Sjur Olsnes#

Dr. med. 1972: Oslo University (in biochemistry). "Studies on the complex of messenger-RNA and protein in mammalian cells".

Postgraduate training

• 1965-1966: Clinical training: Internship Vadsø, Hammerfest, Sjøholt
• 1967-1968: Research fellow, University of Bergen
• 1969-1972: Research fellow of The Norwegian Cancer Society, Oslo

Professional positions

• 1972-1989: Senior biochemist at The Institute for Cancer Research at The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo
• 1989-1990: Professor of Tumor Biology, University of Oslo
• 1990-2009: Professor of Biochemistry, University of Oslo
• 1990-2009: Head of Biochemistry Department at The Institute for Cancer Research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo

Visiting scientist

• 1968 (Apr. 1 to Oct.30): Institute of Molecular Biology, Academy of Sciences of USSR, Moscow
• 1973 (Jan.22 to March 6) and 1974 (June 24 to Aug 4): The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge
• 1975 (Jan. 18 to Febr. 24): Instituto de biologia celular, Madrid
• 1976 (Sept. 20 to Nov. 3): Natl. Chem. Research Laboratory, CSIR, Pretoria

Scientific activity

• Published more than 280 papers (http://folk.uio.no/olsnes/complete.html) in the following fields: Nucleic acids and protein synthesis, biochemistry and function of toxins and immunotoxins, immunology, cell- and molecular biology, virology, anion transport, regulation of intracellular pH and growth factors.

Science administration:

• 1987-1997: Chairman of Section for basic research of The Norwegian Cancer Society
• 1988-cont.: Member of Section for clinical research of The Norwegian Research Council
• 1993- cont.: Director and member of the board of University of Oslo Medical Centre in Moscow. Since 1993 scientific supervisor of the Centre which at present employs 13 scientists working on their own projects at two molecular biology institutes in Moscow. The Centre has as aim to counteract brain drain of scientists to the West and to establish contacts between Russian and Norwegian scientists. The Centre also arranges a postgraduate education program for physicians. The annual budget is 4.5 mill NOK.

Supervision of scientists

Supervised 6 "Hovedfag" (Master of science) students and 16 graduate students who have finished their PhD, and 3 graduate students who have not yet finished. Supervised a considerable number of post-docs.

Other relevant activities

• Frequently reviewing manuscripts for leading international journals (about 30 papers a year). Reviewing foreign grant applications from many countries (about 5 a year).
• Participant in foreign evaluation committees (about once a year).
• Invited speaker, chairman and coorganiser of international meetings (several times a year).
• Member of the Scientific board of the Norwegian Cancer Society.
• Member of the Study section for Clinical Medicine at the Norwegian Research Council.
• Chairman of the board of Otto Kr. and Rachel Bruuns legat.
• Chairman of the board of Dr. Ragnar Mørks legat.

Awards and recognitions

• 1977: The Prize of The Nordic Cancer Union
• 1979: Anders Jahres Medical Prize for Nordic Scientists below forty years
• 1986: Shipley Lecturer, Harvard Medical School
• 1987: Elected member of EMBO
• 1988: Pierce Immunotoxin Award
• 1988: Schunk Prize, University of Giessen, FRG
• 1990: Award of The Norwegian Research Council for Science and Humanities
• 1993: Elected member of The Norwegian Academy of Sciences
• 1994: Elected member of Academia Europaea
• 1995: Research Prize of The DNR Research Foundation
• 1995: Stiansens Prize for Biomedical Research
• 1997: Doctor honoris causa, Engelhardt Institute for Molecular Biology, Moscow
• 1999: Elected Foreign Member of The Russian Academy of Sciences
• 2000: The Oslo University Research Prize
• 2002: Elected Fellow of American Academy of Microbiology
• 2003: King Olav V Prize for Cancer Research