Petersen is a well-known researcher in the field of sociology and has collaborated extensively with the University of Oslo. He is currently a professor of sociology at the University of California. In the past, he held a professorship at the Department of Sociology at Harvard University and served as a professor at the Department of Sociology at the University of Oslo. Additionally, he is a professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley.
Trond Petersen focuses his research on social inequality and quantitative methods. His main concern is employer discrimination and its contribution to salary, employment and promotion disparities between men and women. He also studies the impact of family adjustments on these inequalities.
Trond Petersen initiated the Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study at Berkeley, which opened its doors in 2012. The primary objective of the centre is to facilitate academic exchange with Norway. Since its inception, the number of Norwegian professors and students visiting, researching, and studying at UC Berkeley has increased.
Trond Petersen is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters, has been awarded Knight of the 1st class by the Order of St. Olav and in 2016 received the Norwegian Sociological Association's honorary award.
UiO's honorary doctoral degrees
Honorary doctoral degrees of UiO (Doctor Honoris Causa) are given to prominent academics. The degrees are awarded without a thesis defence/disputation.
UiO has been entitled to appoint honorary doctorates since 1824, and appointments usually occur every three years.
The honorary doctors are conferred at UiO's Annual Celebration on 2 September.