Our research and teaching cover a wide range of areas within biotechnology. We have significant expertise in cell biology, reproduction and breeding, genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence, biorefining, and biomedicine. We apply both artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as living organisms such as animal, plant, and fungal cells, in addition to microorganisms, in our work.
Get to know the department
At the department, we contribute towards solving local and global problems in food production, health, and environment. Our research is particularly focused on livestock reproduction, functional, microbial and diagnostic genomics, infection and antimicrobial resistance, biorefining, and bioinformatics. We also have projects in educational research to improve the quality of biotechnology education. The department is located on campus Hamar.
We offer education from bachelor's to PhD level, with study programmes in biomedical laboratory science (bachelor's degree in Norwegian), applied biotechnology and biomedical sciences (master's degree in English), and biotechnology (PhD programme in English). In addition, we have an exchange programme for international master's students in biotechnology, where we offer courses over either a semester or a full academic year, which can include a bioinformatics or laboratory project.
For us, it is important that students gain practical experience. Thus, laboratory exercises are a regular part of the curriculum. In addition, students gain both theoretical and practical experience with bioinformatics. The students actively participate in research work and are given space to develop their own ideas.
The department has particularly close cooperation with the biotechnology industry in the Hamar region and also works with partners all over the world.
Our work ranges from basic research to applied research and commercialisation of our research findings. Our researchers actively incorporate their research into their teaching.
The department of biotechnology has around 47 employees, including approximately a dozen PhD students, and has about 120 bachelor's and master's students.
Researching fertility
With over NOK 60 million, the INN University will try to improve the breeding industry in Norway. Frozen bull semen plays a central role in that.
Contact us
- vegar.ottesen@inn.no
- Phone
- +47 62 43 05 00