Mikael Harju
Dr. Mikael Harju's core competence lies in environmental analytical chemistry, with a main focus on studying and reducing organic pollutants in Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems.
As a researcher at NILU in Tromsø, he is driven by a desire to develop advanced, reliable methods for detection, quantification and assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and new environmental pollutants. His work is specifically aimed at understanding how these pollutants interact with biotic and abiotic components of vulnerable ecosystems, where cold climates and unique ecological factors can influence how the pollutants are dispersed and decomposed.
Throughout his career, he has specialized in improving analytical methods for sensitive matrices, such as fish and other biological material, to deliver data that is essential for environmental monitoring and risk assessments. His goal is not only to improve analytical precision, but also to contribute to public health and environmental policy through sound science. He is motivated by the opportunity to combine applied chemistry with ecosystem conservation efforts, and to protect these important areas and their communities from long-term pollution problems.
William Hartz
Dr. William Hartz is a scientist in the Department of Environmental Chemistry and Health Effects at NILU. He previously completed his PhD at the University of Oxford and University Centre in Svalbard and currently holds an external position at Örebro University in Sweden.
Main research interests:
- Fate of contaminants in glaciers and Arctic environments, including a particular focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Mechanisms for long-range atmospheric transport of contaminants with a particular focus on polar environments
- Observations from snow and ice cores to understand pollution, climate and glacier dynamics
In recent years, his research has focused on the sources and processes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the snow and ice on Svalbard. This work has led to the discovery of new Arctic contaminants, observation of high seasonality in PFAS deposition in the Arctic and new understandings about the atmospheric sources of PFAS to the Arctic using an ice core as a record of historical atmospheric deposition.
William is also part of NILU’s atmospheric monitoring team for organic contaminants, using data from several NILU stations such as the Zeppelin Observatory on Svalbard (79°N). Every year they publish a report into the levels of >250 organic contaminants in urban, rural and Arctic air in Norway and Svalbard.
William is available for contact to discuss industry solutions and monitoring for PFAS and other fluorinated contaminants.
Amir Hassani
Amir is an Environmental Data Scientist with a PhD from the University of Manchester, where his research focused on modelling large-scale processes near Earth's surface, particularly under current and projected climate conditions.
At NILU, his research is currently focused on enhancing the utility of novel low-cost sensor networks by integrating data from static, mobile, and wearable sensors with complementary datasets such as satellite remote sensing, air quality models, and citizen-contributed information.
His core competencies include machine learning, spatial analysis, and statistical data analytics, all of which he applies to investigate the physical, human, and policy dimensions of global environmental change. He is particularly interested in the drivers and impacts of changes in areas such as air quality, climate, urbanization, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. His work supports theoretically and empirically robust insights to advance knowledge on environmental change and its implications for society.
Marina Jennifer Hauser
Marina Hauser (Ph.D.) is a postdoctor at the department of Environmental Impacts and Sustainability at NILU. Her doctorate was in environmental systems science. She has strong background in industrial ecology with expertise in material flow modelling and life cycle assessment, especially for the waste management and treatment sector. In the PLASTCYCLE project she will evaluate the flows of plastic in Norway and analyze different recycling scenarios.
Eldbjørg Sofie Heimstad
Dr. Eldbjørg Sofie Heimstad is Research Director at NILU's office at The Fram Centre.
Heimstad holds a Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from the University of Tromsø from 1996 and started the same year as a researcher at NILU. She has had many projects that have investigated the behaviour and potential harmful effects of pollutants in animals and ecosystems, both using theoretical and experimental methods.
Heimstad has over 25 years of experience with environmental chemistry research and collaboration in The Fram Centre, where she was head of the flagship programme 'Environmental toxins – effects on ecosystems and health' for 10 years. She was chair of the Research Leadership Group in the period 2019-2023 and representative of FLG in the Steering Group at The Fram Centre in the period 2021-2023.
A strong motivation for Heimstad is how the results of research can provide useful knowledge for the policy makers, business and society, and how we can best collaborate across different disciplines and sectors to make use of the best knowledge.
Miguel Las Heras Hernández
Miguel Las Heras Hernandez is a researcher at NILU, based in the lovely city of Trondheim.
His main area of expertise is in Circular Economy, with a current focus on improving the handling of Electronic Waste to enhance reuse of resources and minimize losses at the end of life. He is part of the coordinating team for the CE-RISE project and actively involved in its research activities. He has experience working on Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of plastics and explored the bioeconomy, particularly the reuse of manure 💩 in Norwegian agriculture to reduce dependency on mineral phosphorus imports. He has also looked into ways to prevent the loss of wood resources in the industry.
Miguel's work is driven by a passion for limiting the impacts of human activities in the environment, while guaranteeing a fair, equal and inclusive society. He integrates his background in Industrial Ecology (MsC. Industrial Ecology, NTNU, 2021) with product design (Engineering Degree, Universidad de Valladolid, 2017) develop innovative solutions that are not only effective but also enjoyable to implement and use.
Dorte Herzke
Dr Dorte Herzke is a senior scientist at the Arctic environment section in NILU’s Department of Environmental Chemistry and Health Effects located at Kjeller.
Herzke has a long-standing experience in development of analytical methods for determination of persistent organic pollutants as POPs, PFAS, microplastic and additives in environmental samples.
She has substantial expertise in biomonitoring and human exposure to environmental contaminants as well as conducting research on the fate of contaminants in the environment and the contribution to environmental and human exposure.
Herzke has been coordinating national and international research projects as well as acting as an adviser to national authorities. Contributing to the acceleration of our understanding on the drivers and impact of environmental pollution, in order to identify robust solutions, is one of her main motivations in her research.