Runar Gjerp Solstad

I have been involved in research for since 2010 splitting my time between basic research (M.Sc. and Ph.D. educations) and applied research (current position as a senior scientist at Nofima). Early in my career I focused on marine antimicrobial peptides in sea urchins and sea anemones, discovering and identifying them. Antimicrobial peptides are small proteins with the ability to disrupt microbial membranes. Since 2016 at Nofima, the primary focus has been marine side streams (aka co-products) which are all the products of marine biomass not currently considered valuable and not being part of the main product. The investigations consist of mapping out possible uses, investigating biochemical parameters, chemical treatment (enzymatical, analytical, filtration, drying etc.) and in certain cases commercial development.

Additionally, the scaling of bioprocesses is an important aspect of my current position. Scaling in this regard is the transition from working in a laboratory to working in a pilot-scale environment and what happens when you go from 0.5-1 kg to 800-1,000 kg of biomass. I have always been a passionate science communicator and give regular presentations at conferences and meetings. I also believe that the key to public support of science is the public understanding its necessary existence.

+47 907 34 498

+47 77 62 90 15

E-mail

Tromsø

Marine biotechnology

See publications in Cristin