DSTrain fellows share research and meet industry at DNV

DSTrain postdocs receive training in data science

DSTrain aims to train postdoctoral researchers in data science and prepare them for careers in academia and other sectors. It combines research with training, collaboration across disciplines and placements in external organisations. 

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The two days combined research pitches with talks on AI, innovation and science communication. Fellows also had time to meet colleagues from other departments and learn about their work.

Christian Agrell from DNV and Arne Bang Huseby, DSTrain Programme Director and Centre Leader at dScience, welcomed the participants.

Data science in industry

Sebastian Winter from DNV spoke about the challenges of using AI in high-risk domains. Gorm Andreas Grønnevet from Telenor discussed AI applications beyond large language models. Alexandra Diem from Gjensidige explained how the insurance industry uses data, analytics and AI.

The speakers joined Rune Kleiveland from DNV for the “Data Science in Practice” panel. Arne Bang Huseby from dScience moderated the discussion and questions from the fellows.

Research in three minutes

Fellows presented their projects in four sessions of three-minute pitches, chaired by Andy Boyce, Senior Innovation Adviser at dScience.

Topics ranged from medical imaging and groundwater monitoring to biodiversity, dark matter, drug discovery and quantum technologies. The pitches showed the breadth of DSTrain’s research and challenged fellows to explain their work to researchers from other fields.

Pitching a peer’s research

In “Pitch Your Peer”, fellows listened to another researcher explain their project, then presented it back to the group.

Led by Andy Boyce, the exercise was a fun way to learn about each other’s work. It also gave fellows practice in understanding and explaining research outside their own fields.

The first day ended with a guided tour and conference dinner at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

From research to practical use

On the second day, Marie Øverby, founder and CEO of Actential, shared her experience of building a company from research. Actential is developing software that uses machine learning to forecast epileptic seizures from EEG signals.

Ivar Bergland from UiO Growth House explained how researchers can start a company, covering intellectual property and commercialisation.

They joined Jon Eivind Thrane from DNV for the “From Research to Impact” panel, moderated by Andy Boyce.

Are Raklev, professor of theoretical physics at UiO, spoke about science communication. He shared practical lessons from explaining science to wider audiences, including what had worked and what had not.

Time to connect

Talks, group exercises and breaks gave fellows from the two cohorts time to get to know one another and discuss their research.

A special thank you to Christian Agrell and his colleagues at DNV for hosting the conference and making everyone feel so welcome. Thank you also to the speakers, panellists and fellows who contributed over the two days.

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About DSTrain

DSTrain is an EU COFUND postdoctoral programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Oslo.

The five-year programme comprises 36 postdoctoral fellowships. It combines research with training and collaboration across disciplines and sectors, including placements with external organisations.

Fellows use data science in biosciences and health, climate and environment, geoscience, materials and energy, physics, AI and machine learning.