Sigurd Christiansen Promoted to Associate Professor in Chemistry

Sigurd Christiansen has been recommended for the position of Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of the Faroe Islands.

Sigurd has held the position of Assistant Professor at the University of the Faroe Islands since 2022. He holds a degree in chemistry from the University of Copenhagen and a PhD in atmospheric chemistry from Aarhus University. In addition, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at both Aarhus University and Stockholm University.

Since joining the University, he has taught several subjects within chemistry, been responsible for multiple bachelor-level courses and one PhD-level course, and has taken initiatives to make teaching more accessible, including through hybrid and live-streamed lectures. He is and has been active in leadership and committee work, including as deputy member of the University Board, lab safety manager and member of the Faculty Student Council.

When academic staff at the University of the Faroe Islands are promoted to Associate Professor or Professor, their application is reviewed by an external assessment committee consisting of international scholars. Typically, a Faroese member is also part of the committee.

The role of the assessment committee is to evaluate the applicant based on several criteria: 1) academic publications, 2) teaching and supervision, 3) research dissemination, and 4) administrative experience.

The committee highlighted Sigurd’s particular strengths in research, teaching, and academic engagement. His scientific work spans ocean, atmospheric, and environmental chemistry. He has also shown the ability to secure external research funding and to build an independent research environment.

The members of the committee unanimously agreed that his academic and professional achievements fulfilled all required criteria and recommended that Sigurd Christiansen be promoted to Associate Professor in Chemistry at the University of the Faroe Islands.

The committee consisted of Hans Pauli Joensen, Associate Professor Emeritus, University of the Faroe Islands; Ilona Riipinen, Professor, Stockholm University and Tore Skodvin, Associate Professor, University of Bergen.