I therefore chose to take the last portion of my studies in the Dept of Biotechnology. The department here has a well known reputation for research within the areas of marine biochemistry and biopolymer chemistry. It was exactly this combination of physical chemistry, polymer chemistry and biochemistry which caught my attention and which eventually became my specialty. In the fall of 1990 I completed my Masters studies with my thesis in the area of biopolymer chemistry and chitosan. Chitosan is a biopolymer which originates in, for example, crab and shrimp shells. Chitosan has many applications for example in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, the food industry, and biotechnology generally. For me it was important to work on a project which would contribute to the utilization of a product which is initially considered a waste product. In addition, this project provided the opportunity to see how the theoretical knowledge about the molecule itself applied to the real situation of the molecules' behavior in solution. In other words we could have the ability to choose that type of chitosan which was best suited to a particular application.

This direct connection between basic research and potential applications lead me to continue my studies at the Dept of Biotechnology with a Doctoral study in the fall of 1991. The title of my thesis project was "Physical and Chemical Characterization of Chitosans". One can say that I continued in the same direction I had begun with my Master's studies. The Doctoral study resulted in a final thesis in which I established a connection between the chemical composition of chitosan and its commercial method of production. In this way it was possible to better control the industrial production process. I completed my doctoral studies in the summer of 1996. In the period 1991-1996, I also completed "Pedagogical Study for Master's of Science" which is a partial study qualifying students for both teaching of technical courses as well as having applications within management. In addition, I had a short leave of absence from my doctoral studies in order to teach at the department, as well as having had 8 months maternity leave when we had our first child. So it is entirely possible to combine this type of study with having children.

My 10 years at NTNU gave me a broad foundation within chemistry and biotechnology, with a special emphasis on the combination of physical biochemistry and polymer chemistry.

After finishing my Doctoral study in 1996 I took a job immediately as a researcher at Norsk Hydro's Research Center at Porsgrunn, Division of Biotechnology. There I worked on several projects, both as team member as well as group leader (projects such as gene modification of plants, treatment of plant diseases and feed conservation) This gave me the opportunity to both work scientifically as well as gaining experience with project management. In this same period I had broad contact with both Norwegian and foreign research institutes in various scientific areas.

Thing change in industry, and this happened also with Hydro's need for research. In 2000 I switched fields and began to work in the area of non-metallic materials, in the division of Material technology, still at Hydro's Research Center in Porsgrunn. This meant primarily working with plastics and composite materials. It was largely my background in (bio)polymer chemistry which allowed me to change fields. Whether polymers have an artificial (plastic) or a natural (chitosan) origin is not of great importance. In 2001 I became the Group Leader for the group working in this field, and continued as project leader throughout all my years at the Research Center. In Material Technology I worked primarily with the Oil and Energy Division in Hydro. I had broad contact with other oil companies and suppliers, both national and international.

I was at the Research Center for a total of 7 years, until autumn of 2003. The last year I worked practically full time as the representative of NIF (The Norwegian Engineer's Society). I participated in several demanding re-organizations and staff reductions. These are difficult processes, but a very useful experience to have.

In 2003, after having worked for many years in research and development I felt that it would be useful to gain experience in a more operational environment. I decided therefore to change jobs and in 2003 began to work in Statoil, Stavanger. I started as senior engineer in Material technology and worked mainly with problems related to the flexible piping which bring the oil and gas from the ocean bed up to the floating installation, and which also bring water and gas down again to the reservoir. I also worked with paints and surface treatments for off-shore installations. Again, it was my basic background in polymer chemistry which was decisive. These assignments gave me the possibility to cooperate with several of Statoil's operational groups both on land and sea. There the advantage experience in an operational environment was obvious.

In January 2005 I therefore seized the opportunity and applied for a job as maintenance leader on the platform SnorreB. This is a so-called First Line Management Position. Here I have responsibility for personnel in the Maintenance Group as well as responsibility for all preventative and corrective maintenance on the platform within the areas of mechanical, electrical, automation, plate/pipe/welding and surface treatment. In June I will begin the job as Operational leader on SnorreB. This is also a First Line Management Position, although with responsibility for processes on the platform. In addition, I have now gained enough experience in the area of emergency management to allow me to function as platform chief. Where the road goes from here time will tell.

Finally, I just want to add that for both Norsk Hydro and Statoil, a Master's Degree from NTNU is considered a clear guarantee of quality.