My research is focused on understanding the fundamental magnetic properties of rocks and minerals, and how the atomic-scale properties affect magnetic anomalies on local, regional and satellite scales.  My projects and funding, have ranged from nanotechnology through mineral resource investigations to space-research programs. My PhD (1993) focused on paleomagnetism, geochemistry and rock magnetism. Since then, my publications (>90 in international journals) show an increasing interdisciplinary approach to  geological and geophysical problems in rock and mineral magnetism, crustal magnetism, exploration, mineralogy, petrology, and nanotechnology. My research is highly interdisciplinary and my co-authors are in the fields of chemistry, crystallography, nanomaterials, physics, and geophysics. 

I had the honor to give the Bullard Lecture in 2009, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU), on the subject of Crustal Magnetism.  In 2019 I was given the AGU Gilbert Award for 'groundbreaking fundamental research on magnetic anomaly sources in the crust, with implications that reach broadly through the Earth and planetary science' and for 'leadership in research that has transformed our understanding of mineral magnetism, paleomagnetic field records, and geomagnetic field anomalies'.

Prior to joining NTNU I was a researcher at the Geological Survey of Norway (1997-2012 ), where I worked on both applied and scientific geological and geophysical projects. The knowledge I gain at the Geological Survey of Norway was invalable in developing my fundemental research on magnetic anomalies and rock and mineral magnetism

Since moving to NTNU I have built up two laboratories focusing on the magnetic behaviour of crustal rocks at all scales (atomic to satellite) with 2 postdocs, 3PhDs, and 5 masters students working on these topics. I have been Leader for the Geophysics Group at IGP since 2018.

I was a chair of the Advisory Board for the Institute of Rock Magnetism, University of Minnesota, USA. I am member of Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskab (The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters), Norges Tekniske Vitenskapsakademi (Norwegian Academy of Technical Sciences), a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, and the Geological Society of America.  Presently I am Board member of the Deep research School (UiO) and National Geomagnetism Laboratory at UiO.

Courses taught

TGB4285  Crustal Magnetism
TGB4280  Geophysical Exploration for Natural Resources
GB8110    Mineral and Crustal Magnetism
GB8105   Applied Geophysics and Petrology for Exploration of Natural Resources