Final seminar for Class of 2024-2026

The DIGIT Class of 2024–2026 is invited to a final seminar taking place on 3–4 June. The seminar will span two days and have a range of invited speakers offering perspectives on career trajectories and opportunities following the completion of a PhD or postdoctoral period. In addition, the programme has space for reflection, discussion, and exchange among participants.

This participant-driven event is conceived and curated by DIGIT members themselves - see organizers below.

**When:** June 3-4, 2026
**Where**: Hotell Hadeland
**Registration:** https://nettskjema.no/a/594071
**Deadline for registration:** April 24
**Who is it for?** DIGIT members from the class of 2024-2026.
Image: Unsplash, RU Recovery Ministries (@rurecoveryministries)

Programme

Wednesday June 3, 2026

DAY 1 – Final Seminar

Hotell Hadeland, Granavollen 35, 2750 Gran - Room: TBD

‍ ‍

11:04-12:14: Train from Oslo S to Gran station ‍ ‍

(or alternative transportation)

‍12:15- : Taxi from Gran station to Hotell Hadeland

12:30–13:30: Lunch

13:40–13:50: Welcome

‍ Marit Haldar and Tina Svingerud, DIGIT research school and OsloMet

13:50–14:50: Panel conversation about career choices with DIGIT alumni

‍Thea Rabe- Senior Researcher / Forsker II, Norwegian Centre on Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS)

Thea Rabe is a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Centre on Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS). She specializes in forced migration and human trafficking, with a particular focus on the health needs of vulnerable populations. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Nord University, where her thesis examined civilian support to rejected asylum seekers in Europe and the moral contestations of European migration policies.

Silje Anderdal Bakken, Associate Professor / Førsteamanuensis, The Norwegian Police University College (Politihøgskolen), Researcher / Forsker II, OsloMet

Silje Anderdal Bakken is a criminologist and sociologist, studying digitalization and crime. She holds a Ph. D. in Sociology from Copenhagen University, 2022, about the use of social media in illegal drug markets. After the Ph.D. she worked as a university lecturer and later as a Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, University of Oslo. The postdoc was part of an ERC financed project focusing on the intersection between technology and DNA as evidence in police investigations.

Sehrish Akhtar, Senior Advisor / Seniorrådgiver, The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Utdanningsdirektoratet)

Sehrish Akhtar has conducted research on social welfare technology in nursing homes through her doctoral work, focusing on digitalisation and quality of life for older adults. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training, where she works with research, analysis, and knowledge development to support evidence-informed education policy.

‍14:50–15:00: Break

15:00–16:00: Career advancement and transitioning from PhD to working in academia

Kari Steen-Johnsen – Research Director and Research Professor, the Institute for Social Research (Institutt for samfunnsforskning)

Kari Steen-Johnsen is a political sociologist, specializing in democratic participation and the digital public sphere. She holds a Ph.D. from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, and has worked as a Research Director and Research Professor at the Institute for Social Research since 2009. In this period, Steen-Johnsen has been the PI of a series of large-scale project funded by the Research Council of Norway. She is the current chair of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and Humanities (NESH), and a member of the national reference group for cluster 2 (Horizon Europe).

‍16:00–16:15: Break

‍16:15–17:15: Walk and talk

‍Small group conversations about what we are working on now and future career plans

‍ 19.00–21:00: Dinner

Before and/or after dinner: If you wish, there are numerous possible activities, both indoors and outdoors in the lovely scenery surrounding Granavollen. Check out hotell-hadeland.no/om-hotellet/aktiviteter

Thursday June 4

DAY 2 – Final Seminar

Hotell Hadeland, Granavollen 35, 2750 Gran - Room: TBD

07:00–09:00: Breakfast and check out

09:00–10:00: Career advancement and transitioning from PhD to working in the public sector

Signe Mikkelsen - Anthropologist and Design Researcher, NAV

Signe Mikkelsen is an anthropologist and Design Researcher at Nav, The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. She works at the intersection of ethnographic research, public policy, design, and digitalisation, and has experience from academia as well as the private and public sectors.

10:00–10:15: Break

10:15–11:15: Career advancement and transitioning from PhD to working in the private sector

Hallvard Kvale – Special Advisor on research and competency, Abelia

Hallvard Kvale is Special Advisor in Abelia, the business association of Norwegian knowledge- and technology-based enterprises within NHO (The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oslo in contemporary history. He has extensive experience as communications manager from the Norwegian Research Council, Oslo Science city, The Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board and the Institute of Social Research, among others.

11:15–11:30: Break

11:30–12:00: Evaluation of your 2-year DIGIT program and alumni opportunities

Tina Svingerud – DIGIT research school and OsloMet

12:00-13.00: Lunch

13.00- : Departure from the hotel with taxi to Gran station

13:25-14:32: Train from Gran to Oslo S