Sundmark, K., Jensen, H. C., Jakobsen, A. H., Hansen, C. K., Skovbjerg, M., & Andersen, R. B. M. (2021). Refining Carbon From Wastewater To Ensure High Biogas Production And Low Emission Of Nitrous Oxide. Poster præsenteret ved IWA digital water congress, .

Du, Z., Chen, Y., Jensen, M., Wang, N., Li, X., & Zhang, X. (2021). Preparation of 3D crimped ZnO/PAN hybrid nanofiber mats with photocatalytic activity and antibacterial properties by blow-spinning. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 138(9), [49908].