Professor at NMBU since September 2017.

From October 2022 Group leader of Breeding, Genetics and Food Production Systems

It is the aim of my scientific work to contribute to the development of theory and methods used for genetic improvement, in particular to contribute to developments of a profitable and sustainable animal production, which takes the welfare and health of farm animals and consumer demands into account. More specifically it is the aim to

• contribute to the understanding of genetic variation in traits of importance for an efficient and profitable production of farm animals, as well as traits of importance for the welfare and health of the animals
• contribute to theory on optimal structures and decision rules used in breeding schemes.
• contribute to the implementation of optimal breeding schemes in the breeding industries by education of students and through cooperation internationally, nationally and with the relevant industries.

My vision as a group leader is to contribute to the development of a research group of the highest international standard, being a major contributor to scientific development and a preferred collaboration partner for industry and other research groups by

• attracting highly qualified researchers
• develop individual research competences and collaborative skills
• develop ambitious research strategies
• creation of an open, innovative working environment

Current project activities:

- Fenomen: Fertility in native Norwegian horse breeds.

- NaNoHorse: Genetic characterisation of national nordic horse breeds.

- EU Rumigen: Towards improvement of ruminant breeding through genomic and epigenomic approaches

- Can we select for better feed utilisation in mealworm?

Current teaching resonsibilities:

- Course responsible: Animal Breeding Schemes HFA300

- Course reposnsible: Population genetics and molecular evolution BIO321/BIO421

- EM-ABG coordinator for NMBU

Other activities:

- President EAAP working group for Animal Genetic Resources

- Head of ministry appointed working group Avl og bevaring af de nasjonale raser (hest)

- Head of Faggruppen for fjørfegenbanken

- Member working group on data sharing in agriculture

Previous experience:

• From 2012 to 2017 I was heading the farm animal section at NordGen, the Nordic Genetic Resurce Center www.nordgen.org.
• Before 2012 I was senior scientist at Aarhus University, Denmark, including a longer period as group leader.