Author: Xiaoran Gao

DION Summer Grant Highlight: Career and Writing Workshop

Xiaoran Gao / / 2025, Trondheim

Sara Maryami, winner of DION’s Summer Grant, organized the PhD and Postdoc Career and Writing Workshop, initiated by PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows at Stratforr.

They aimed to strengthen the research community, foster peer learning, and connect with PhD alumni for career insights in both academia and industry.

The program featured inspiring talks on science communication, career transitions, spin-offs, and figure design, alongside structured writing sessions that encouraged collaboration through a “buddy system.”

Inspiring presentations:
• Academic Spin-Offs – Vivek Sinha (NTNU)
• Securing a Consulting Role – Liv Rasdal Håland Håland (EY)
• Designing Great Figures – Felice Diekel (University of Twente)
• Science Communication – Gunn-Berit Neergård, Saad Ahmed, Meike Siefkes (all NTNU)

Congratulations to Sara and her team for organizing such a valuable event, and thank you to all the participants who made it a success!

DION Summer Grant Highlight: Kalvskinnet City Tour

Xiaoran Gao / / -, Trondheim

Fenna Verkerk, the winner of DION’s Summer Grant at Trondheim campus, organized a city tour at Kalvskinnet for temporary scientific employees at NTNU.

The evening began with a shared meal, before participants gathered at the NTNU University Museum to join a guided tour through Kalvskinnet’s “dark” history. Stories of slavery, the Second World War, mental hospitals, witch trials, and jails gave everyone new perspectives on the city, and all presented in both English and Norwegian.

Despite the rainy weather, the event was a success, combining history, social connection, and community building.

Thank you, Fenna, for arranging such a valuable activity, and thanks to everyone who joined!

Exploring Nature Together: DION & NIRS Mushroom Hunting Sessions

Xiaoran Gao / / -, Trondheim

Today, under the great late-summer sunshine, we wrapped up two wonderful mushroom hunting sessions in cooperation with NIRS (NTNU International Researcher Support)!

A heartfelt thank you to Kathrine Vangen and Juliana Mariana Hussein from NIRS for their great collaboration with DION this year. From last semester’s chocolate factory visit to this semester’s mushroom hunting adventures.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and hope you enjoyed a delicious dinner with the mushrooms you discovered in the forest.

Learn more about NIRS and follow their newsletter for upcoming events: https://www.ntnu.edu/nirs

Thriving in Academia: Facing Impostor Syndrome & Navigating Academic Life in Norway

Xiaoran Gao / / -, Trondheim

On 21 August, DION hosted the seminar Thriving in Academia: Facing Impostor Syndrome & Navigating Academic Life in Norway.

A warm thank you to Marius Korsnes for sharing his perspective as a researcher in academia and for leading an open and engaging discussion. He focused on how to understand and deal with the impostor phenomenon, and on how to create a more inclusive and safe academic work environment.

DION wishes all temporary scientific employees at NTNU to thrive in academia and to carry out their research with motivation and enthusiasm, without being held back by self-doubt.

DION’s Edible Plant Foraging Course – A Wonderful Afternoon in Nature!

Xiaoran Gao / / -

On May 22nd, DION hosted a wonderful afternoon of edible plant foraging and learning at Høyskoleparken, NTNU. Led by Patrick Bösch, a certified Wild Edible Plants Identification Expert, the event offered participants a chance to connect with nature, discover local edible plants, and practice sustainable harvesting techniques. Our members also found lots of inspiration for incorporating wild plants into their cooking.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and made the afternoon so enjoyable! Stay tuned for more DION events, and let’s continue learning and growing together!