Visiting PhD student Andreas Möller on his stay at Skatteforsk
We spoke with visiting researcher and PhD student Andreas Möller about his experience joining the Skatteforsk community. The academical environment at Skatteforsk is very open and friendly, and is a great place to build research career, he says.
From Rural Northern Germany to Norway
Andreas Möller is in the fourth year of his PhD in Economics at the University of Bonn. Originally from a rural area near Bremen in northern Germany, he has dedicated his research to corporate taxation, profit shifting, and the use of administrative data in tax policy research.
This spring, he is spending five months as a visiting researcher at Skatteforsk – Norwegian Centre for Tax Research.
“I was already working on profit shifting using South African administrative data,” he explains, “and Skatteforsk has an active research community in this field, with unique access to rich data and close collaboration with tax authorities. It’s the perfect place to deepen my work.”
A Recommendation That Quickly Made Sense
The idea of coming to NMBU originated with his supervisor in Germany.
“My supervisor spent a few days at Skatteforsk last year,” Andreas says. “She immediately told me how much she liked it here — friendly people, a great working environment, and researchers who are genuinely willing to help.”
The recommendation proved accurate. Since arriving in Norway, Andreas has been collaborating closely with several Skatteforsk-affiliated researchers. Some work on campus, others at partner universities — but the network is tightly connected.
“We discuss ongoing research on a daily basis. You learn a lot simply by being here.”
A Strong Research Community – and Easy to Participate
One of the biggest advantages, according to Andreas, is the combination of a high-quality research environment and an open atmosphere.
He highlights several things that make everyday life as a researcher easier: Frequent research seminars with both internal and international speakers, PhD lunches every Monday, regular events and gatherings where faculty and students meet, often over a piece of cake.
Coming from a large economics department in Bonn with around 100 PhD students, the difference is striking. He says that at NMBU, you actually get to know people.
Also read: For the 11th year in a row, NMBU has been ranked Norway’s best university with the country’s most satisfied students.
Academic Life Within the Oslo Region
Skatteforsk is based in Ås, just south of Oslo — a location Andreas appreciates, as the train from Ås station to Oslo only takes 17 minutes. That’s less time than I use to get from my apartment in Cologne to the central station, so it really feels like part of the greater Oslo area.
Another benefit is communication he points out. “Norwegians speak English very well, so the barrier to asking for help is almost zero. This makes everyday life much easier, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve settled in so quickly.”
And with Norway’s landscape and outdoor opportunities, he has no shortage of friends eager to visit.
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Read more about a PhD degree at NMBU.