Birgit Schiøtt will continue in both her roles as the head of the Department of Chemistry and as an active researcher after the end of 2021. By that time, she will have gained seven years of experience at combining these two roles, since she was the acting head of department from December 2014 and then, two years later, she was appointed head of department. She is looking forward to continuing in both roles and continuing to contribute first-hand research knowledge to the management of the department as well as the faculty.

"I see many exciting challenges at the Department of Chemistry. We have to attract more students to our degree programmes in chemistry and in medical chemistry," says Birgit Schiøtt, with her emphasis on have to, and she continues:

"We have two excellent degree programmes with great study environments and fair job opportunities. Basic scientific breakthroughs in the field of chemistry will be key to solving some of society's major challenges. Medical chemists are essential in the development of the pharmaceutical products of tomorrow and in efforts to prevent pandemics. And without chemists, the green transition will not progress at the pace needed. I'm therefore looking forward to incorporating the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering into the collaborative efforts of the Department of Chemistry and iNANO, so that, together, we can be a natural hub for research and education within chemistry in Denmark - from basic research to new solutions to societal challenges. This also connects with the ongoing work to prepare the organisation and strategy for the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Campus 2.0. And last but not least, I'm also delighted to be able to continue my work as a researcher."

Kristian Pedersen, dean of the faculty, says about the reappointment: "Birgit is a great capacity, she has in-depth knowledge of research, education, business collaboration and management. I'm looking forward to continuing our collaboration to develop the department and the faculty." 

A researcher in biophysical chemistry

Birgit Schiøtt conducts research into biophysical chemistry and is the day-to-day manager of the Biomodelling group at the Department of Chemistry. She uses computer simulations to study the chemistry of the brain, and she works on other topics such as technologically significant peptides and enzymes. She is also affiliated with iNANO and has many collaborative projects with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as with academic research groups in Denmark and abroad.

Birgit Schiøtt obtained her MSc in chemistry and physics in 1990 and a PhD in Chemistry in 1993 from Aarhus University. She was a postdoc for one year at the Department of Chemistry and later for two years at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She was an upper secondary school teacher at Aarhus Katedralskole for a total of four years before returning to Aarhus University. She became a tenured associate professor in 2007 and only two years later was appointed professor with special responsibilities (MSO) in biomodelling and medical chemistry. She was appointed as a professor of biocomputational chemistry in 2014.

Contact

Professor and Head of Department Birgit Schiøtt

Department of Chemistry,
Aarhus University
Email: birgit@chem.au.dk
Mobile:  +45 2982 6882