PhD on shares

CISS in Aalborg and CSI in Sønderborg share the PhD student Rune Torbensen, who draws upon knowledge from both centres – and who can be sitting in Sønderborg and, by use of a video conference system, be in the same room as his supervisor.

On 1 October, yet another PhD student, Rune Torbensen, started his studies at CISS. “Among other things, Rune will work on the modularization of communication components for Home Automation, so that for instance disabled can control a number of machines and functions in their homes by use of wireless technology – for instance Bluetooth. Systems like that already exist to a certain extent – but those are proprietary systems; that is, the different systems cannot ’communicate’. Therefore, the systems Rune is meant to develop are to build upon open standards,” Rune Torbensen’s supervisor, Vice Director of CISS Henrik Schiøler explains.

However, the supervisor does not see his PhD student that often. Rune Torbensen lives in Sønderborg and performs his day-to-day work at Center for Software Innovation, CSI, which, like CISS, is an it-competency centre under the Jutland-Funen IT-effort. Therefore, a collaboration agreement about Rune Torbensen has been drawn up between CISS and CSI.

PhD student as knowledge carrier

”One of CISS’ strong points is communication – that is, making the embedded software ”speak” with other components, for instance through wireless technology. Here, CISS possesses a unique expertise, and we are very interested in making use of that expertise here at CSI, where our work is connected to what is called mechatronics to a higher degree. Therefore, we expect the collaboration between CSI, CISS and Rune to lead to Rune becoming a kind of knowledge carrier between the centres,” Managing Director for CSI Bo Balstrup explains.

"I myself come from an industrial background, being rooted in the field of mechatronics, so I was looking for a supervisor for my PhD project possessing an extensive knowledge of wireless technology; and then I found Henrik Schiøler at CISS,” Rune Torbensen adds.

Supervision by video

Like any other PhD student, Rune Torbensen is obliged by his contract to teach a certain number of lessons at Aalborg University every month. Therefore, he is project supervisor for a group of 7th semester students working on a project within the field in which Rune Torbensen himself works.

"In principle, I am in Aalborg every six weeks, but the students may need further supervision, and the group may not always be able to wait until I can be present in person – or I get to Aalborg. Consequently, we are connected through a video conference system, which enables us to hold supervision meetings where we can see each other while we talk – even if I am in Sønderborg. Moreover, I use this system when I need supervision by Henrik Schiøler,” Rune Torbensen explains. Who, incidentally, does not feel torn apart at all, even though he has two different ”employers” – situated at each end of Jutland.

If you would like more information about collaboration projects with PhD students, please contact CISS at: cissinfo@ciss.dk