Evaluation of individual research units - Norges forskningsråd

University of Bergen
Department of Biology
Evaluation of biology, medicine and health research in Norway (2011)
Description of institution
In response to the previous evaluation, the department was restructured by a merger of the
former departments (Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Fisheries and Marine Biology) into
one Department of Biology, and by the establishment of 16 research groups. Twelve of
these groups were evaluated by this panel and were grouped under six unit headings. At
the end of the evaluation period the scientific personnel included 51 tenured scientists (36
professors, 15 associate professors), 51 PhD students, 13 postdoctoral fellows, 18 adjunct
professors and 23 researchers. The department is a partner in three Norwegian Centres of
Excellence.
A head of department who serves for four years leads the unit and reports to the Dean.
The head is assisted by the deputy head of department and by the head of administration.
The research groups each have a leader who works with the group’s members to
determine areas of research focus and to help the department determine areas for growth
and recruitment. A strategic plan was recently developed to guide the department for the
period 2011 to 2015.
General evaluation & recommendations
The department is still in the process of determining the relative effectiveness of each
research group. In general we were impressed by the energy and enthusiasm the
department is bringing to its reorganisation. Some groups still lack a critical mass, and
we recommend that decisions about future growth include a plan that explicitly estimates
an optimal size for each research group.
Although the scientists in the department are able to fund their research, the department
noted a lack of flexible funding sources for projects, and pointed out that salaries require
almost all of the allocated amounts. We concur with this concern, and recommend that
small grants or discretionary funds be made available so that the research groups can
retain some ability to respond opportunistically to new and promising areas of research.
The areas of focus identified in the department’s strategic plan mostly dovetail with those
of the existing research groups, and we were impressed with the broad spectrum of
biological questions being addressed.
Follow up of previous evaluation
The previous evaluation pinpointed two areas of concern, both of which appear to be in
the process of being addressed. First, the previous evaluation noted the absence of a
strategic plan. A plan is now in place, though it is too soon to assess its implementation.
Second, it was suggested that the research groups be restructured to improve
communication and ability to plan for the future. The reorganisation is well underway.
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