Each year, NMBU’s newly graduated doctoral candidates and their research achievements are honoured at a formal doctoral degree ceremony. This year, we celebrated 82 candidates who were awarded their doctoral degrees during the previous academic year.
“Today, you stand here as doctors. That title carries weight. It represents years of dedication, resilience, and intellectual rigor. We are proud of you – and we are excited to see how you will use your knowledge to shape the future,” said NMBU-rector Solve Sæbø in his speech to the doctoral graduates.
A total of 82 candidates completed their doctoral degrees at NMBU between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026. Two were awarded the degree of Dr Philos. Fifty graduates took part in today's doctoral degree ceremony.
Honouring our new doctoral graduates is a way of recognising years of dedication, perseverance and significant research achievements.
Through this doctoral graduation ceremony, NMBU wishes to acknowledge not only the graduates themselves, but also the families, friends and colleagues whose support has contributed to their remarkable accomplishment.
The graduates now go on to apply their knowledge for the benefit of society and become part of NMBU’s alumni network.
“The completion of a doctoral degree marks a milestone – not only for you personally, but also for the university and for society. It’s a journey that demands curiosity, courage, and – let’s be honest – a fair amount of stubbornness. Because no one finishes a PhD without at least one existential crisis and a mountain of coffee, said Sæbø, and continued:
“But you made it. You’ve explored the unknown, challenged assumptions, and contributed new knowledge to the world. Whether your research has taken you deep into the soil, far into the genome, or high up in the policy landscape – you’ve helped push the boundaries of what we know.”
Climate scientist Bjørn Hallvard Samset of CICERO was this year's keynote speaker. In his lecture, “Science in 2026: Knowledge for a World That Sorely Needs It, but Doesn't Always Want It?”, he reflected on the role of research in a time marked by major societal challenges.
Mohammad Reza Allahdadi, who recently completed a PhD at the NMBU School of Economics and Business with a thesis on sustainable finance, delivered an address on behalf of this year's doctoral graduates.
Each year, NMBU awards the Scatec Innovation Inspiration Award, worth NOK 100,000, for the best doctoral research in renewable energy and/or biosciences. The award is sponsored by Scatec Innovation AS and is intended to encourage further research in these fields.
This year's recipient was Nora Digranes who received the award for her doctoral research into how fentanyl can trigger involuntary muscle activity. Her findings could contribute to safer use of opioids in animals and support the development of new treatments for fentanyl overdoses in humans.
All photos: Tommy Normann / NMBU